Yakima, WA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Washington's exotic-pet framework is primarily state law. RCW Chapter 16.30 (enacted 2007) makes it unlawful for any Washington resident to own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, breed, or have custody or control of a 'potentially dangerous wild animal.' The statutory list includes: lions, tigers, captive-bred cougars, jaguars, cheetahs, leopards; wolves (excluding wolf-hybrids); bears; hyenas; non-human primates; elephants; rhinoceroses; certain reptiles such as crocodiles and alligators; and venomous snakes. A grandfather clause allows persons in legal possession before July 22, 2007 to keep the animal for its remaining life. The animal-control authority or law enforcement may immediately confiscate a violating animal. Critically, RCW 16.30.060 expressly authorizes a city or county to adopt MORE RESTRICTIVE local rules. Within Yakima, YMC Chapter 6.20 (Animal Control) provides the local enforcement framework, and the city's dangerous-animal / nuisance-animal provisions overlap with the state ban. Additionally, RCW Title 77 and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) regulate native wildlife - state law generally bars keeping native wildlife (deer, raccoons, foxes, bears, raptors) as pets. Common exotic pets that remain legal in Washington (and Yakima) include most reptiles and birds not on the prohibited list, ferrets, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders. Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are treated as livestock under YMC 15.09.070 and require a 0.5-acre lot if more than 'pet' scale.