Clark County, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cat leash law
- None (dogs only)
- Cat limit
- No fixed numeric cap
- Community-cat program
- TNR: sterilize, vaccinate, ear-tip
- Nuisance rules
- Apply to cats (CCC 8.11.060)
- Cruelty rules
- Apply to cats (CCC 8.11.070)
Summary
Clark County has no cat leash law and no fixed limit on the number of cats. Cats are covered by general nuisance, licensing, and cruelty rules, and the county sponsors a community-cat (trap-neuter-return) program for feral colonies.
"Community cat program" means a program... pursuant to which feral and community cats are sterilized, vaccinated against rabies, ear-tipped, and returned to the location where they congregate.
Full Breakdown
The county's leash provisions (Chapter 8.15) apply to dogs, not cats, so cats are not required to be leashed. There is no numeric cap on cats in the code. Cats are still "domestic animals" under CCC 8.01.020(13) and subject to the nuisance rules of CCC 8.11.060 (for example, damaging property or entering food-service areas) and the cruelty/minimum-care rules of 8.11.070. CCC 8.01.020(11) authorizes a community-cat program under which feral and community cats are sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, ear-tipped, and returned to where they congregate; returning such cats is exempted from the code's abandonment prohibition.
Violations & Fines
There is no cat-leash penalty. A cat that creates a documented nuisance under CCC 8.11.060 can be abated; cruelty or neglect is a misdemeanor under CCC 8.11.070 (up to $1,000).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be kept on a leash or indoors?
What is the community-cat program?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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