Snohomish County, WA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Hard cap
- 25 dogs per property (SCC 6.06.008)
- License trigger
- 4 or more dogs (SCC 6.06.007)
- Exempt properties
- Licensed pet shops, shelters, boarding
- Breeding cap
- 5 litters per license year
- Civil penalty
- $100/$250/$500 per day
Summary
Unincorporated Snohomish County caps every household at 25 dogs outright under SCC 6.06.008, with no exception except licensed pet shops, boarding facilities, and animal shelters. Anyone keeping four or more dogs needs a private kennel, commercial kennel, or other facility license under SCC 6.06.007 well before reaching that ceiling.
It is unlawful for any person to own, keep or maintain on their premises more than 25 dogs. Licensed pet shops, boarding facilities or animal shelters shall not be subject to this limitation.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
007 sets the first licensing trigger: it is unlawful to own, keep, or maintain four or more dogs on a property without a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal shelter, boarding facility, grooming parlor, or pet shop license. 012). 005(10). 008 then draws the hard outer line: it is unlawful for anyone to own, keep, or maintain more than 25 dogs on their premises, period, and that cap does not bend for private residences. 016. 040). 017), but that grandfathering does not apply to new owners.
Violations & Fines
Keeping unlicensed dogs above the four-dog trigger, or more than 25 regardless of license, exposes the owner to the civil penalty schedule in SCC 6.01.210: $100.00 per day for a first violation, $250.00 per day for a second, and $500.00 per day for a third and any later violation, collectible through the notice-and-order process in SCC 6.01.135. Violations of the licensing sections themselves, SCC 6.06.007 and 6.06.015, are exempted from the chapter's criminal misdemeanor penalty under SCC 6.01.220(2), so they are enforced civilly rather than as a jailable offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally own in unincorporated Snohomish County?
Are there exceptions to the 25-dog limit?
What if I already had more dogs before the limit was set?
Does breeding count differently under the county's kennel rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.