Animal Ordinances in Kirkland, WA

If you live in Kirkland or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Kirkland has 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Wildlife Feeding

Kirkland borders greenbelts and Lake Washington, drawing coyotes, deer, and raccoons. RCW 77.15.790 makes negligent feeding of bears, cougars, or wolves a gross misdemeanor statewide.

Key details: Bear Feeding: Gross misdemeanor. State Law: RCW 77.15.790. Bird Feeders: Allowed, managed. WDFW Hotline: (360) 902-2936.

Negligent feeding of bears, cougars, or wolves is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 77.15.790 with up to 364 days jail and 5,000 dollar fines. Attractant nuisance complaints are civil under KMC 1.12.

Chickens & Livestock

Kirkland allows up to 3 small domestic animals such as chickens per lot under 35,000 sq ft as accessory use, with more on larger lots. Roosters are effectively banned by KMC 11.84A noise rules.

Key details: Base Limit: 3 chickens under 35k sq ft. Roosters: Effectively banned. Setback: 5 ft side and rear typical. Code: KZC 115.15.

Keeping over-limit animals or unsanitary coops is a KZC 115.15 violation with civil fines; rooster noise adds KMC 11.84A nuisance citations.

Exotic Pets

Kirkland outright bans possessing an "inherently dangerous animal" within city limits under KMC 8.09.518, a list that covers non-domestic big cats, bears, venomous reptiles, giant constrictor snakes, and crocodilians. Breaking the ban is a misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, enforced by the police department's animal control officer.

Key details: Governing section: KMC 8.09.518. Banned species groups: wild cats, canids, bears, venomous reptiles, giant snakes, crocodilians. Penalty: misdemeanor: up to 90 days jail, $1,000 fine. Exemptions: government zoos, museums, research facilities, licensed circuses. Related permit rule: KMC 8.09.516 requires state/federal permit.

Possessing or maintaining a banned inherently dangerous animal is a misdemeanor under KMC 8.09.518(a): up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. The Kirkland animal control officer, operating under the police department, enforces the chapter and may seize a prohibited animal under the general enforcement authority in KMC 8.09.300; the city may also pursue injunctive relief under KMC 8.09.340 to abate an ongoing violation. Owning an unpermitted state-classified potentially dangerous wild animal under KMC 8.09.516 carries the identical misdemeanor penalty.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Kirkland actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Bird Protection

Kirkland Municipal Code § 11.41.150(a)(4) makes it unlawful to point or shoot an air gun, BB gun, or similar device at a nongame bird, harmless bird, or songbird anywhere in the city if doing so could kill, injure, or disturb it. A violation is a criminal misdemeanor.

Key details: Citation: KMC § 11.41.150(a)(4). Covers: Air guns, BB guns, pellet guns. Protected: Nongame, harmless, and songbirds. Penalty: Misdemeanor plus weapon confiscated. Park rule: KMC 11.80.080(a) bars harming birds.

A conviction under KMC 11.41.150(a)(4) is a misdemeanor, carrying the city's default penalty of up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both under KMC 1.04.010(c). KMC 11.41.170 additionally requires the court to confiscate the air gun used in the offense. Harming birds inside a city park under KMC 11.80.080(a) is enforced separately as a park-rules violation.

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

Pet Groomer Rules

Kirkland grooming parlors can't board animals, must sterilize equipment after every dog or cat, use restraining straps to prevent falls or injury, never leave animals unattended before a dryer, and meet the same sanitation and inspection standards as shelters and kennels, under KMC 8.09.210-8.09.240; violations are $250 civil infractions.

Key details: Boarding: Not allowed; grooming stay only. Equipment: Must be sterilized after each animal. Dryer rule: Animals may not be left unattended. Caging: No more than one animal per cage. Inspection: Must admit officer within 24 hours.

Operating an unsanitary, nauseous, foul, or offensive grooming parlor, or otherwise violating Chapter 8.09's conditions, is a Class 1 civil infraction under KMC 8.09.330(a), punishable by up to $250 per violation plus statutory assessments and billable city costs; each day, location, and incident counts as a separate infraction. The animal control officer may also pursue additional legal or equitable relief to enjoin practices and abate violating conditions (KMC 8.09.340).

Dog Leash Laws

Every dog in Kirkland must be on a leash no longer than eight feet whenever it's off the property where it lives, per KMC 8.09.500, except in city-designated off-leash areas or on private property with the owner's permission; a loose dog is a declared nuisance and a $250 civil infraction.

