Cat Rules: San Francisco vs Seattle
How do cat rules rules compare between San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA?
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco County
No data available yet for San Francisco.
Seattle, WA
King County
Seattle SMC 9.25.050 requires every cat over eight weeks to be licensed annually with the Seattle Animal Shelter. Washington RCW 16.30 (King County code 8.04) requires current rabies vaccination for all cats and dogs.
View full Seattle rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Francisco | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Code | - | SMC 9.25.050 |
| License age | - | Over 8 weeks |
| Rabies | - | Required |
| Annual fee | - | $20-30 |
| TNR | - | Allowed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Francisco FAQ
No FAQs available.
Seattle FAQ
Do indoor-only cats need licenses?
Yes. Seattle requires every cat over eight weeks to be licensed regardless of whether it goes outside. Lost indoor cats with tags get returned home faster.
Is letting my cat outside legal in Seattle?
Yes, with a license and rabies vaccine. However, repeated nuisance complaints (digging, attacking wildlife) can lead to fines under SMC 9.25.084.
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