Animal Ordinances in Yakima, WA

If you live in Yakima or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Yakima has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Cat Rules

Yakima makes it unlawful to let an unaltered cat six months or older roam at large, but the city carves out a trap-alter-return exception for feral and roaming cats. Violations carry a $300 civil infraction under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.293 and § 6.20.600.

Key details: At-large threshold: unaltered cat 6 months or older. At-large fine: $300 civil infraction, § 6.20.600. Public feeding fine: $125 civil infraction, § 6.20.296. Nauseous condition: misdemeanor, up to 90 days/$1,000. TAR protection: trap-alter-return exempted, § 6.20.294.

Letting an unaltered cat six months or older run at large is a $300 civil infraction under § 6.20.293 per the penalty schedule at § 6.20.600. Feeding a feral or roaming cat on public property draws a separate $125 infraction under § 6.20.296. Creating a nauseous or offensive condition through cat caretaking is a misdemeanor under § 6.20.295, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine per § 6.20.600.

Dog Leash Laws

Yakima requires dogs to stay on their owner's property or be restrained on a leash no longer than eight feet under a capable handler's control; letting a dog run at large is a civil infraction under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.130.

Key details: Max leash length: 8 feet. At-large, 1st offense: Civil infraction. Bite/injury penalty: Misdemeanor. Serious injury/death: Gross misdemeanor. Exemptions: Dog parks, shows, supervised hunting.

Running at large is a civil infraction; an unprovoked dog that injures a person or animal is a misdemeanor, and one that kills or seriously injures someone is a gross misdemeanor.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Yakima requires an unaltered dog impounded more than once in a 12-month period to be spayed or neutered before its owner can redeem it from the shelter, with the owner paying the veterinary fee.

Key details: Trigger: 2nd impoundment in 12 months. Requirement: Spay/neuter before redemption. Cost: Owner pays vet fee. Grace period: 10 business days if delayed.

Redeeming a twice-impounded unaltered dog without spay/neuter, or failing to submit proof of alteration within 10 business days of conditional release, violates § 6.20.320(5)(A) and can trigger re-impoundment.

Pet Limits

Yakima caps household pets at three dogs, five cats, four hen chickens, and four rabbits kept for pleasure rather than utility, under the city's urban area zoning code accessory-use rules.

Key details: Dogs: fewer than four (max 3). Cats: fewer than six (max 5). Hen chickens: fewer than five, no roosters. Rabbits: fewer than five (max 4). Applies to: residential zoning districts.

Keeping more animals than these pet limits allow reclassifies them as animal husbandry, triggering the half-acre lot and 100-foot setback rules of YMC § 15.09.070, or drawing an animal-control citation under YMC Chapter 6.20.

Breed Restrictions

Yakima repealed its breed-specific pit bull ordinance in 2018 and now regulates dogs solely by individual conduct: any dog, regardless of breed, can be declared dangerous under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.010 and § 6.20.135.

Key details: Former pit bull law: Ch. 6.18, repealed. Repealing ordinance: Ord. 2018-029. Current standard: Behavior-based, not breed-based. Declaration authority: Animal control officer. Appeal window: 10 days to request hearing.

There is no penalty for breed alone; a dog declared dangerous based on conduct instead faces mandatory euthanasia or relocation, plus strict confinement, insurance, and registration requirements.

Yakima is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Microchipping

Yakima requires any dog formally declared 'potentially dangerous' to be microchipped and registered with the city within ten days of the declaration, under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.138, not a citywide pet-microchipping mandate.

Key details: Deadline to microchip: 10 days after declaration. Applies to: Declared potentially dangerous dogs only. Also required: $250,000 bond or insurance. Renewal: Annual registration + inspection. General pet mandate: None: no citywide chipping rule.

Failing to microchip and register a declared potentially dangerous dog within ten days means the department won't issue the certificate, and the dog may be impounded and euthanized under § 6.20.138.

Compared to other cities, Yakima takes a harder line on microchipping. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Chickens & Livestock

Keeping livestock or other farm animals in the Yakima urban area requires at least a half-acre lot, and any barn, coop, or animal structure must sit at least 100 feet from a neighbor's residence under Yakima Municipal Code § 15.09.070.

Key details: Minimum lot size: 1/2 acre. Setback from neighbor's home: 100 feet. Setback on owner's own lot: 10 feet. Fencing: Required to contain animals. Applies to: Yakima urban area, city + county.

Animal husbandry that violates the half-acre minimum, 100-foot residential setback, or fencing requirement is a zoning violation the city's reviewing official may condition, deny, or order discontinued.

The Bottom Line

Yakima's animal ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Yakima is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Yakima 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.