Everett, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing required
- All cats over 6 months (EMC 6.04.030)
- License term
- Annual, plus rabies proof
- At-large exemption
- Licensed domestic cats only
- Nuisance trespass
- Still unlawful even if licensed
- Fine
- Up to $250 (EMC 6.04.140)
- Reduced fees
- Owners 65+, service dog owners
Summary
Everett requires every cat over six months old to be licensed annually, with proof of current rabies vaccination, under EMC 6.04.030. A licensed cat is then the only animal exempt from the citywide at-large ban in EMC 6.04.070(B)(1), but even a licensed cat cannot trespass on a neighbor's property in a way that becomes a nuisance.
It shall be unlawful for any person to: 1. Permit any animal to be at large. Exception: licensed domestic cats; 2. Permit a domestic cat to trespass upon the property of another in such a manner as to be a nuisance;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4194-26, passed July 29, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Everett's animal control chapter treats cats differently from every other animal it regulates. 020 as any cat over six months old, to be "licensed and registered annually, or within thirty days of acquisition by the owner, or within thirty days of being moved into the city, whichever occurs later," with proof of current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian. 030(B)(1) lets an owner "choose the means by which to display the identification number (tag, collar or other acceptable form of identification tag, with the registration number on it)," rather than requiring a tag worn at all times like a dog's.
070(B)(1) exempts it from the citywide prohibition on animals running at large: "Permit any animal to be at large. " That exemption is not unconditional. 070(B)(3) requires any cat left unattended on public property to stay within an area specifically designated for that purpose. 100 rather than fixing dollar figures in the code itself. 090(F): 144 hours if it wears a current license tag, 72 hours if it does not.
Violations & Fines
Failing to license an adult cat, or letting a licensed cat become a nuisance by trespassing on a neighbor's property, is an infraction under EMC 6.04.140(A), carrying a fine up to $250. Because there is no city-run feral colony or trap-neuter-return program written into the code, an unowned stray cat trapped as a nuisance is processed through the same impoundment scheme as any other stray under EMC 6.04.090, and can become the legal property of a finder who reports the animal to animal control and keeps it unclaimed for thirty days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my cat need to be licensed in Everett?
Can my licensed cat roam free in Everett?
What if my cat isn't licensed and gets picked up?
Does Everett offer a discount on cat license fees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Everett
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle cat rules.