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

Lynnwood's animal control rules are codified in Title 6 of the Lynnwood Municipal Code, with Chapter 6.02 (General Regulations / Animal Control) supplying the city's leash standard. Under LMC 6.02.015(H), 'at large' is defined by reference to the eight-foot tether: any dog that is off its owner's premises and not held by a leash, cord, or chain no longer than eight feet, in the hand of the owner, an immediate family member, or an authorized person, is at large. LMC 6.02.070 makes it unlawful to permit a dog to be at large within Lynnwood, except inside a city-designated dog training or off-leash area. The city has designated the fenced Lynndale Park Off-Leash Dog Area (18927 72nd Avenue West) as its sole off-leash facility; the park is open dawn to dusk seven days a week, has separate fenced sections for small and large dogs, and provides waste bag stations and a water fountain. Outside that fenced area - including all other Lynnwood parks, sidewalks, trails, and public rights-of-way - dogs must remain on an 8-foot or shorter physical leash and under the direct control of the handler. Dangerous dog provisions in LMC 6.02.025 require additional restraint (a substantial chain or leash not greater than eight feet, plus a muzzle and proper enclosure) for any dog declared dangerous. Lynnwood adopts state law by reference for civil dog-bite liability under RCW 16.08.040, which makes the owner strictly liable for damages caused by a dog bite when the victim is lawfully on public or private property. Animal control is enforced by the Lynnwood Police Department's animal control unit. As of late 2025, the City Council was actively reviewing and recodifying Chapter 6.02; verify the latest adopted text on the Lynnwood Municipal Code portal.