Spokane County, WA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- no dog at large anywhere in the county
- Leash limit
- 8 feet, under handler's control
- Off-leash exception
- designated areas (e.g., Gateway Park) only
- Enforcement
- civil infraction, 3rd violation = misdemeanor
- Dangerous dog at large
- gross misdemeanor
- Strict liability
- owner liable regardless of intent
Summary
Spokane County bans letting a dog run at large anywhere in the county, licensed or not, under SCC 5.04.070(1). Walking or exercising a dog in public is fine only on a leash, tether or chain no longer than eight feet, unless the dog is inside one of the county's designated off-leash areas.
The following dog control regulations are police regulations designed to protect public health and safety. The owner or keeper of a dog is strictly liable to control his or her dog(s) as required herein, meaning that the penalty for violation of such regulations is imposed without regard to any wrongful intention of the violator. It is unlawful for the owner or keeper of a dog(s) to violate any of the following regulations. The owner or keeper of a dog or dogs shall prevent said dog(s) from:(1)Running at large in the county, whether licensed or not; provided, that this subsection shall not: a) prohibit a person from walking or exercising a dog in public when the dog is on a leash, tether or chain not exceeding eight feet in length; or, b) prohibit a person from having a dog off-leash in an area described in section 5.04.045(1) as an off-leash area, provided that the requirements of section 5.04.045(2) are met;
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
070 opens by making a dog's owner or keeper strictly liable for the dog's conduct, meaning SCRAPS does not have to prove intent to cite a violation. 020(7) as being off the owner's premises and not secured by a leash not exceeding eight feet in length. 045(2) are followed, controlling the dog at all times, no more than three dogs per handler, current vaccines, cleaning up waste. The same section lists nine other things an owner must prevent: entering a place where food is served or sold unless the dog is a service animal, chasing vehicles, running loose while in heat, unprovoked aggressive behavior, vicious propensities, disruptive barking, running loose with a contagious disease, running in packs of three or more, and running at large unaltered past six months old.
Already-declared potentially dangerous or dangerous dogs face a stricter version: they must stay leashed and restrained, or muzzled and chained, even off their own property, under subsections (11) and (12).
Violations & Fines
Most breaches of SCC 5.04.070 are civil infractions handled under 5.04.071 through 5.04.079, not crimes, and the court can waive, reduce or suspend the monetary penalty under 5.04.078(2). But a third violation of any chapter 5.04 provision within twelve months automatically becomes a misdemeanor under 5.04.071(1)(p). A dog exhibiting vicious propensities is a misdemeanor under 5.04.071(1)(i), a potentially dangerous dog at large is a misdemeanor under 5.04.071(1)(j), and a dangerous dog at large or unmuzzled is a gross misdemeanor under 5.04.071(2)(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can my dog's leash be in public?
Is there anywhere my dog can run off-leash legally?
Is running at large always just a fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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