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

SMC 9.25.020(E) sets the working definition every leash citation turns on: "'At large' means a dog or other animal inside The City of Seattle, off the premises of the owner, and not under control by a leash of 8 feet in length or shorter." Being on someone else's property with that owner's permission doesn't count as at large. SMC 9.25.084(A) then makes the underlying offense unlawful for an owner to "permit any animal, except cats and pigeons, to be at large or trespass upon the property of another," and SMC 9.25.084(F) separately bars tethering an animal in a way that lets it reach a sidewalk, street, alley, or adjacent private lot.

The single exception is a City-designated off-leash area. SMC 9.25.084(A) exempts a dog off-leash in an area designated under SMC 18.12.080 as long as the requirements of SMC 18.12.080(B) are met. That parks-code section names specific off-leash sites by exhibit, including portions of Genesee Park, Golden Gardens Park, Magnuson Park, the I-5 Open Space, Westcrest Park, the I-90 Lid Park drainage facility, Woodland Park, Boren-Pike-Pine Park, and Northacres Park. SMC 18.12.080(A) separately bars any dog, even leashed, from entering a public beach, swimming or wading area, pond, fountain, organized athletics area, or designated children's play area, with an exemption only for service animals and police dogs under an officer's control.

Violating the at-large or trespass offense in SMC 9.25.084 is a civil violation under SMC 9.25.100(B), punishable by a forfeiture of up to $500, separate from the criminal penalties that attach to a dangerous-animal declaration.