Key details: Leash required: Off owner's own premises, citywide. Max leash length: 8 feet (KMC 8.09.120(24)). Exception: City-designated off-leash areas. Exception: Private property with owner's permission. Penalty: Up to $250 civil infraction.

A leash-law violation is a Class 1 civil infraction under KMC 8.09.330(a), with fines up to $250 per violation plus statutory assessments and billable costs; each day, location, and incident is a separate infraction, and the officer can adjust the fine based on the violator's history and good-faith effort to comply. The animal control officer may also apprehend and impound a dog running at large under KMC 8.09.350(a), and a currently licensed dog is held at least 120 hours (five days) for redemption.

Breed Restrictions

Kirkland doesn't restrict dog breeds; instead, KMC 8.09.470-8.09.482 lets the animal control officer declare an individual dog potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious based on its documented conduct, then requires registration, insurance, secure enclosure, muzzling, and warning signage, with noncompliance a gross misdemeanor and grounds for immediate impoundment.

Key details: Basis: Behavior-based declarations, not breed bans. Owner age: Must be 18+ to own a dangerous dog. Registration fee: $100/year on top of regular license. Restraint: Muzzle + secure leash outside enclosure. Insurance: Liability insurance or surety bond required.

The animal control officer must immediately impound a dangerous dog that isn't validly registered, isn't insured or bonded as required, isn't kept in a proper enclosure, is outside without a muzzle and secure leash, or whose owner hasn't posted warning signs (KMC 8.09.474(b)). Failing to comply with dangerous dog requirements is a gross misdemeanor; an impounded dog can't be released during investigation or prosecution, and a convicted owner must reimburse the city's boarding and disposition costs and forfeits any interest in the dog (8.09.474(c)).

Compared to other cities, Kirkland takes a harder line on breed restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Cat Rules

Kirkland cats twelve weeks and older must be licensed and tagged (or tattooed) and, at six months, vaccinated against rabies; keeping four or more adult cats makes a property a cattery requiring a hobby cattery license, under KMC 8.09.130, 8.09.170, and 8.09.502, enforceable as $250 civil infractions.

Key details: License age: Cats 12 weeks and older must be licensed. ID required: License tag or tattoo (8.09.130(e)). Rabies vaccination: Required at 6 months (8.09.502). Cattery threshold: 4+ adult cats needs hobby cattery license. License term: 1 year, no proration of fees.

Failing to license or vaccinate a cat, or violating the hobby cattery or unaltered-transfer rules, is a Class 1 civil infraction under KMC 8.09.330(a), carrying a fine of up to $250 per violation plus statutory assessments and city costs, with each day and incident treated separately. The animal control officer may also issue a warning ticket in lieu of a civil infraction at his or her discretion (KMC 8.09.430).

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Kirkland limits veterinary offices in its High Density Residential zones to small-animal treatment only, bars outdoor runs, and requires an acoustical engineer's noise certification with any development permit application.

Key details: Governing table: KZC 25.20 Permitted Uses, Special Regulation PU-23. Zones covered: High Density Residential (RM 2.4, RMA 2.4, RM 1.8, etc.). Animal scope: Small animals only, no outdoor runs. Noise proof required: Acoustical engineer certification with permit. Mixed residential use: Not permitted with dwelling units on site.

A development permit application lacking the required acoustical engineer's noise certification will be rejected as incomplete by the Planning and Building Department. Sites with outdoor animal runs, large-animal treatment, or a veterinary office proposed within a mixed-use building containing dwelling units are not permitted uses under KZC 25.20 and cannot receive permit approval; the applicant must redesign the proposal or seek a different zone before resubmitting.

Compared to other cities, Kirkland takes a harder line on veterinary clinic zoning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Pet Limits

Kirkland caps household pets at three adult dogs, three adult cats, or four dogs and cats combined per dwelling unit, plus up to four rabbits, under KZC 115.20(2)(c). There's no cap on other household pets like caged birds, gerbils, or reptiles, and nursing offspring don't count against the limit until they can survive independently.

Key details: Max adult dogs: 3 per dwelling unit. Max adult cats: 3 per dwelling unit. Max dogs and cats combined: 4 total. Max rabbits: 4 per dwelling unit. Other indoor pets: no maximum.

Keeping more than the permitted number of dogs, cats, or rabbits is a zoning code violation the Planning and Building Department enforces under KMC Chapter 1.12. A property owner who doesn't correct the violation after notice faces civil fines starting at $100 per day for the first 15 days, rising to $250 and then $500 per day, capped at $50,000 per violation under KMC 1.12.045.

The Bottom Line

Kirkland 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 Kirkland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Kirkland can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.