Animal Ordinances in Federal Way, WA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Federal Way, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Federal Way caps backyard flocks at four chickens or ducks combined on lots under 35,000 square feet, with coops set back 10 feet from side and rear lines and banned from front yards. Roosters are prohibited citywide except on suburban estate zoned lots. Keeping horses, cattle, or other livestock needs at least 70,000 square feet.
Federal Way Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsFWRC 19.260.055; FWRC 19.260.070
19.260.055 Chickens and ducks. This section allows limited numbers of chickens and ducks for residential lots containing less than 35,000 square feet subject to the following regulations: (1) Number of animals permitted. Any combination of four chickens and/or ducks may be kept on lots up to 34,999 square feet. (2) Pens, structures and enclosures. All pens, structures and enclosures shall be se...
Dog Leash Laws
Federal Way declares any dog running at large a public nuisance, and the code defines a leash as a cord, rope, thong or chain no more than 20 feet long. Animal services officers can cite the owner and impound the dog under Chapter 9.05 FWRC.
Federal Way Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsFWRC 9.18.100(2)(a)
(2) The following are declared to be public nuisances: (a) Any dog running at large within the city is a public nuisance. This section does not apply when the dog is on the property of another person with the permission of the owner of the property; on public property designated to allow dog competitions sanctioned by national organizations; at animal shows, exhibitions or organized dog-trainin...
Breed Restrictions
Federal Way has no breed-specific ban; instead FWRC 9.25.010 makes it unlawful to own or possess a dog once it is declared dangerous, a gross misdemeanor forcing the owner to surrender or remove the dog, and breed is only one factor weighed in a separate vicious animal designation under FWRC 9.25.110.
Federal Way Dangerous Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsFWRC 9.25.010, 9.25.110(1)
It is unlawful to own or possess a dangerous dog within the city limits of the city of Federal Way. Upon final designation of a dog as a dangerous dog, the dog must either be surrendered to the animal services authority or be removed from the city limits of Federal Way by the owner or keeper of the dog. Any violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor. Owners or keepers of dangerous dogs sh...
Beekeeping
Federal Way lets residential property owners keep bees under FWRC 19.260.080, scaling hive counts to lot size: two hives under 20,000 square feet, five hives up to 60,000, and 15 hives above that. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from property lines, or 10 feet if elevated or screened, and be registered annually with the state.
Federal Way Backyard Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsFWRC 19.260.080
19.260.080 Bees. Bees may be kept on the subject property subject to the following regulations: (1) Minimum lot size. The subject property must be at least 15,000 square feet in area. (2) Number of hives. Two hives are permitted if the subject property is less than 20,000 square feet in area. Five hives are permitted if the subject property is between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet in area. A ma...
Exotic Pets
Federal Way bans keeping monkeys, big cats, bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, lynx and poisonous reptiles, plus any other dangerous wild or exotic animal, unless the owner gets a permit from the animal services authority proving adequate safety controls.
Federal Way Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsFWRC 9.18.060(1), (3)
No person shall have, keep, or maintain, in an area of the city, a live monkey (nonhuman primate), lion, tiger, bear, cougar, mountain lion, badger, wolf, coyote, fox, lynx, or a poisonous reptile or serpent, or any other dangerous, carnivorous, wild, or exotic animal or reptile. ... Such animals will be allowed to enter or remain in the city on the condition that a permit is obtained from the ...
Wildlife Feeding
Federal Way bans leaving, placing or distributing food anywhere in a city park with intent to feed wildlife. A separate section bars feeding any fowl, fish or animal in a park while capturing or molesting them.
Federal Way Park Wildlife Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsFWRC 4.05.120
It is unlawful for any person to leave, place or distribute foodstuffs of any kind or nature in any park, with an intent to feed wildlife.
Pet Limits
Federal Way's zoning code leaves ordinary dog and cat numbers to Title 9, where the code's own kennel definitions set the practical ceiling: four or more adult dogs, or six or more adult cats, kept at a residence becomes a kennel or hobby cattery requiring a license.
Federal Way Household Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsFWRC 9.05.010
"Kennel" means a place where four or more adult dogs are kept, whether by owners of the dogs or by persons providing facilities and care whether or not for compensation, but not including a small animal hospital, clinic or pet shop. "Hobby cattery" means a noncommercial cattery at or adjoining a private residence where six or more adult cats are bred or kept for exhibition for organized shows o...
Cat Rules
Every cat 21 weeks or older kept in Federal Way needs an annual license from the animal services authority, current rabies proof, and a license tag worn at all times off the owner's property. Spayed/neutered senior or disabled owners can get a free lifetime tag.
Federal Way Cat Licensing Requirements
Some RestrictionsFWRC 9.09.010(1)-(2)
It is unlawful to keep or harbor a dog or cat that has reached 21 weeks of age unless an annual license is procured for the dog or cat from the animal services authority. There is established a rebuttable presumption that the purchaser of such license is the owner of the animal identified in the license application. Dogs and cats four months old or older shall be vaccinated against rabies.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Federal Way does not require every pet to be fixed, but an unaltered dog or cat impounded a second time must be spayed or neutered by the animal services authority before it can be released, with the owner billed for the surgery.
Federal Way Repeat-Impound Spay/Neuter Rule
Light RestrictionsFWRC 9.05.370
9.05.370 Spaying or neutering of dog or cat impounded more than once. An unaltered dog or cat impounded more than once shall be spayed or neutered by the animal services authority prior to the release of the dog or cat. The cost of the spay or neuter shall be charged to the owner upon redemption.
Pet Store Rules
Federal Way does not ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats, but every pet shop, kennel, cattery, pet daycare or shelter must hold a valid Seattle-King County Department of Public Health permit and post it conspicuously before operating.
Federal Way Pet Shop Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsFWRC 9.09.020
It is unlawful for a person to keep, maintain, or operate a kennel, pet shop, pet daycare, cattery, or shelter within the city without first obtaining a valid permit from Seattle-King County Department of Public Health pursuant to Chapter 8.03 of the King County Board of Health Code. Each permit and certificate of inspection issued pursuant to this chapter shall be in addition to any business r...
Pet Groomer Rules
Federal Way grooming parlors need a Seattle-King County Department of Public Health permit and must follow specific animal-handling rules: no boarding, one animal per cage, restraining straps required, and equipment sterilized after every animal.
Federal Way Grooming Parlor Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFWRC 9.09.030(1)
It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any grooming parlor without a valid permit from Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. Any grooming parlor permit and any certificate of inspection issued pursuant to Chapter 8.03 of the King County Board of Health Code shall be in addition to any business registration required pursuant to Chapter 12.05 FWRC and shall be conspicuously ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Federal Way allows veterinary offices as a permitted office use in the Professional Office (PO) zone, but FWRC 19.210.010 note 2 caps what they can do: small animals only, no outdoor runs, and noise that cannot be heard off the property.
Federal Way Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsFWRC 19.210.010, note 2
2. The following regulations apply to veterinary office only: a. May only treat small animals on the subject property. b. May not include outside runs or other outside facilities for the animals. c. The site must be designed so that noise from this use will not be audible off the subject property, based on a certificate to this effect signed by an acoustical engineer and filed wi...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Federal Way city rules.
Animal Ordinances in King County →