Animal Ordinances in Auburn, WA (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Auburn, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Auburn allows up to four domestic fowl on a 6,000-square-foot lot, with one more bird per extra 2,000 square feet up to a 10-bird cap; roosters and peafowl are banned outright, and coops must sit in the rear yard, set back 10 feet from side and rear lines.
Auburn Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsAuburn City Code § 18.31.220(B)
B. Domestic Fowl. Domestic fowl may be kept if the owner complies with the following: 1. Domestic fowl and poultry are permitted as an accessory use to a single-unit detached dwelling. 2. Roosters and peafowl are not permitted. 3. Structures, or yard areas including chicken coops, pens or runs, housing or containing domestic fowl, are only allowed in the rear yard (the area between the rear yar...
Dog Leash Laws
Any dog off its owner's property in Auburn must be on a leash or chain no longer than eight feet, controlled by the owner or another competent, authorized person, under ACC 6.02.040. Violations run $50 to $250 on a graduated, rolling 12-month schedule.
Auburn Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsACC 6.02.040
A. If any dog is off the premises of its owner or custodian, such dog, while away from such premises, must be controlled by a leash or chain not more than eight feet in length, such control to be exercised by such owner or custodian or other competent and authorized person. Failure to control a dog in this manner is a violation. B. A person who violates this section shall be punished as set for...
Breed Restrictions
Auburn does not ban dogs by breed; instead the animal control authority declares individual dogs "dangerous" based on their conduct, then requires a $250,000 bond or insurance policy, a secure enclosure and a $500 yearly registration fee before the owner may keep the dog in the city.
Auburn Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsACC 6.35.020
E. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dangerous dog in the city without a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this section... F. The animal control authority shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a dog deemed to be a dangerous dog if the owner presents to the animal control unit sufficient evidence of: 1. A proper enclosure to confine a dangerous dog... and the...
Beekeeping
Auburn permits up to two honeybee hives as an accessory use on lots under 10,000 square feet, but every hive must be registered with the State Department of Agriculture and kept at least 25 feet from any property line, entrance facing away from it.
Auburn Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsAuburn City Code § 18.31.220(F)
F. Apiaries (keeping of honey bees (Apis mellifera)), also referred to as beekeeping, may be permitted if the owner complies with the following: 1. Beekeeping is allowed as an accessory use to a single-unit detached dwelling residence. 2. All hives are registered with the State Department of Agriculture. 3. No more than two hives, each with only one swarm, shall be kept on lots of less than 10,...
Exotic Pets
Auburn follows Washington RCW 16.30 banning private ownership of dangerous wild animals (big cats, bears, non-human primates, venomous reptiles). ACC 6.02 adds local enforcement. Ferrets are legal.
Auburn Exotic and Dangerous Animals
Heavy RestrictionsChapter 16.30 RCW
Chapter 16.30 RCW DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS Complete chapter HTML PDF RCW dispositions Sections HTML PDF 16.30.005 Intent. HTML PDF 16.30.010 Definitions. HTML PDF 16.30.020 Exceptions. HTML PDF 16.30.030 Prohibited behavior. HTML PDF 16.30.040 Confiscation — Duties of animal control authority or law enforcement officer. HTML PDF 16.30.050 City or county ordinances. HTML PDF 16.30.060 Violations —...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding any wild bird or animal in an Auburn city park is unlawful under ACC 2.22.130, along with touching, molesting, or offering wildlife tobacco, alcohol, or anything else known to be dangerous or noxious. The rule protects park wildlife from harassment and unsafe handouts, and violators face a civil infraction.
Auburn Ban on Feeding Park Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsACC 2.22.130
No person shall molest or attempt to touch any bird or wild animal in a park. It shall be unlawful for any person to give, offer, or attempt to give to any wild animal within the parks any tobacco, drink, or other article known to be dangerous or noxious to animals. It is also unlawful to feed any wild bird or animal in a park. Violation of this section constitutes a Class 1 civil infraction pu...
Pet Limits
Auburn caps household pets at four dogs, four cats, or any combination totaling four, per ACC 6.04.040. The cap does not apply to humane societies, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals or compliant kennels, and violations draw a $50 infraction.
