Island County, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Island County Code § 6.20.030
- Felidae ban
- Outright; no private-owner exemption
- Canidae/hybrid limit
- Max 2 per property (§6.20.050)
- At-large report window
- Call 911 within 30 minutes (§6.20.070)
- Exempt entities
- AZA zoos, USDA exhibitors, vets, researchers
Summary
Island County Code § 6.20.030 bans owning, harboring, or possessing any felidae (wild cats) in the unincorporated county and prohibits letting any inherently dangerous mammal run at large in a way that could endanger people. Chapter 6.20 exempts accredited zoos, licensed research and veterinary facilities, and USDA-licensed exhibitors.
A.No person shall own, harbor, possess or have custody or control of felidae in the unincorporated area of Island County.B.No person owning or harboring, having custody, control, or possession of an inherently dangerous mammal shall permit or allow the same to be at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court, or any other place, public or private, or within the premises of such person, in such manner as to endanger any person lawfully entering such premises.
Full Breakdown
20, Inherently Dangerous Mammals, adopted by Ord. 010 as securing county-wide control over inherently dangerous mammals to protect public health, safety, and welfare. 030, has two parts: subsection A bars any person from owning, harboring, possessing, or having custody or control of felidae, meaning wild cat species, anywhere in the unincorporated area; subsection B separately bars anyone owning or harboring an inherently dangerous mammal from letting it run at large on any highway, street, alley, or public or private place in a way that could endanger a person lawfully on the premises.
52 RCW. 050 layers on separate standards for canidae (dog-family hybrids such as wolf-dogs): owners must live on the property where the animals are kept, may keep no more than two canidae or hybrids per property (except newborns under twelve weeks), and must confine them in a secure, escape-proof, weatherproof pen or indoor enclosure. 070 requires anyone who knows or should know their inherently dangerous mammal is running at large to call 911 within thirty minutes.
Violations & Fines
Owning or harboring felidae in violation of section 6.20.030.A, or letting any inherently dangerous mammal or canidae hybrid run at large under 6.20.030.B, is a chapter 6.20 violation. Failing to report an at-large inherently dangerous mammal to ICOM at 911 within thirty minutes under section 6.20.070, or exceeding the two-animal canidae limit or confinement standards of section 6.20.050, are separately enforceable violations of the same chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally keep a wild cat, like a serval or bobcat, in unincorporated Island County?
How many wolf-dog hybrids can I keep on my property?
What do I do if my inherently dangerous mammal gets loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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