Renton, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

RMC 6-6-12(A) states plainly that the keeping of wild or dangerous animals is prohibited in Renton, carving out only dangerous dogs, which are instead regulated under the confiscation, hearing and destruction procedures of RMC 6-6-8 and 6-6-9 rather than banned outright. This means exotic or wild species, non-dog dangerous animals, cannot be lawfully kept as pets anywhere in the City regardless of enclosure or containment. The same section separately bans keeping roosters or peahens/peacocks, RMC 6-6-12(B), a poultry-noise-driven restriction distinct from the wild-animal ban but codified in the same section.

RMC 6-6-12(C) sets the penalty: any violation of the section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with RMC 1-3-1, Renton's general penalty chapter. Chapter 6-6 as a whole also declares violations a public nuisance under RMC 6-6-13(A), giving the City's code compliance inspector authority to order an owner to remove a prohibited animal or bird and abate the nuisance, independent of any criminal charge. Police animals being used in the discharge of official law enforcement duties are exempt from the entire chapter, including the prohibited-animal ban, under RMC 6-6-13(C).