Lacey, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Section 7.04.040(A) of the Lacey Municipal Code makes it unlawful to own, keep or have control of any dog or cat considered a pet animal in the city of Lacey unless the person has procured a license. A person cited can avoid an infraction by producing proof of licensing within fourteen days of the date of issuance to the court clerk or the Lacey violations bureau, and the court can assess court administrative costs of $25.00 at dismissal. Animal Services issues the identification tag on payment of the license fee, and fees are adopted by reference as set each year by the Joint Animal Services Commission (JASCOM). A license is valid for one year, renewals run twelve months from the assigned renewal date, and a license cannot move from one pet animal to another. A cat without an authorized and current tag can be impounded.

Section 7.04.030(F) defines a community cat as any free roaming cat that can be cared for by one or more residents in the area, known or unknown, and says ears tipped means the cat was sterilized and vaccinated against rabies at least one time. Community cats are not considered pet animals. Section 7.04.030(G) defines a community cat caregiver as a person who provides food, water, shelter and veterinary care while not being considered the owner, custodian, harborer, possessor or keeper of the cat.

The at-large definition in section 7.04.030(D)(3) treats a cat, licensed or not, as at large when it is on property where the owner or tenant objects to its presence and has humanely trapped or otherwise contained it. Section 7.04.054 allows a humane box trap on a complainant's property to catch nuisance pet animals, and trapped animals must be returned to their owners or taken to Animal Services. Nuisance pet animal items also cover a female cat in heat not confined within a structure and a cat trespassing on private property after a written complaint to Animal Services in which the owner or tenant physically contains the cat. To reclaim an impounded cat within the forty-eight hour holding period, section 7.04.060(C) requires the claim fee, fines, medical costs and a license if the cat had none.