Animal Ordinances in Edmonds, WA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Edmonds, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Edmonds City Code 5.05.130.1 lets any single-family lot keep up to six female chickens, no roosters mentioned, with a compliant coop counted as an accessory structure. Larger 'covered animals' like horses or goats need 12,000 square feet of pasture for the first animal plus 8,000 for each additional one, with a fenced, 30-foot-setback stable.
Edmonds Allows Six Hens, Sets Livestock Acreage
Some RestrictionsEdmonds City Code §§ 5.05.130(A)(1)-(2), 5.05.130.1(B)
There shall be not less than 12,000 square feet of open space for maintaining and pasturing the first covered animal on any parcel of property, and an additional 8,000 square feet shall be required for each additional covered animal. ... ... 1. The pasture area shall have a minimum width of 80 feet. 2. The stable housing the covered animal shall be set back at least 30 feet from any side, rear ...
Dog Leash Laws
Edmonds City Code 5.05.050 bars any animal from running at large, and 5.05.060 requires dogs to stay on leash in city parks and on the waterfront walkway. The one exception is the fenced Marina Beach Off-Leash Area, open dawn to dusk, where dogs still need voice control and a leash on entry and exit.
Edmonds Dogs Must Be Leashed Off Home Property
Some RestrictionsEdmonds City Code §§ 5.05.050, 5.05.060
Except as provided in subsection (C) of this section, it shall be a civil violation for the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any animal to allow such animal to run at large during any hours of the day or night; provided however that fourth and subsequent violations shall be misdemeanor offenses. ... Dogs may be allowed to run at large only in the marked, fenced Puget S...
Breed Restrictions
Edmonds has no breed ban. Instead, 5.05.122 lets the animal control authority declare a specific dog 'dangerous' based on its behavior, such as an unprovoked severe injury to a person. Owners then face a $100 annual registration fee, mandatory secure enclosure, muzzling off-property, liability insurance, and warning signs.
Edmonds Regulates Dogs by Behavior, Not Breed
Significant RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.05.122(A), (F)-(H)
Upon declaration by the animal control authority that a dog is a dangerous dog as defined in ECC 5.05.010, the owner shall be served with a dangerous dog declaration. ... ... F. Requirements for Dangerous Dogs. Strict compliance with each of the following conditions is required to keep a dangerous dog in the city of Edmonds: ... The applicant shall apply for such certificate upon forms supplied...
Exotic Pets
Edmonds bans keeping any inherently dangerous animal outright and requires a state or federal wildlife permit for every other wild animal. Animal control may authorize only short-term care of an injured or orphaned native wild animal while permits are obtained. Both offenses are misdemeanors carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Wild and Dangerous Animals Banned in Edmonds
Heavy RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.05.131; § 5.05.132
5.05.131 Wild animals. ... No person shall own any wild animal unless he has obtained a permit from the State Game Department and/or Federal Fish and Wildlife Service; provided, that the animal control authority may allow a person to temporarily care for an infant or injured wild animal native to this area which is homeless while the person acquires the necessary state and/or federal permits. A...
Wildlife Feeding
Edmonds bans intentionally feeding, attracting or artificially sustaining wildlife on city beaches under ECC 5.32.106, added in 2019, with an exception only for feeding programs authorized by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. The prohibition is beach-specific and can be lifted only by posted notice.
Edmonds Bans Feeding Wildlife On City Beaches
Heavy RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.32.106
No person shall intentionally feed, attract, or artificially sustain wildlife on city beaches. The feeding of indigenous wildlife is prohibited in all city beach areas unless otherwise posted. This section does not apply to authorized feeding programs established with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Pet Limits
Edmonds City Code 5.05.015 limits every residential dwelling unit to five or fewer domestic animals, regardless of how many people live there. A newborn litter gets a 180-day grace period before the household must come back down to the cap, and small caged or tank pets kept indoors don't count against it.
Edmonds Caps Pets at Five Per Household
Some RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.05.015(B)-(C)
For each residential dwelling unit, regardless of the number of occupants residing within each dwelling unit, the following maximum number of domestic animals may be kept or owned within the dwelling unit upon the lot or premises associated with such dwelling unit: ... ... B. Five or fewer domestic animals; C. One unweaned litter produced by any domestic animal permitted to be kept by this chap...
Cat Rules
Edmonds does not require cat owners to license their cats. Section 5.05.025 offers a nonmandatory lifetime license for $5.00, sold purely for identification purposes if a cat is lost or picked up by animal control.
Edmonds Cat Licensing Is Optional, Not Required
Light RestrictionsEdmonds City Code §§ 5.05.002, 5.05.025
Unless otherwise set forth in this chapter, a violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a Class I civil infraction pursuant to Chapter 7.80 RCW. Issuance and disposition of infractions issued for violations of this chapter shall be in accordance with Chapter 7.80 RCW. The penalty for violation of a provision of this chapter shall be $100.00. The penalty for a second or subsequ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Edmonds City Code 5.05.127.1 requires stray dogs and cats held at the city's designated shelter, and animals surrendered there by owners, to be spayed or neutered with verification before adoption. Owners who adopt without immediate surgery post a $50 deposit and face a $100 fine, growing to $250, if they don't get it done.
Edmonds Requires Spay/Neuter for Shelter Animals
Some RestrictionsEdmonds City Code §§ 5.05.127.1(A), 5.05.127.4
Stray dogs and cats at least two months of age from the city's animal control service area that are placed at and retained by the city designated shelter, and dogs and cats owned by citizens residing within the city's animal control service area that are surrendered at the city's designated shelter, shall be spayed or neutered, and verification of said surgery shall be provided before animals a...
Pet Store Rules
Edmonds bans selling or offering for sale any dog, cat or rabbit citywide. A retail pet store may only provide space for a publicly operated animal control agency or nonprofit welfare organization to adopt out spayed or neutered dogs, cats and rabbits, not sell animals of its own. Violations cost $250 per animal per day.
Edmonds Pet Stores: Adoption Only, No Sales
Heavy RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.05.134(B)
5.05.134 The breeding, advertisement, and sale of companion animals is banned. ... ... B. Advertisement and Sale of Companion Animals Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any companion animal, namely any dog, cat, or rabbit. A retail pet store may provide space and appropriate care for animals owned by a publicly operated animal control agency or nonprofit a...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Edmonds requires a conditional use permit for veterinary clinics in the BP (Planned Business) zone under ECDC 16.53.010(C), and allows boarding only of animals under veterinary care, not commercial kennels.
Edmonds Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsEdmonds Community Development Code § 16.53.010(C)(1)
C. Primary Uses Requiring a Conditional Use Permit. 1. Medical, dental and veterinary clinics, including supporting uses such as pharmacies and laboratories. Veterinary clinics may include the boarding of animals under veterinary care but not commercial kennels;
Bird Protection
Edmonds bars anyone from taking, possessing, injuring or destroying any bird on a public city beach without first obtaining a permit from the parks and recreation director, under ECC 5.32.105(A)(1). The rule applies chapter-wide to marine and intertidal life and gets a heightened, unpermitted ban inside the Brackett's Landing Shoreline Sanctuary.
Edmonds Requires Permit To Handle Beach Birds
Significant RestrictionsEdmonds City Code § 5.32.105(A)(1)
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly engage in any of the following activities on any public beach in the city of Edmonds without first obtaining a permit from the Edmonds parks and recreation director or designee: 1. To take, possess, injure, or destroy any bird, mollusk, crustacean, marine or intertidal algae or plant, or any other marine or intertidal organism of any kind what...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Edmonds city rules.
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