Olympia, WA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Olympia's rules on dangerous dogs sit in OMC 6.04.110 and turn on what a dog has done. None of the declaration criteria names a breed, and a search of the full Olympia Municipal Code for breed-specific terms finds no breed ban. Under OMC 6.04.110(A), the Animal Services Director or designee classifies potentially dangerous and dangerous dogs on the written complaint of a person willing to testify, plus previous aggressive behavior on file with Animal Services, actions witnessed by an Animal Services officer or law enforcement officer, or other substantial evidence.

A dog is declared potentially dangerous if, unprovoked, it bites a human or a pet or domestic animal, chases or approaches a person on public ground or behaves in a menacing manner, or has a known propensity to attack. A dog is declared dangerous when records show it inflicted severe injury or substantial bodily harm on a human without provocation, killed a pet or domestic animal without provocation off the owner's property, or bit or attacked again after a potentially dangerous finding and a written warning. Exclusions in subsection (B)(3) include willful trespass, tormenting the dog and a dog on a leash responding to another animal's attack.

The owner can request review within ten days. A further appeal to the Animal Services Hearings Examiner is filed with the Director within ten days of the written findings, heard de novo, with the burden on the animal control authority by a preponderance of the evidence. The examiner decides within 30 calendar days, and the decision is appealable to Thurston County Superior Court.

Potentially dangerous dogs must be securely leashed away from home and restrained at home. Dangerous dogs must be muzzled and leashed away from home and kept in a locked structure with secure sides, bottom and top. A dangerous dog's owner needs a certificate of registration with a warning sign, a surety bond or liability insurance of at least $250,000 and a $125.00 annual fee.