Animal Ordinances in Cowlitz County, WA (2026)
9 rules for unincorporated Cowlitz County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Cowlitz County's residential land use districts, CCC § 18.10.660 permits farming and gardening but bars housing poultry or livestock within 100 feet of any neighboring residence. Normal household pets are exempt from that setback.
Cowlitz County Backyard Poultry Setback Rule
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 18.10.660
§ 18.10.660. Agricultural uses in residential land use districts. Farming, truck gardening, orchards and nurseries are permitted in residential land use districts provided that no retail or wholesale business sales office is maintained on the premises and provided no poultry or livestock other than normal household pets shall be housed within 100 feet of any residence other than the dwelling on...
Dog Leash Laws
Outside city limits, Cowlitz County only requires dogs to be leashed within designated "dog control zones" created by petition under CCC § 6.12.080. Inside those zones, CCC § 6.12.110 bars a dog from roaming off its owner's premises unless controlled by a leash or chain no longer than eight feet.
Cowlitz County Dog Control Zone Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 6.12.110
It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit or allow such dog to roam, run, stray or be away from the premises of such owner and to be in any public place or on any public property or private property of another person within the boundaries of the zones established pursuant to this chapter, unless such dog, while away from such premises, is controlled by a leash or chain, not more than ei...
Breed Restrictions
Cowlitz County does not ban or restrict dog breeds. CCC Chapter 6.13 instead lets the Animal Control Authority declare an individual animal "potentially dangerous" or "dangerous" based on its own bite or attack history under § 6.13.030, regardless of breed, triggering registration, containment and identification requirements.
Cowlitz County Dangerous Animal Declaration Rule
Significant RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 6.13.030
"Dangerous animal" means any animal that, when unprovoked: 1. Inflicts severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property; or 2. Kills a domestic animal or livestock, except nondomestic poultry or rabbit, without provocation while off the owner's property; or 3. Has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human, and the ow...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a permitted agricultural activity in unincorporated Cowlitz County, but only within the county's agricultural zoning districts. Cowlitz County Code § 18.10.241 lists apiaries among the agricultural activities permitted outright in the Agriculture-Industrial (AG-I) district, and the county's separate AG-38 district carries the identical apiary listing under § 18.10.251.
Beekeeping Allowed in Cowlitz County Ag Zones
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 18.10.241(B)(1)
Permitted Uses. The following uses and structures are permitted in the AG-I zone district: 1. Agricultural activities: farms, dairies, pastures, apiaries, horticulture, floriculture, animal and poultry husbandry, slaughterhouses, cultivation, management and harvest of any forest crop and private stables;
Wildlife Feeding
In unincorporated Cowlitz County, leaving, placing or distributing food or other material to feed wildlife is an unlawful act inside any county park. The rule sits in the Park Code's list of prohibited acts and is enforced with the same civil infraction penalties as other park violations.
Feeding Wildlife Banned in Cowlitz County Parks
Significant RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 9.06.050(L)
Feeding Wildlife. Leaving, placing or distributing foodstuffs or other material in any park to feed wildlife.
Cat Rules
Cowlitz County does not require cat owners in the unincorporated county to license or leash their cats. CCC § 6.12.130(E) lets any owner voluntarily register a cat with the Animal Control Authority for a tag valid three years or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first.
Cowlitz County Optional Cat Registration Rule
Few RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 6.12.130(E)
Cat Registration – Optional. Any person may register a cat pursuant to this section and registration certificates and tags be issued for cats in the unincorporated areas of Cowlitz County. Such registration shall be effective for three years, or until the expiration of the rabies vaccination, whichever comes first.
Microchipping
Cowlitz County has no general pet microchipping mandate. It only requires a microchip once the Animal Control Authority has declared an animal "potentially dangerous" or "dangerous" under Chapter 6.13 CCC: owners must have the animal fitted with a microchip under § 6.13.050(B), or permanently identified by microchip within five business days under § 6.13.100(C).
Cowlitz County Dangerous Animal Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 6.13.050(B)
The animal shall be fitted with a microchip, encoding the county, state, and such other information as may be required by the Animal Control Authority to provide positive identification of the animal.
Pet Groomer Rules
In unincorporated Cowlitz County, a commercial dog grooming facility is a listed permitted use only in the Light Manufacturing (ML) zoning district under Cowlitz County Code § 18.10.231. The Land Use Ordinance groups grooming with veterinary clinics, kennels and animal boarding, meaning a groomer needs an ML-zoned parcel, not a home-based or residential-district location, to operate as of right.
Dog Grooming Facilities Zoned ML in Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 18.10.231
The following are the permitted uses in a light manufacturing (ML) zone district: ... P. ... Veterinary offices and clinics and hospitals; outside animal runs, dog grooming facilities, kennels or animal boarding establishments;
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A small animal or veterinary clinic is a listed permitted use in Cowlitz County's Urban Commercial (C-2) zoning district under Cowlitz County Code § 18.10.220, item S, but the same section excludes kennels or open runs from that permitted allowance, meaning a full-service animal hospital with boarding needs the county's Light Manufacturing (ML) district instead.
Veterinary Clinics Zoned C-2 in Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County Code § 18.10.220
The following uses are the permitted uses in the urban commercial (C-2) zone district: ... S. ... Small animal and veterinary clinics, except kennels or open runs;
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