Animal Ordinances in Everett, WA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Everett, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Everett caps backyard chickens, fowl, rabbits and miniature goats or pigs on a sliding scale tied to lot size. A 10,000-square-foot lot can hold six chickens; larger lots get more, plus one extra bird per 5,000 additional square feet. Roosters and larger flocks need a city facility license.
Everett Chicken and Small Livestock Limits
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.035(D)
D. Small livestock is permitted in nonagriculturally zoned areas, subject to: 1. Chickens: a. Up to six chickens on lots up to ten thousand square feet; b. Up to eight chickens on lots ten thousand to fifteen thousand square feet; c. Up to ten chickens on lots fifteen thousand to thirty-five thousand square feet; d. One additional chicken per five thousand square feet, for lots over thirty-five...
Dog Leash Laws
Everett bans letting a dog run at large anywhere off its owner's property unless it is on a leash, tether or other physical control device no longer than eight feet, under EMC 6.04.070(B)(1). Animal control officers issue a $250 infraction citation for violations, and the Everett Animal Shelter impounds any dog found at large.
Everett Dogs Must Be Leashed or Restrained
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code §§ 6.04.020, 6.04.070(B)(1)
Animal at Large. Any animal off the property of its owner, unless restrained by leash, tether or other physical control device not to exceed eight feet in length and under the physical control of a responsible person, whether or not the owner of such animal, or which enters upon the property of another person without authorization of that person, shall be deemed "at large." ... It shall be unla...
Breed Restrictions
Everett's dangerous-dog ordinance evaluates dogs on documented behavior, not breed: the code bars declaring a dog dangerous based solely on breed, and Everett repealed its old breed-specific criteria in 2019.
Everett Dangerous Dog Law Is Not Breed-Based
Few RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.08.045(E); § 6.08.050, Code Reviser's Note 1
The state may not meet its burden of proof that the owner should have known the dog was potentially dangerous solely by showing the dog to be a particular breed or breeds. ... 'All Potentially Dangerous Dog designations which were entered solely based on the breed-specific criteria of former Section 2 of Ordinance No. 1228-86 ... and not based on the dog's behavior, shall be removed ...'
Exotic Pets
Everett Municipal Code § 6.04.120 bans possessing, breeding or selling primates, big cats, bears, wild canids, venomous reptiles, large constrictors, and crocodilians. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail, with a narrow registration path for animals already owned before the ban and licensed exotic sellers.
Everett Bans Primates, Big Cats and Venomous Reptiles
Heavy RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.120(A)
A. No person shall possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy, sell, or attempt to buy or sell any of the following animals: 1. All nonhuman primates; 2. All wild cats of the family Felidae and their hybrid, except for the domestic cat Felis catus; 3. All species of bear; 4. All wild carnivores of the family Canidae and their hybrid, except for the domestic dog Canis familiaris; 5. Venomous re...
Wildlife Feeding
Everett's park code makes it unlawful to feed fowl, farm animals, or wildlife anywhere in a city park except at spots the parks and recreation director designates for that purpose. Snohomish County's county seat treats the violation as a civil infraction carrying up to a $250 fine, enforced by park rangers who patrol every city park.
Everett Bans Feeding Wildlife in City Parks
Significant RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 9.06.080
It is unlawful in any manner to feed any fowl, farm animals or wildlife, except at areas designated by the parks and recreation director for such purposes. Violation of any of the provisions of this section constitutes an infraction, and may be punished by a penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars.
Pet Limits
Everett lets households keep up to two adult dogs or cats without a license; keeping more requires an animal-control facility license under Chapter 6.04.
Everett Caps Unlicensed Pets at Two
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.040(A)
Facilities housing at any time more than two adult dogs or cats, or a combination thereof, in excess of two dogs and two cats, or when the keeping of such animals produces more than one litter each year from all such animals housed, or an animal kennel or cattery, hobby kennel, or commercial kennel or cattery, or the keeping of any livestock or exotic, wild or dangerous animal, or the offering ...
Cat Rules
Everett requires every cat over six months old to be licensed annually, with proof of current rabies vaccination, under EMC 6.04.030. A licensed cat is then the only animal exempt from the citywide at-large ban in EMC 6.04.070(B)(1), but even a licensed cat cannot trespass on a neighbor's property in a way that becomes a nuisance.
Everett Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.070(B)(1)-(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to: 1. Permit any animal to be at large. Exception: licensed domestic cats; 2. Permit a domestic cat to trespass upon the property of another in such a manner as to be a nuisance;
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Everett requires every animal adopted from the city shelter to be spayed or neutered before the adoption is completed, with four narrow exceptions for underage or medically unfit animals.
Everett Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.090(G)(3)(c), (G)(4)
Any animal held for the prescribed period and not redeemed by its owner, and which is neither dangerous nor unhealthy, may be released for adoption, subject to the following conditions: a. The adoptive owner agrees to furnish proper care to the animal in accord with this chapter; b. Payment of required fees, including any medical care costs incurred during impoundment; and ...
Pet Store Rules
Everett prohibits retail pet stores from selling or offering for sale any dog, cat, or rabbit, though stores may still host adoptions of animals from public agencies or nonprofit rescues.
Everett Bans Retail Pet Store Dog Sales
Heavy RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 6.04.070(D)
A retail pet store may not sell or offer for sale 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 animal welfare organization for the purpose of adopting spayed or neutered dogs, cats or rabbits to the public. Violation of this subsection by any person or corporation shall be an infrac...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Everett's commercial use table splits veterinary uses by animal size: small-animal vet clinics and animal day cares can locate in NR, urban residential, mixed-use and light-industrial mixed-use zones but cannot have outside runs, while large-animal clinics and commercial kennels are pushed into light-industrial and agricultural zones.
Everett Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 19.05.090, Table 5-2
Veterinary clinic or animal day care, limited to small animal [NR-C: blank; NR: P1; UR4/UR7: P1; MU: P; LI-MU: P; LI: blank; HI: blank; AG: blank] Outside runs or other outside facilities for animals are not permitted. Buildings shall be constructed so noise from this use is not audible on residentially zoned lots. ... Veterinary clinic or commercial kennels, large animal or commercial kennels ...
Looking for Snohomish County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Everett city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Snohomish County →