How Bellingham Handles Animal Ordinances: A Practical Guide

Bellingham maintains 133 local ordinances across all categories, and 10 of those deal specifically with animal ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bellingham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Beekeeping

Bellingham bars locating a beehive within 25 feet of any property line unless it's raised 8 feet or screened by a 6-foot fence, and requires state hive registration, per BMC 7.12.060(B).

Key details: Setback: 25 feet from property line. Fence exception: 6-ft fence, 20 ft each way. Height exception: Hive 8+ feet above grade. Registration: Required with WA Dept. of Agriculture.

Beekeeping that breaks BMC 7.12.060 is an infraction under BMC 7.12.140, fined up to $250, plus a possible nuisance order to correct the setup.

Breed Restrictions

Bellingham has no breed ban: dogs are declared dangerous or potentially dangerous based on documented bites, attacks, or aggressive behavior, not breed, under a formal declaration and appeal process run through municipal court.

Key details: Declaration basis: documented bite/attack, not breed. Appeal window: 5 business days. Dangerous dog registration: $100/year. Max penalty (dangerous dog): $5,000, 364 days jail.

Violating potentially-dangerous-dog restrictions is a misdemeanor up to $1,000 and 90 days jail; violating dangerous-dog restrictions (no registration, missing insurance, improper enclosure) is a gross misdemeanor up to $5,000 and 364 days jail.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bellingham actively enforces its breed restrictions requirements.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Bellingham requires an unaltered dog to be spayed or neutered before release once it has been impounded more than once within a 12-month period. The Bellingham-Whatcom County Humane Society performs or arranges the surgery, and the owner pays the cost before redeeming the dog. Owners may request a 72-hour hearing to show good cause and avoid the mandate.

Key details: Trigger: 2nd+ impoundment in 12 months. Who pays: Owner pays sterilization cost. Hearing deadline: 72 hours to request good cause. Appeal body: City hearing examiner. Extra impound fee: $20 if unsterilized, BMC 7.08.080.

Refusing to pay for the sterilization or the surgery itself simply keeps the dog impounded; BMC 7.08.090(B) allows the humane society to humanely destroy or re-home any dog not redeemed within 72 hours (excluding Sundays and legal holidays). Missing the 72-hour window to request a good-cause hearing forfeits the chance to keep the dog unaltered, and an appeal of the hearing outcome goes to the city's hearing examiner, reviewed only for whether the decision was arbitrary or capricious.

Cat Rules

Bellingham doesn't license cats like dogs, but loose cats found more than 50 feet from a dwelling without the property owner's consent can be impounded, with unsterilized or unidentified cats charged an extra $20 to redeem.

Key details: Cat licensing: not required (dogs only). At-large impound fee: $25 to $100. Unsterilized/no-ID surcharge: $20 each. Nuisance cats: trappable on owner complaint.

Letting a cat run at large exposes it to impoundment under BMC 7.12.030, plus escalating impound fees ($25 to $100) and $20 surcharges for lacking sterilization or ID under BMC 7.12.050.

Chickens & Livestock

Bellingham requires horses, cattle, sheep, goats and swine to be securely confined or staked out, and kept at least 50 feet from any dwelling, under BMC 7.12.060(A) in Whatcom County, Washington.

Key details: Setback: 50 feet from dwellings. Covered species: Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine. Penalty: Infraction, up to $250. Enforced by: Bellingham-Whatcom County Humane Society.

Violating BMC 7.12.060 is an infraction under BMC 7.12.140, fined up to $250; the humane society can also order unsafe or unsanitary premises corrected.

Dog Leash Laws

Bellingham requires every dog off its owner's premises to be 'under control', restrained enough to prevent contact with people, animals, or vehicles, with roaming or straying dogs subject to a $250 infraction fine.

Key details: Standard: "under control," not leash-specific. Fine: up to $250 infraction. Exception: city off-leash training areas. Uncontrolled dog: may be impounded immediately.

Letting a dog run loose off its owner's property is an infraction fined up to $250 under BMC 7.08.110, and the dog can be impounded on the spot under BMC 7.08.060.

Wildlife Feeding

Bellingham makes it an offense to intentionally feed deer or raccoons, or leave food where they can reach it, anywhere in the city, under BMC 7.12.130.

Key details: Covered animals: Deer and raccoons only. Penalty: Infraction, up to $250. Presumption: Food left outdoors = intentional. Exempt: Pet, livestock, wild-bird feeding.

Feeding deer or raccoons is an infraction under BMC 7.12.130(H), punishable by a fine of up to $250 per violation.

This is one of the stricter rules in Bellingham's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Exotic Pets

Bellingham requires an animal-control permit to own any wild or exotic animal and flatly bans keeping lions, tigers, bears, cougars, coyotes and venomous snakes, per BMC 7.12.100.

Key details: Permit fee: $20/year per location. Outright banned: Lions, bears, cougars, coyotes, venomous snakes. Inspection notice: 24 hours advance. Max penalty: $1,000 fine, 90 days jail.

Owning a wild or exotic animal without a permit, or owning a banned species like a cougar or coyote, is a misdemeanor under BMC 7.12.150: up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

Compared to other cities, Bellingham takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Bellingham has no numeric pet cap, but BMC 7.16.010(B) makes it unlawful to keep animals or fowl anywhere in the city unless the premises stay sanitary, with a five-day cure window before nuisance abatement.

Key details: Cure period: 5 days to fix. Max penalty: $1,000 fine, 90 days jail. Enforced by: Bellingham-Whatcom County Humane Society. Uncorrected cases: Abated as a public nuisance.

Violating BMC 7.16.010(B) is a misdemeanor under BMC 7.16.110: up to $1,000, 90 days jail, plus restitution for the animals' care, rehab, transport and boarding.

Bird Protection

Bellingham makes violating federal or state songbird, game bird, or migratory bird and waterfowl protection laws a local misdemeanor, letting city courts prosecute wildlife crimes under municipal code.

Key details: Adopts: federal and state bird protection law. Covers: songbirds, game birds, migratory waterfowl. Max fine: $1,000. Max jail: 90 days.

Violating federal or state songbird, game bird, or migratory waterfowl protection law is a misdemeanor under BMC 7.16.120, punishable by up to $1,000 and/or 90 days jail per BMC 7.16.110.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bellingham actively enforces its bird protection requirements.

The Bottom Line

Bellingham is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Bellingham, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Bellingham's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.