Lakewood, WA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LMC 6.02.085
- Trigger
- 2nd+ impound in 12 months, unaltered
- Deposit amount
- $35.00
- Refund condition
- Proof of alteration from a vet
- Waiver condition
- Vet letter procedure is harmful
Summary
Lakewood, Washington, requires a $35.00 alteration deposit before a repeatedly impounded, unaltered dog or cat can be redeemed under LMC 6.02.085. The deposit is refunded on proof of spay or neuter, or waived if a licensed veterinarian certifies the surgery would harm the animal.
6.02.085 Mandatory spay/neuter for impounded dogs and cats – Deposit – Refund – Exception. A. Mandatory Spay/Neuter – Deposit. No unaltered dog or cat that is impounded more than once in any 12-month period may be redeemed by any person until the sum of $35.00 is deposited with the animal control agency to cover the cost of spaying or neutering the animal. B. Refund. The alteration deposit shall be refunded upon a showing of proof of alteration from a licensed veterinarian. C. Exception. The alteration deposit shall not be required if the owner or other person redeeming the animal provides a written statement from a licensed veterinarian that the spay or neuter procedure would be harmful to the animal.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
085, titled "Mandatory spay/neuter for impounded dogs and cats," targets repeat offenders rather than every pet owner: it applies only when "an unaltered dog or cat that is impounded more than once in any 12-month period" is being redeemed. " That deposit is not a straight fee: subsection B directs a full refund once the owner shows proof of alteration from a licensed veterinarian, and subsection C waives the deposit outright if the owner produces a written statement from a licensed veterinarian that the procedure would be harmful to the animal.
00-per-day boarding charge. Animals not redeemed within 48 hours (another 48 hours if a second party attempts redemption) may be humanely destroyed at the animal control agency's discretion. The mandatory spay/neuter deposit stacks on top of these standard redemption and boarding fees whenever the repeat-impound trigger is met. This ordinance is Lakewood's own, distinct from Pierce County's animal shelter and licensing program that the city contracts with for the physical shelter facility referenced elsewhere in Title 6.
Violations & Fines
Failure to pay the $35.00 alteration deposit under LMC 6.02.085 when required simply bars redemption of the animal; it is not itself charged as a separate misdemeanor or infraction. The animal remains impounded, subject to the animal control agency's general authority under LMC 6.02.080/6.02.070 to humanely destroy or otherwise dispose of an unredeemed dog, cat or other animal after the applicable 48-hour redemption windows expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood, Washington require all pets to be spayed or neutered?
Can I get my $35.00 spay/neuter deposit back in Lakewood?
Is there an exception to Lakewood's mandatory spay/neuter deposit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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