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Lakewood, WA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License trigger: Six or more dogs and/or cats
Hobby kennel range: 6-19 adult dogs/cats
Private kennel/cattery range: 6-19 altered pets only
Kennel facility required: If keeping more than 10
Exempt entity: Humane Society for Tacoma/Pierce County
Transfer approval: Deemed approved after 30 days

Summary

Lakewood lets a household keep up to five dogs and/or cats without a kennel license, but owning, maintaining, or having six or more dogs and cats combined requires a commercial, hobby, or private kennel/cattery license under LMC 6.06.023. The same threshold also covers pet shops and grooming parlors operating without the applicable license.

B. License Requirements – Generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, maintain, or have six or more dogs and/or cats, or operate a commercial kennel or cattery, foster shelter/kennel/cattery, hobby kennel, grooming parlor, private kennel/cattery, or pet shop, within the City of Lakewood without any applicable license.

View official code

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

023(B) makes it unlawful for any person to own, maintain, or have six or more dogs and/or cats, or to operate a commercial kennel or cattery, foster shelter/kennel/cattery, hobby kennel, grooming parlor, private kennel/cattery, or pet shop within Lakewood without the applicable license. The section defines a "hobby kennel or cattery" as premises keeping at least six but fewer than 20 adult dogs and/or cats for hunting, breeding, exhibition, organized events, field work, or obedience trials, with anyone keeping more than 10 required to provide kennel facilities; a "private kennel/cattery" covers premises keeping six to 19 altered adult dogs and/or cats solely as companion pets, with all animals required to be altered. 023(G). 010.

Violations & Fines

Operating over the six-animal threshold, or running a kennel, cattery, or pet shop, without the required license can draw denial, suspension, or revocation of the license for any ground listed in LMC Chapter 5.02, and exceeding the numeric or activity limits of a hobby or private kennel classification subjects the keeper to penalties or a requirement to obtain the higher-tier license, as determined by the enforcement agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs or cats can I have in Lakewood without a license?

Up to five combined. LMC 6.06.023(B) makes it unlawful to own, maintain, or have six or more dogs and/or cats without a kennel, cattery, or similar license, on top of the individual dog and cat licenses required under LMC 6.06.010.

What's the difference between a hobby kennel and a private cattery in Lakewood?

A hobby kennel or cattery keeps six to 19 adult dogs and/or cats for hunting, breeding, exhibitions, or obedience trials, and anyone with more than 10 must provide kennel facilities. A private kennel/cattery keeps the same six-to-19 range but only as altered companion pets, with every animal required to be spayed or neutered.

What do I need to apply for a kennel license?

Under LMC 6.06.023(G), you must give the facility's address, the maximum number of animals it will hold, written proof from Lakewood Planning and Public Works that it meets zoning rules, a sanitary-facilities statement or permit from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and your veterinarian's name.

Sources & Official References

[1]Lakewood Municipal Code

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