Issaquah, WA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

IMC 6.08.020 puts the duty on the owner or custodian of the dog. It is unlawful to cause, permit or allow a dog to roam, run, stray, or be away from the owner's premises and be on any public place, on any public property other than a designated off-leash area of a City dog park, or on the private property of another in the City, unless the dog is controlled by a leash, cord or chain not more than eight feet in length. The control has to be exercised by the owner, the custodian or another competent and authorized person, so passing the leash to someone who cannot hold the dog does not satisfy the section.

The section carves out one situation on the owner's side of the line: a dog within an automobile or other vehicle of its owner or custodian, and securely confined to that vehicle, is deemed to be upon the owner's premises. A dog riding loose in a car with a window open is not securely confined, so the vehicle exception depends on actual confinement.

The remedy printed in the section is impoundment. Any dog found roaming, running, straying or being away from the premises and not on a leash as the section provides can be impounded, subject to redemption in the manner set by the King County Animal Care and Control Ordinance. IMC 6.08.010 brings that ordinance in by adopting Title 11 of the King County Code by reference, as now in effect or hereafter amended, and requires a copy to be filed with the City Clerk for public examination.

Enforcement does not sit with the Issaquah Police Department. IMC 6.08.030 designates the King County Regional Animal Services section of the Records and Licensing Services Division as the agency authorized to enforce chapter 6.08, as provided by the King County Animal Care and Control Ordinance.

Parks have their own layer. IMC 6.08.021 makes it unlawful for the owner or custodian of any domesticated animal to let it enter any City park where a prohibition against entry is posted, or to enter in or upon any public fountain. Under IMC 6.08.022 the Parks and Recreation Director can waive the posted-park prohibition in connection with a special event permit under chapter 5.14 IMC for certain animals at specific functions. The leash rule in 6.08.020 names only a designated off-leash area of a City dog park as exempt, so a park trail or playfield is not off-leash ground just because it is public.