Spokane County, WA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- SCC 5.04.067
- Unaltered roaming
- Prohibited at 6+ months
- Trespass
- Not allowed without permission
- Licensing
- Cats over 6 months
- Enforcement
- SCRAPS
Summary
Spokane County regulates cats under SCC 5.04.067. Owners must keep cats from roaming while unaltered at six months or older, from trespassing on private property, from menacing people or animals off the owner's property, and from entering food establishments. Cats over six months should be licensed.
The owner or keeper of a cat(s) shall prevent said cat(s) from: (2) Running at large when the cat has not been neutered or spayed, and the cat is six months of age or older; (4) Running at large while being on private property without the permission of the property owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
Spokane County Code 5.04.067 lists cat-control regulations enforced by SCRAPS. Owners are strictly liable to prevent their cats from: being accessible while in heat for uncontrolled breeding; running at large while unspayed or unneutered at six months or older; being kept while known to have a contagious disease without veterinary treatment; running at large on private property without the owner's permission; menacing or attacking people or domestic animals off the owner's property; exhibiting vicious propensities; and entering food-service or public buildings. An 'at large cat' is one off the owner's premises and not on a leash of eight feet or less (SCC 5.04.020). Cats over six months of age are subject to licensing under SCC 5.04.030.
Violations & Fines
Cat-control violations are civil infractions penalized at the IRLJ 6.2(b) unscheduled-infraction amount, plus $25 for a repeat within twelve months (SCC 5.04.130); impounded cats are handled under SCC 5.04.066.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be leashed in Spokane County?
Can my cat roam the neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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