Kirkland, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License age
- Cats 12 weeks and older must be licensed
- ID required
- License tag or tattoo (8.09.130(e))
- Rabies vaccination
- Required at 6 months (8.09.502)
- Cattery threshold
- 4+ adult cats needs hobby cattery license
- License term
- 1 year, no proration of fees
- Penalty
- Up to $250 civil infraction (8.09.330)
Summary
Kirkland cats twelve weeks and older must be licensed and tagged (or tattooed) and, at six months, vaccinated against rabies; keeping four or more adult cats makes a property a cattery requiring a hobby cattery license, under KMC 8.09.130, 8.09.170, and 8.09.502, enforceable as $250 civil infractions.
(a) All dogs and cats twelve weeks old and older that are owned, harbored, kept or maintained in the city shall be licensed and registered. Licenses shall be renewed on or before the date of expiration. ... (c) Pet licenses shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance, expiring on the last day of the twelfth month. There is no proration of any license fees. Renewal licenses shall retain the original expiration period whether renewed before, on or after their respective renewal months. ... (e) License tags shall be worn by pets at all times. As an alternative to a license tag, a pet may be identified as licensed by being tattooed on its right ear or on its inside right thigh or groin with a license number approved or issued by the animal control authority.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4945, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
09, with several cat-specific triggers. 130(a),(c)). 130(e)). 140). 502). 170(a), with the city able to limit cat numbers and require fencing, setbacks, and immunization records based on lot size, zoning, and neighbor impact. 410). 130(g)).
Violations & Fines
Failing to license or vaccinate a cat, or violating the hobby cattery or unaltered-transfer rules, is a Class 1 civil infraction under KMC 8.09.330(a), carrying a fine of up to $250 per violation plus statutory assessments and city costs, with each day and incident treated separately. The animal control officer may also issue a warning ticket in lieu of a civil infraction at his or her discretion (KMC 8.09.430).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license for my cat in Kirkland?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kirkland
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle cat rules.