Animal Ordinances in Lacey, WA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Lacey, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Lacey, Washington, a residential lot under one acre can keep one fowl per 1,000 square feet of lot area, up to ten, with roosters banned. Cows, horses and sheep need a lot of one acre or more, at one head per half acre, under Lacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015.
Lacey WA Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015
(1) Domestic fowl and rabbits: (a) The maximum number of all fowl permitted accessory to a single-family residential home on an urban lot shall be one per one thousand square feet of lot area, up to a maximum of ten. (b) Roosters, geese, turkeys, peacocks and exotic species are prohibited. ... (d) Structures housing domestic fowl or rabbits must be located and designed as follows: •Located ten ...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Lacey, Washington, a dog found off the owner's property or vehicle must be under control by leash, carrier or demonstrated voice command, and on public property such as a park, beach or school ground it must be on a leash held by a person able to keep physical control. At-large violations escalate from Class 3 to Class 1 infractions and then a misdemeanor.
Lacey WA Dog Leash and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.050
1. When a dog, licensed or not, is found off the property or outside the vehicle of the owner and not under control of a person by means of a leash, carrier or demonstrated voice command wherein the person purporting to exercise control of a dog can cause the dog to immediately heel by giving an appropriate voice command; or ... A. Pet animal at large. ... Such person’s pet animal is at large a...
Breed Restrictions
In the City of Lacey, Washington, section 7.04.070 of the Lacey Municipal Code classifies a dog as potentially dangerous or dangerous by what the dog has done, not by breed. A dangerous dog must be muzzled and leashed off the property, confined securely at home, and registered with a $250,000.00 bond or insurance and a $75.00 annual fee.
Lacey WA Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.070
2. A dog shall be declared dangerous when, according to the records of animal services, the dog has: a. Inflicted severe injury or substantial bodily harm on a human being without provocation on public or private property; or b. Killed a pet or domestic animal without provocation while off the owner’s or keeper’s property; or ... a. Must be securely muzzled and leashed and under the control of ...
Beekeeping
In the City of Lacey, Washington, a single-family lot can keep a maximum of four honey bee hives as an accessory use, registered with the State Department of Agriculture. Hives must stay 25 feet from any lot line, reducible to 10 feet with elevation strategies, under Lacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015.
Lacey WA Beekeeping Rules for Residential Lots
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 16.21.015
(3) Beekeeping provided: (a) Beekeeping may include honey bees, mason bees, cutter bees, cavity nesting bees or similar bees used for honey or pollination purposes. (b) Honey bees must be registered with the State Department of Agriculture according to provisions of RCW 15.60.021 and meet the following restrictions: •A maximum of four honey bee hives is permitted as an accessory use to a single...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Lacey, Washington, owners of constrictor type reptiles over eight feet in length, venomous reptiles and primates that are not otherwise prohibited must follow all state and federal law and register each animal annually with Animal Services. Failure to register is a misdemeanor and subjects the animal to immediate impoundment.
Lacey WA Exotic Animal Registration Rules
Significant RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.040
L. “Exotic animal” means an animal, such as, but not limited to, venomous or constrictor type reptiles, or primates. ... J. Exotic Animals. Owners of constrictor type reptiles over eight feet in length, venomous reptiles, and primates that are not otherwise prohibited, are required to comply with all state and federal laws for the keeping of such animals and annually register such animals with ...
Cat Rules
In the City of Lacey, Washington, it is unlawful to own, keep or have control of a pet cat without a license, and failure to license is a civil infraction. The Lacey Municipal Code also defines community cats, free roaming cats with tipped ears, as not pet animals and keeps their caregivers from being treated as owners.
Lacey WA Cat License and Community Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.040
3. When a cat, licensed or not, is on property where the property owner or tenant objects to the presence of the cat and has humanely trapped or otherwise contained the cat. ... F. ... “Community cat” means any free roaming cat that may be cared for by one or more residents in the area, known or unknown. Community cats with ears tipped were sterilized and vaccinated against rabies at least one ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
In the City of Lacey, Washington, the sterilization duty in section 7.04.050(F) of the Lacey Municipal Code falls on a person adopting a pet animal from the Animal Services shelter. The adopter must have the pet sterilized within the period in the written adoption agreement, and failure is a Class 4 civil infraction.
Lacey WA Shelter Adoption Sterilization Rule
Light RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.050
DD. “Sterilized” means the animal is surgically rendered incapable of reproduction by means of castration or an ovariohysterectomy. ... F. Failure to sterilize an adopted pet animal. Such person, when adopting a pet animal from the Animal Services shelter, fails to have the pet sterilized within the time period specified in the written agreement, unless specifically recommended by a veterinaria...
Microchipping
In the City of Lacey, Washington, the license tag is the required identification and a microchip is an auxiliary addition. Section 7.04.040 of the Lacey Municipal Code says tattooing or microchip implantation do not replace the license, lets a microchip substitute for a collar on cats only, and makes removing a tag or obliterating a registered microchip a gross misdemeanor.
Lacey WA Pet Microchip and Tag Rules
Light RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.04.040
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a dog to keep a collar or harness on the animal with the license tag attached if the animal is off the owner’s property. For cats only, a microchip may substitute if a collar is considered a hazard. C. Supplemental Identification. Tattooing or microchip implantation are acceptable auxiliary means of identification but do not replace the license. .....
Pet Store Rules
In the City of Lacey, Washington, no pet store can display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction or give away dogs or cats. Chapter 7.01 of the Lacey Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 1579 in 2021, makes each day of violation a separate civil infraction and exempts shelters, rescues and animals bred and reared on the premises.
Lacey WA Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 7.01.020
F. “Pet store” means a retail establishment open to the public and engaging in the business of offering for sale and/or selling animals, including dogs and cats, at retail. ... Notwithstanding any provision in the Lacey Municipal Code to the contrary, no pet store shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of dogs or cats in the ci...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In the City of Lacey, Washington, a veterinary clinic is a listed commercial use in the Light Industrial/Commercial District, where the code limits clinics to small animals. It is also a preferred health service in the Martin Way mixed high density corridor. Kennels are a different use and are prohibited in the low-density residential district.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Lacey, WA
Some RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 16.39.020
B. General commercial uses that are compatible with adjacent uses in this zone and sometimes considered heavier commercial uses that may not be compatible with uses in other zones including: ... 20. Veterinary clinics (limited to small animals);
Bird Protection
In the City of Lacey, Washington, Lacey Municipal Code § 9.56.226 makes it unlawful for operators of any motorized watercraft or personal watercraft to purposefully chase, intimidate, injure, or otherwise harass any type of wildlife or waterfowl. The rule sits in the lake boating chapter, and a violation is a misdemeanor.
Lacey WA Waterfowl Harassment Rule for Boaters
Light RestrictionsLacey Municipal Code § 9.56.226
It shall be unlawful for operators of any motorized watercraft or personal watercraft to purposefully chase, intimidate, injure, or otherwise harass any type of wildlife or waterfowl.
Looking for Thurston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lacey city rules.
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