Snohomish County, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat licensing
- Mandatory since 2003 (SCC 9.04.010)
- License fee, altered cat
- $25/year (SCC 9.04.040)
- At-large nuisance
- SCC 9.12.060(8)
- Female cat in heat
- Must be confined, SCC 9.12.060(7)
- Unlicensed impound hold
- At least 72 hours
Summary
Cats are no longer voluntary to license in unincorporated Snohomish County: SCC 9.04.010 requires owners of all adult cats to license them since the voluntary option was repealed in 2003. Letting a cat run at large or roam unconfined while in heat is a declared public nuisance under SCC 9.12.060.
It is unlawful for an owner to cause, allow, permit or participate in any of the following, which are, singly or together, declared to be a public nuisance: ...
(7) A female domesticated animal, while in heat, running at large or not confined and accessible to other animals except for controlled and planned breeding.
(8) Any domesticated animal, which runs at large; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this section does not apply to animals participating in animal shows or exhibitions in areas specifically designated for such events; dogs directly supervised by their owners while using designated off leash areas on county park property; or to dogs participating in organized dog training classes on county park property where written approval is obtained in advance from the Snohomish county department of parks and recreation.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020. That exemption list carves out cats kept for competition or breeding for up to 30 days, cats belonging to nonresidents visiting temporarily, cats already licensed by a contracting municipality, cats in foster care, and cats maintained in connection with agricultural pursuits. 030 originally let cats be licensed on a voluntary basis, but that section was repealed by Ordinance 03-041 in 2003, so licensing is now mandatory for cats just as it is for dogs. 040 applies equally: $25 for an altered cat, $50 unaltered, dropping to $15 if the cat is also microchipped.
060 lists conduct that constitutes a public nuisance for any domesticated animal, a definition that includes cats. Subsection (7) makes it a nuisance to let a female cat in heat run at large or remain unconfined and accessible to other animals outside controlled breeding, and subsection (8) makes any domesticated animal running at large a nuisance, with narrow exceptions for animal shows, supervised off-leash park areas, and approved training classes. 040, holding an unlicensed cat at least 72 hours and a licensed one at least 10 days if the owner cannot be reached.
Violations & Fines
Licensing violations under SCC 9.04.010 and at-large violations under SCC 9.12.060(8) are both excluded from misdemeanor prosecution by SCC 9.12.020(2)(a) and (g); instead they draw a civil penalty under SCC 9.12.090: $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second, and $500 for each one after that, due within 15 days of the notice. A cat impounded for running at large can be redeemed under SCC 9.12.110 by paying the county's actual apprehension, boarding, and any veterinary costs, and notices of violation may be appealed to the county hearing examiner under SCC 9.12.101.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cat licensing mandatory in unincorporated Snohomish County?
Can my cat legally roam outside in Snohomish County?
What happens if animal control picks up my cat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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