Auburn Household Pet Limit Rule
Some RestrictionsACC 6.04.040
A. The maximum number of dogs and cats which may be licensed by a resident of the city or kept at a street address or physical location in the city are four dogs or four cats or any combination of dogs and cats totaling four animals pursuant to ACC 18.31.230. B. The maximum limits on dogs and cats at a street address or physical location do not apply to the facilities of a humane society or oth...
Cat Rules
Auburn cats need a current city license after 8 weeks old under ACC 6.04.010, and a female cat in heat must be confined so she cannot reach a male, per ACC 6.02.020, or she can be seized, impounded and ordered spayed regardless of any prior impound history.
Auburn Cat Confinement and Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 6.02.020
A. Every female dog and cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male of the species, except for planned breeding. It is a violation for any person having control or custody of a dog or cat in heat to allow such animal to be unconfined. Any dog or cat not so confined when in heat, whether or not ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Auburn bans owning an unaltered dog or cat over six months old unless the owner holds a city unaltered-animal license, per ACC 6.04.050. Guide-dog puppies in training and police service dogs are exempt, and any shelter dog or cat over six months must be altered before adoption.
Auburn Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsACC 6.04.050
A. No person shall own or harbor any cat or dog over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered unless: 1. The person holds an unaltered animal license from the city for the animal; 2. Guide dog puppies in training and police service dogs are exempted from the provisions of this section. B. Any dog or cat over the age of six months adopted from an animal shelter shall be spayed ...
Microchipping
Auburn will not release a repeat-impounded dog or cat until it is microchipped. Under ACC 6.01.100(A), if an un-microchipped dog or cat has been impounded before in the last 24 months, the animal control officer can order microchipping before redemption, at the owner's cost.
Auburn Mandatory Pet Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsACC 6.01.100
A. No un-microchipped impounded dog or cat that has previously been impounded within the preceding 24-month period may be redeemed by any person until the animal is microchipped pursuant to an order of the animal control officer directing the microchipping. The microchipping shall be accomplished by the shelter or by any duly licensed veterinarian. In all cases, the veterinarian fees and costs ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Auburn zones pet grooming under Animal Sales and Services, ACC 18.57.040(B), which caps overnight boarding, restricts outdoor dog runs to 8am-6pm and 50 feet from homes, and requires services be limited to household pets.
Auburn Pet Grooming Business Standards
Some RestrictionsACC 18.57.040(B)
B. Animal Sales and Services. 1. All Zones Where Permitted. a. All sales and services shall be for household pets only. b. Overnight boarding is allowed within a completely enclosed building; however, animal services or sales uses over 20,000 square feet in gross floor area that use a majority of their gross floor area for retail sales shall have no more than 15 percent of...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Auburn's zoning code confines veterinary clinics and small animal hospitals to commercial and light-industrial land. Table 18.23.030 permits them outright in the C-1, C-2, C-AG and M-1 zones but bars them entirely from the M-2 heavy industrial zone. There is no administrative or conditional path around the M-2 prohibition.
Auburn Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsACC 18.23.030 (Table 18.23.030)
Table 18.23.030 identifies the uses of land allowed in each commercial and industrial zone and the land use approval process required to establish each use... P – Permitted, C – Conditional, A – Administrative, X – Prohibited... LAND USE | Zoning Designation (C-1 | C-2 | C-AG | M-1 | M-2)... Veterinary clinic, animal hospital | P | P | P | P | X
Bird Protection
Auburn makes it a misdemeanor to shoot, trap, kill or otherwise molest robins, larks, sparrows, wrens and other songbirds or insectivorous birds within city limits, including their nests, eggs or young. The rule sits in the city's general animal-cruelty chapter alongside state nongame-bird protections.
Auburn Songbird Protection Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsACC 6.20.070
It is unlawful to frighten, shoot at, wound, kill, take, capture, ensnare, net, trap or in any other manner molest or injure any robin, lark, whippoorwill, finch, sparrow, thrush, wren, martin, swallow, snowbird, bobolink, red-winged blackbird, raven, oriole, kingbird, mockingbird, song sparrow or other songbird or insectivorous bird; or in any manner molest or injure the nest eggs or young of ...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Auburn city rules.
Animal Ordinances in King County →