Animal Ordinances in Port Townsend, WA (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Port Townsend, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Port Townsend lets residents keep more than four chickens as companion animals without a kennel license, but other backyard livestock counts toward the four-animal kennel-license threshold, and commercial husbandry is zoning-restricted.
Port Townsend Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.110
It is unlawful for any person to own, maintain, or operate a kennel in the city unless the person has procured a kennel license. Kennel licenses shall be issued by the city. A person may have more than four chickens on residential property, without having a kennel license, as long as the chickens are kept as companion animals.
Dog Leash Laws
Port Townsend makes it unlawful to let a dog or other animal roam off-leash outside the owner's property unless the area is council-designated for off-leash use. At-large animals are a nuisance subject to seizure and impoundment.
Port Townsend Bans Dogs Running at Large
Some RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.160
A. Unless otherwise allowed by this section, it is unlawful for any person to allow an animal to be at large; B. Except as provided for in subsection A of this section, a dog may be at large within the city limits only in areas designated by the city council by resolution; C. Any animal in violation of this section is declared to be a nuisance and may be immediately seized and impounded.
Breed Restrictions
Port Townsend has no pit-bull or breed ban. PTMC 9.02.165 bars judging a dog's behavior by breed, and dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs are declared case-by-case on documented conduct under state law.
Port Townsend Dog Rules Are Breed-Neutral
Some RestrictionsPTMC 9.02.165
It is unlawful for an owner or person in control of an animal to permit, or fail to prevent, any animal when unprovoked on public or private property to: A. Bite a human being causing less than severe injury as defined in RCW 16.08.070(3) or bite a domestic animal; or B. Chase or approach a human, on property other than that of the animal’s owner, in a menacing fashion or apparent attitud...
Exotic Pets
Port Townsend prohibits displaying or sponsoring a display of wild or exotic animals anywhere in the city, on public or private property, under PTMC 9.44.030.
Port Townsend Bans Wild Animal Displays
Heavy RestrictionsPTMC 9.44.030
No person may display or sponsor a display of wild or exotic animals on any public or private property within the city of Port Townsend.
Wildlife Feeding
Port Townsend bans feeding wild geese, ducks, gulls, or deer when it causes aggression, mess, or traffic hazards.
Port Townsend Nuisance Wildlife Feeding
Some RestrictionsPTMC 9.08.030(G)(1)
Feeding of wild geese, ducks, gulls, deer, and other wildlife, which feeding results in aggressive behavior toward humans or other animals, or in the deposit of refuse, debris, fecal matter, or other offensive substance in any place in the city, to the prejudice or annoyance of any person, or which impedes the safe flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. 2. Keeping, using or maintaining with...
Pet Limits
Port Townsend lets you keep up to three dogs, cats, or other companion animals of the same species without a license: a fourth triggers kennel licensing.
Port Townsend Four-Pet Kennel Threshold
Some RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.010(15)
"Kennel, animal" means any site where four or more companion animals of the same species over the age of one year are kept, whether such keeping is for pleasure, profit, breeding, or exhibiting, including places where said animals are boarded, kept for sale, or hire. For purposes of this chapter, the keeping of fish shall not count towards the limit on companion animals.
Cat Rules
Port Townsend doesn't require cat licenses, but its at-large ban covers cats too: only dogs get city-designated off-leash areas, so a cat off its owner's property is a nuisance subject to seizure.
Port Townsend Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Significant RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.160
A. Unless otherwise allowed by this section, it is unlawful for any person to allow an animal to be at large; B. Except as provided for in subsection A of this section, a dog may be at large within the city limits only in areas designated by the city council by resolution; C. Any animal in violation of this section is declared to be a nuisance and may be immediately seized and impounded.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Dogs and cats adopted from a Port Townsend-contracted shelter must be spayed or neutered by the date set in the written adoption agreement.
Port Townsend Mandatory Adoption Spay/Neuter
Some RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.195
Any person adopting an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat from any animal shelter, pound, humane society or similar shelter or association in or under contract with the city shall have the animal spayed or neutered on or before the date to be specified in a written adoption agreement. However, if a licensed veterinarian states in writing that the date specified in the adoption agreement is inapp...
Microchipping
Port Townsend lets dog owners use a microchip instead of a metal license tag to prove licensing.
Port Townsend Dog Microchip ID
Few RestrictionsPTMC 8.04.050(D)
As an alternative to a license tag, an animal may be identified as licensed by having a microchip implanted, with the microchip number on file with the animal licensing agent.
Coyote Management
Feeding deer, geese, or other wildlife -- including coyotes -- is a declared nuisance in Port Townsend when it causes aggressive behavior toward people or animals, leaves mess behind, or blocks traffic.
Port Townsend Bans Aggressive-Prone Wildlife Feeding
Some RestrictionsPTMC 9.08.030(G)(1)
Feeding of wild geese, ducks, gulls, deer, and other wildlife, which feeding results in aggressive behavior toward humans or other animals, or in the deposit of refuse, debris, fecal matter, or other offensive substance in any place in the city, to the prejudice or annoyance of any person, or which impedes the safe flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. 2. Keeping, using or maintaining with...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming with no boarding is a permitted personal service in Port Townsend's commercial zones, but boarding animals is a separate, more restricted use.
Pet Groomers Zoning – Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPTMC 17.31.010; PTMC 17.31.030
“Personal services” means establishments primarily engaged in providing services involving the care of a person including...massage (licensed, therapeutic, nonsexual); nail salons; pet grooming with no boarding; shoe repair shops..." / Table 17.31.030: "Animal Services...C" / "Boarding...X" / "Personal Services...P"
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Port Townsend confines veterinary hospitals to commercial and mixed-use zones. They're flatly banned in the R-II, R-III, and R-IV residential districts, and need a conditional use permit almost everywhere else, including R-I.
Port Townsend Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsPTMC 17.16.020; PTMC 17.18.020; PTMC 17.20.020
Table 17.16.020 (Residential): Veterinary hospitals — R-I C / R-II X / R-III X / R-IV X. Table 17.18.020 (Mixed Use): C-I(MU) C / C-II(MU) C. Table 17.20.020 (Commercial): C-I C / C-II P / C-II(H) X / C-III C. Key: P = Permitted outright; C = Subject to a conditional use permit; X = Prohibited.
Bird Protection
Port Townsend bans hunting, trapping, or capturing any bird within city limits, carving out only law enforcement, vermin control, and nonlethal, welfare-focused capture as exceptions.
Port Townsend Bird Hunting and Trapping Ban
Significant RestrictionsPTMC 9.04.070; penalty at PTMC 9.04.080(B)
It is unlawful to hunt, trap or capture, or attempt to hunt, trap or capture, any animal or bird within the city; provided, that this section shall not apply to the following persons or activities: A. Hunting, trapping, or capturing of animals or birds by law enforcement officers or game department personnel while engaged in the performance of their official duties; B. Hunting, trapping o...