Lynnwood, WA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Behavior-based, not breed-based
- Liability coverage required
- $250,000 bond or insurance
- Leash length outside enclosure
- Not more than 8 feet
- Compliance window after declaration
- 30 days
- Max penalty
- 1 year jail, $5,000 fine
- Appeal deadline
- 10 calendar days
Summary
Lynnwood does not ban dog breeds by name. Instead, the animal control authority declares individual animals dangerous or potentially dangerous based on documented behavior, then imposes registration, insurance, enclosure and leash requirements on that specific animal's owner.
A. Declaration of Animal as Dangerous. The animal control authority shall have the authority to declare an animal to be dangerous, and place restrictions on such animal, if the animal control authority determines that the animal meets the definition set forth in LMC 6.02.015(F) ... Strict compliance with each of the following conditions is required to keep a dangerous animal in the city: A. It is unlawful for a person to own a dangerous animal within the city limits unless that person has a current certificate of registration for that animal.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
02 regulates dangerous behavior, not breed. 015(F) defines a "dangerous animal" as one that has inflicted severe injury on a human without provocation, killed or severely injured a domestic animal off the owner's property, or bitten or attacked after a prior potentially-dangerous finding. 024, the animal control authority must serve written notice, hold a meeting within 15 days, and issue a final written order within 15 more days if it finds dangerousness by a preponderance of the evidence. 025 requires strict compliance: a certificate of registration, a proper enclosure with a warning sign, a $250,000 surety bond or liability insurance policy naming the city as additional insured, a registered AVID-compatible microchip, and consent to inspections.
Outside the enclosure the animal must be muzzled and leashed on no more than an eight-foot leash held by a responsible adult. Owners have 30 days to comply once declared. 145 to the Lynnwood hearing examiner, with further appeal to Snohomish County superior court within 21 days. 023(E).
Violations & Fines
Owning a dangerous animal without a current certificate of registration, or letting one outside its enclosure unrestrained and unmuzzled, is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in confinement and/or a $5,000 fine under LMC 6.02.025(I). Failing to notify the animal control authority of a change of ownership, address or a bite within 14 days is a separate violation under LMC 6.02.025(J).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lynnwood ban pit bulls or other breeds?
What must an owner do once a dog is declared dangerous?
Can I appeal a dangerous animal declaration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
How Lynnwood compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Lynnwood to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle breed restrictions.