Lynnwood, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large rule for cats
- None, expressly exempt
- Max cats per household
- 3 (over 6 months old)
- Tag requirement
- Required after 6 months old
- Tag violation fine
- $25 first, $50 second offense
- Over-limit penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine
Summary
Lynnwood exempts domestic cats from its at-large running ban, letting cats roam free while dogs and other domestic animals may not. Cats are still capped at three per household and must wear an identifying tag past six months old.
No domestic animal, or exotic animal or livestock of any kind, shall be permitted to run at large during any hours of the day or night. Domestic cats shall be exempt from this code. ... No person shall keep more than three cats or three dogs, or two miniature pot-bellied pigs, or any combination of cats and dogs exceeding three in number that are over six months of age on any premises in the city.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
070(A) states plainly, "Domestic cats shall be exempt from this code," carving cats out of the general at-large prohibition that otherwise reaches every domestic animal, exotic animal and livestock in the city. That single sentence is the whole of Lynnwood's free-roaming-cat policy: there is no leash requirement, curfew, or confinement mandate for cats moving off their owner's property. Two other rules still apply to cats regardless of the at-large exemption. 020(A) requires all cats over six months old within city limits to wear an identifying tag bearing the owner's address and a contact phone number, with narrow exceptions for nonresident owners, cats brought in for shows, pet-store stock, and homeless or feral animals. 035. "
Violations & Fines
Failing to tag a cat over six months old is a civil infraction under LMC 6.02.020(C), $25.00 for a first offense and $50.00 for a second; ignoring the notice or repeating the violation becomes a misdemeanor with up to 90 days confinement and a $1,000 fine. Exceeding the three-cat limit is a misdemeanor under LMC 6.02.130, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my cat roam outside freely in Lynnwood?
How many cats can I own in Lynnwood?
Do cats need tags in Lynnwood even though they can roam?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
Compare Lynnwood to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle cat rules.