Animal Ordinances in Lynnwood, WA (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Lynnwood, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Lynnwood bars dogs and other domestic animals from running at large citywide, defining "at large" as off the owner's property and not on a leash, cord or chain of eight feet or less, with fines starting at $25 for a first offense.
Lynnwood Dogs at Large Prohibited
Some RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code § 6.02.070(A), (C)
No domestic animal, or exotic animal or livestock of any kind, shall be permitted to run at large during any hours of the day or night. Domestic cats shall be exempt from this code. ... Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a civil infraction and shall pay a monetary fine as follows: first offense, $25.00; second offense, $50.00.
Breed Restrictions
Lynnwood does not ban dog breeds by name. Instead, the animal control authority declares individual animals dangerous or potentially dangerous based on documented behavior, then imposes registration, insurance, enclosure and leash requirements on that specific animal's owner.
Lynnwood Dangerous Animal Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code §§ 6.02.024(A), 6.02.025(A)
A. Declaration of Animal as Dangerous. The animal control authority shall have the authority to declare an animal to be dangerous, and place restrictions on such animal, if the animal control authority determines that the animal meets the definition set forth in LMC 6.02.015(F) ... Strict compliance with each of the following conditions is required to keep a dangerous animal in the city: A. It ...
Exotic Pets
Lynnwood bans exotic animals outright. No person may possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy or sell an animal defined as exotic, including primates, big cats, bears, non-domestic canids, venomous reptiles and large constricting snakes.
Lynnwood Exotic Animal Ownership Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code §§ 6.02.030, 6.02.015(H)
No person shall possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy, sell, or attempt to buy or sell an animal defined as "exotic" in LMC 6.02.015(H). Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000. ... "Exotic animal" means any animal which is not commonly domesticated or which is not native to or usually found...
Pet Limits
Lynnwood caps household pets at three cats, three dogs, or any combination of cats and dogs exceeding three, plus up to two miniature pot-bellied pigs, once the animals are over six months old.
Lynnwood Household Pet Limit: 3 Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code § 6.02.130
No person shall keep more than three cats or three dogs, or two miniature pot-bellied pigs, or any combination of cats and dogs exceeding three in number that are over six months of age on any premises in the city. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.
Cat Rules
Lynnwood exempts domestic cats from its at-large running ban, letting cats roam free while dogs and other domestic animals may not. Cats are still capped at three per household and must wear an identifying tag past six months old.
Lynnwood Cat At-Large Exemption and Limits
Light RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code §§ 6.02.070(A), 6.02.130
No domestic animal, or exotic animal or livestock of any kind, shall be permitted to run at large during any hours of the day or night. Domestic cats shall be exempt from this code. ... No person shall keep more than three cats or three dogs, or two miniature pot-bellied pigs, or any combination of cats and dogs exceeding three in number that are over six months of age on any premises in the city.
Microchipping
Lynnwood requires a mandatory AVID-compatible microchip before release if a domestic animal is impounded and taken to the contract shelter more than twice in a 12-month period, with the owner paying the shelter's implant cost.
Lynnwood Mandatory Microchip After Repeat Impound
Some RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code § 6.02.090(C)
If a domestic animal is impounded and taken to the contract shelter more than twice during a 12-month period it will be mandatory that a microchip capable of being scanned by an “AVID” or other equivalent brand microchip scanner be implanted in the animal before it is released to the owner. The owner of said animal shall incur all expenses incidental to the microchip process that are charged by...
Pet Groomer Rules
Lynnwood zones pet grooming as a commercial use permitted by right in the city center, Alderwood, ACC, PCD, neighborhood commercial, general commercial, Highway 99 mixed-use, college district mixed-use and light-industrial districts, but prohibited outright in residential, manufactured-home-park and public/institutional zones. Grooming parlors with indoor pet housing must also meet ventilation, drainage and sanitation standards.
Pet Grooming Business Rules in Lynnwood, WA
Some RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code §§ 8.35.0280, 8.35.0380(A)
| Pet | – | – | – | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | – | – | | Grooming | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ... A. Kennels and Pet Lodging. 1. The following additional requirements apply to any commercial kennel, boarding facility, animal shelter, grooming parlor, or pet shop owner/o...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Lynnwood's Title 8 use table permits veterinarian offices by right in nine commercial and mixed-use zones, including city center, Alderwood, and CG, but bars them entirely from the RN, MHP, RM-45, P-I, and OSP districts under LMC 8.35.0280.
Lynnwood Veterinary Clinic Zoning Districts
Light RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code § 8.35.0280
| Animal | RN | MHP | RM-45 | City | Alderwood | ACC | PCD | NC | CG | HMU | CDM | LI | P-I | OSP | | | | | | Center | | | | | | | | | | | +--------------+----+-----+-------+--------+-----------+-----+-----+----+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+ | ... Veterinarian | – | – | – | P | P | P | P | ...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Lynnwood requires anyone keeping a wild animal to hold a State Game Department or federal Fish and Wildlife permit, but the animal control authority may let a rescuer temporarily care for an injured or orphaned native wild animal while that permit is obtained.
Lynnwood Rules on Caring for Wild Animals
Some RestrictionsLynnwood Municipal Code § 6.02.040
No person shall own any wild animal unless that person 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, which is native to this area and homeless, while the person acquires the necessary state and federal permits. Persons who obta...
Looking for Snohomish County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lynnwood city rules.
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