Lynnwood, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered animals
- Primates, big cats, bears, wild canids
- Also covered
- Venomous reptiles, large pythons, crocodilians
- Exempted
- Domestic cats and dogs
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine (misdemeanor)
- Permit exception
- None for exotic animals
Summary
Lynnwood bans exotic animals outright. No person may possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy or sell an animal defined as exotic, including primates, big cats, bears, non-domestic canids, venomous reptiles and large constricting snakes.
No person shall possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy, sell, or attempt to buy or sell an animal defined as "exotic" in LMC 6.02.015(H). Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000. ... "Exotic animal" means any animal which is not commonly domesticated or which is not native to or usually found in the United States, including: 1. All nonhuman primates; 2. All wild cats of the family Felidae and their hybrid, except for the domestic cat, Felis catus; 3. All species of bear
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
015(H). That definition sweeps broadly: all nonhuman primates; all wild cats of the family Felidae and their hybrids except the domestic cat; all species of bear; all wild carnivores of the family Canidae and their hybrids except the domestic dog; venomous reptiles and amphibians; reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons and any snake that may reach three feet or more in length; and all members of the alligator, crocodile and caiman families. Unlike Lynnwood's wild-animal provision, the exotic-animal ban carries no state-permit exception; possession itself is the violation regardless of licensing.
040, covers native wild animals and lets the animal control authority allow temporary care of an injured or orphaned native wild animal while the caretaker pursues state or federal permits, but that temporary-care allowance cross-references and does not soften the flat exotic-animal ban. The city's animal control authority, the police department division responsible for animal welfare and enforcement, handles violations and can seize a prohibited animal.
Violations & Fines
Violating the exotic animal ban is a misdemeanor under LMC 6.02.030, punishable upon conviction by a fine not to exceed $1,000. Each animal possessed, bred, imported, exported or sold in violation can support a separate charge, and the animal control authority may seize the animal as part of enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet monkey or big cat in Lynnwood?
Are large pet snakes legal in Lynnwood?
What is the penalty for owning a banned exotic animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
Compare Lynnwood to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle exotic pets.