Animal Ordinances in Yakima, WA (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Yakima, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Keeping livestock or other farm animals in the Yakima urban area requires at least a half-acre lot, and any barn, coop, or animal structure must sit at least 100 feet from a neighbor's residence under Yakima Municipal Code § 15.09.070.
Yakima Livestock Keeping Requirements
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 15.09.070
Minimum Lot Size. The minimum lot size for animal husbandry within the Yakima urban area is one-half acre. A lot at least one-half acre in size shall be deemed to meet this requirement even though a portion of the lot may be used for a single-family dwelling. C. Project Review. Animal husbandry operations, which would create noise and odors, attract insects or rodents or are otherwise incomp...
Dog Leash Laws
Yakima requires dogs to stay on their owner's property or be restrained on a leash no longer than eight feet under a capable handler's control; letting a dog run at large is a civil infraction under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.130.
Yakima Dog At-Large Leash Law
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code §§ 6.20.010, 6.20.130
“At large” means off the premises of the owner or keeper of the animal, and not under restraint by leash eight feet in length or shorter subject to the actual control of a capable person. ... § 6.20.130. Control of dogs. It is unlawful for any person to permit any dog to engage in any of the following behavior: (1) A dog is at large; ...
Breed Restrictions
Yakima repealed its breed-specific pit bull ordinance in 2018 and now regulates dogs solely by individual conduct: any dog, regardless of breed, can be declared dangerous under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.010 and § 6.20.135.
Yakima Repeals Breed-Specific Dog Rules
Few RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 6.20.010(14); Ord. 2018-029
“Dangerous dog” means any dog that: (A) Unprovoked, inflicts severe injury or serious physical injury on a human being; or (B) Unprovoked and while at large or off the owner’s property, kills a domestic animal; inflicts injury(ies) requiring a domestic animal to be euthanized; ... [Ordinance disposition table] 2018-029: Repeals Ch. 6.18, pit bull dogs (Repealer)
Pet Limits
Yakima caps household pets at three dogs, five cats, four hen chickens, and four rabbits kept for pleasure rather than utility, under the city's urban area zoning code accessory-use rules.
Yakima Pet Limits: Dogs, Cats, Chickens, Rabbits
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 15.04.060(D)(1)
They are domesticated animals kept for pleasure or as a hobby rather than utility, including, but not limited to, fish; birds; dogs, fewer than four; cats, fewer than six; hen chickens (no roosters), fewer than five; and rabbits, fewer than five; 2. Their presence does not create undue noise or odors such as would create a nuisance or diminish the residential nature of the neighborhood; 3. ...
Cat Rules
Yakima makes it unlawful to let an unaltered cat six months or older roam at large, but the city carves out a trap-alter-return exception for feral and roaming cats. Violations carry a $300 civil infraction under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.293 and § 6.20.600.
Yakima's Unaltered Cat At-Large Ban
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code §§ 6.20.292-6.20.296, 6.20.600
§ 6.20.293. Control of unaltered cats. It is unlawful for any cat animal owner to permit an unaltered cat of six months or older to be at large. ... § 6.20.294. Permitted acts – Trap-alter-return. 1. Trapping, for the sole purpose of altering, vaccinating for rabies and ear tipping roaming and feral cats, with the cooperation or involvement of a licensed veterinarian. 2. A cat that has been tra...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Yakima requires an unaltered dog impounded more than once in a 12-month period to be spayed or neutered before its owner can redeem it from the shelter, with the owner paying the veterinary fee.
Yakima Repeat-Impound Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 6.20.320(5)(A)
No unaltered dog that is impounded more than once in any twelve-month period may be redeemed by any person until the animal is spayed or neutered. The alteration shall be accomplished by the animal shelter or by any duly licensed veterinarian in Yakima County authorized by the animal shelter. In all cases, the veterinarian fees shall be paid at the time of redemption by the animal's owner.
Microchipping
Yakima requires any dog formally declared 'potentially dangerous' to be microchipped and registered with the city within ten days of the declaration, under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.20.138, not a citywide pet-microchipping mandate.
Yakima Dangerous Dog Microchip Rule
Significant RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 6.20.138(3)
Within ten days following a declaration of potentially dangerous dog, and the exhaustion of any appeal therefrom, the owner of a potentially dangerous dog shall obtain a certificate of registration for such dog from the department and shall be required to pay a fee for such certificate of registration, have the dog implanted with a microchip, and provide the microchip number to the department. ...
Looking for Yakima County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Yakima city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Yakima County →