King County, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned examples
- dangerous snakes, primates, bears, big cats
- Prohibition section
- K.C.C. 11.04.234
- Definition section
- K.C.C. 11.01.160
- Consequence
- impoundment of the animal
- Coverage
- unincorporated King County only
Summary
Unincorporated King County prohibits harboring, keeping, or maintaining exotic animals as pets, dangerous snakes, primates, bears, non-domesticated cats and dogs (including wolf/coyote hybrids), and crocodilians, unless a narrow state-law exception applies; violators face impoundment.
11.04.234 Harboring, keeping, or maintenance of exotic animal prohibited - exception - impoundment.
A. A person may not harbor, keep, or maintain an exotic animal, unless an exception in RCW 16.30.020 applies.
B. An exotic animal harbored, kept or maintained in violation of this section is subject to impoundment. If an animal is impounded under this section, the procedures in RCW 16.30.040(2) through (6) shall apply. (Ord. 19638 § 96. 2023: Ord. 15801 § 50, 2007: Ord. 11340 § 2, 1994: Ord. 2473 § 3, 1975. Formerly K.C.C. 11.28.030.).
Full Breakdown
King County Code § 11.01.160 defines 'exotic animal' as snakes capable of inflicting serious physical harm or death, nonhuman primates and prosimians, bears, nondomesticated felines, nondomesticated canines and their hybrids (including wolf and coyote hybrids), and any species within the order Crocodylia (alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gavials). Section 11.04.234 then bars anyone from harboring, keeping, or maintaining such an animal unless an exception under RCW 16.30.020 applies. This rule reaches only unincorporated King County; Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, and the county's roughly 35 other cities enforce their own separate animal codes.
Violations & Fines
Possessing a banned exotic animal is also listed as a public nuisance under K.C.C. 11.04.230(T). The animal is subject to impoundment under K.C.C. 11.04.234(B), and the owner is personally liable for abatement costs and any civil penalty under K.C.C. 11.04.300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet snake in unincorporated King County?
Does this rule apply inside Seattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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