Franklin County, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

050 bars anyone from keeping, harboring or maintaining a lion, badger, wolf, coyote, fox, lynx or hybrid of these, or a poisonous reptile or serpent, or any other dangerous wild animal or reptile, in any residential area of the county. In zones other than residential, the animal is still barred unless the owner obtains a permit from the Franklin County sheriff's office, paying a $100 fee and showing that adequate safeguards are in place and will be maintained to control the animal's dangerous or vicious propensities, eliminate danger to people and property, and prevent the animal from becoming a nuisance to neighboring occupants.

Subsection B separately forbids letting any such permitted or unpermitted animal or reptile run at large on a highway, lane, alley, court or other public or private place, or within its owner's own premises in a way likely to endanger anyone lawfully on the property. Subsection C carves out two exceptions: a person merely transporting the animal through the county, provided the sheriff's office is notified of the route and timing and adequate safeguards are taken; and anyone keeping the animal for medical, scientific research or education purposes, provided adequate safeguards protect the public. The section traces to Ord. 110 makes any unenumerated violation a misdemeanor.