Thurston County, WA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Thurston County Code § 9.10.030, 9.10.050
- First offense
- Class 4 infraction
- Repeat offense
- Class 3 infraction
- Control methods
- Leash, carrier, or voice command
- Exception
- Authorized shows, training, hunting
Summary
Thurston County bars dogs from running at large and requires leash or voice control off the owner's property, with escalating infractions for violations.
"At large" means any pet animal that is not in the physical presence or control of an owner or keeper or is under the following circumstances: 1. When a dog, licensed or not, is found off the premises or outside the vehicle of the owner and not under control of a person by means of a leash, carrier or demonstrated voice command; or 2. ...the dog is presumed not to have been under control and to be at large if the person purporting to exercise control is unable to immediately cause the dog to heel...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).
Full Breakdown
County code defines a dog as "at large" when it is off the owner's premises or outside the owner's vehicle and not under control by leash, carrier, or a demonstrated voice command that lets the owner immediately call the dog to heel. An unleashed dog that interferes with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or causes alarm, injury, damage, or trespass, is also at large regardless of proximity to the owner. Letting a pet animal run at large in unincorporated Thurston County is a violation, with an exception for organized shows, training, exercise, or hunting sessions in authorized locations.
Violations & Fines
First offense: Class 4 civil infraction. Second and later offenses: Class 3 infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash if it obeys voice commands?
What happens for a second at-large violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thurston County
Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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