Kitsap County, WA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-specific ban
- None; declarations are behavior-based, not breed-based
- Declaration basis
- Bite reports, witness complaints, or other evidence
- Insurance/bond
- $50,000 minimum liability coverage may be required
- Owner age limit
- Under-18 owners barred from keeping a declared animal
- Appeal window
- 14 days to hearing examiner, then 14 to court
- Repeat violation
- Misdemeanor under KCC 7.12.020 for failing to control
Summary
Kitsap County has no breed-specific ban. Instead, the animal control authority can declare any animal 'potentially dangerous' based on bite reports, aggressive behavior, or witness evidence, then impose muzzling, confinement, $50,000 liability insurance, registration, and warning-sign requirements, with owners entitled to appeal to a hearing examiner and district court.
(a) Declaration of an Animal as Potentially Dangerous. The animal control authority shall have the authority to declare and restrict an animal potentially dangerous, if the animal control authority has probable cause to believe that the animal falls within the definitions set forth in Section 7.04.020(26). The declaration must be based upon: (1) The written complaint of a citizen who is willing to testify that the animal has acted in a manner which causes it to fall within the definition of Section 7.04.020(26); (2) Animal bite reports filed with the animal control authority; (3) Actions of the animal witnessed by any employee of the animal control authority or law enforcement officer; or (4) Other substantial evidence. (d) Prohibited Ownership. No person(s) under the age(s) of eighteen years old shall own a potentially dangerous animal, as defined in Section 7.04.020(26).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).
Full Breakdown
Kitsap County does not regulate dogs by breed; its Title 7 animal code instead uses a behavior-based "potentially dangerous animal" system under KCC 7.12.010. The animal control authority may declare and restrict any animal, regardless of breed, if it has probable cause to believe the animal meets the definition in KCC 7.04.020(26): an animal that unprovoked inflicts a bite on a human, pet, or livestock, chases or approaches a person in a menacing fashion, or has a known propensity to attack or threaten safety. The declaration under KCC 7.12.010(a) must rest on a citizen's written complaint, a bite report, an animal control or law enforcement employee's own observation, or other substantial evidence, though KCC 7.12.010(b) excludes animals that bit or threatened someone who was trespassing, tormenting, or committing a crime.
Once declared, KCC 7.12.010(c) lets the animal control authority impose training, restraint (muzzle, leash, confinement, or removal from the county), proof of at least $50,000 in liability insurance or bond, annual registration with unannounced inspections, warning signs at property entrances, and payment of enforcement costs. No one under eighteen may own a potentially dangerous animal under KCC 7.12.010(d). Owners get fourteen calendar days to appeal a written declaration to the hearing examiner under KCC 7.12.010(g), then a further fourteen days to appeal that decision to district court under KCC 7.12.010(i), where the appellant bears the burden of showing the hearing examiner's ruling was arbitrary and capricious.
Failing to control a declared animal, including letting it run at large or bite again, is a separate misdemeanor under KCC 7.12.020. These rules apply only within unincorporated Kitsap County.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abide by restrictions imposed on a potentially dangerous animal, such as letting it go unmuzzled or unconfined, can result in impoundment under KCC 7.12.020(c). If a declared animal is thereafter found at large, bites again, or chases a person in a menacing manner, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor under KCC 7.12.020(a), and the appeal process gives the animal control authority the right to seek additional restrictions or court costs against a losing appellant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kitsap County ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
What happens once my dog is declared potentially dangerous in Kitsap County?
Can I appeal a dangerous-animal declaration in Kitsap County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kitsap County
Compare Kitsap County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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