Auburn, WA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- ACC 6.35, Dangerous Dogs
- Declaration basis
- Individual conduct, not breed
- Insurance/bond required
- $250,000 minimum
- Annual registration fee
- $500.00
- Microchip deadline
- 30 days after declaration
- Appeal window
- 15-20 days to hearing examiner
Summary
Auburn does not ban dogs by breed; instead the animal control authority declares individual dogs "dangerous" based on their conduct, then requires a $250,000 bond or insurance policy, a secure enclosure and a $500 yearly registration fee before the owner may keep the dog in the city.
E. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dangerous dog in the city without a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this section... F. The animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dog deemed to be a dangerous dog if the owner presents to the animal control unit sufficient evidence of: 1. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous dog... and the posting of the premises with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property... 2. A surety bond issued by a surety insurer qualified under Chapter 48.28 RCW... in the sum of at least $250,000... H. In addition to regular dog licensing fees, the owner of a dangerous dog shall pay to the city a dangerous dog registration fee in the amount of $500.00 per year for the dangerous dog registration...
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020 sets the declaration and registration procedure. It is not a breed list: a dog is declared dangerous through a notice-and-appeal process, with the owner given at least 10 days after notice to meet with the animal control authority and up to 15 or 20 days to appeal a final determination to the city's hearing examiner. Once declared dangerous, keeping the dog in Auburn without a certificate of registration is unlawful. 28 RCW or a $250,000 liability insurance policy under RCW Title 48. Subsection (G) adds a mandatory microchip within 30 days of the declaration, and subsection (H) sets an annual $500 dangerous-dog registration fee on top of the regular dog license, including a yearly photograph requirement.
030 requires a dangerous dog to be muzzled and leashed outside its enclosure, bars anyone under 16 from walking a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog, and requires potentially dangerous dogs to stay behind a six-foot fence or under restraint. 040 allows immediate confiscation for lapses in registration, insurance or enclosure, with destruction of the dog if the deficiency is not corrected within 20 days of notice.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register, insure or properly confine a declared dangerous dog is a gross misdemeanor under ACC 6.35.040 and ACC 9.02.030, and the dog can be confiscated immediately; if the owner does not correct the deficiency within 20 days, the animal control authority destroys the dog. Potentially dangerous dog registration lapses are a misdemeanor under ACC 6.35.035 and ACC 9.02.040, and carry a $100 annual re-registration fee after a repeat incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Auburn ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
What insurance does an Auburn dangerous dog owner need?
What happens if I don't register my dangerous dog in Auburn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
How Auburn compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Auburn to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle breed restrictions.