10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Snohomish County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Snohomish County allows chickens and small-animal husbandry in residential and rural zones under the Unified Development Code. Structures housing animals (other than household pets) must sit at least a set distance from property lines, and livestock may not run at large.
SCC 30.91S.440
"Small animal husbandry" means the raising of mink, fox, nutria, rabbits, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, and similar small animals and fowl.
Yes. In unincorporated Snohomish County it is unlawful to let a dog roam or be off your premises unless it is under control on a leash of eight feet or less. Off-leash dogs are a public nuisance and may be impounded.
SCC 9.14.030
It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of any dog to cause, permit, or allow such dog to roam, run, stray or be away from the premises of its owner or custodian or to be on any public place or any public property unless the dog is under control.
There is no breed ban in Snohomish County, and Washington law bars pure breed bans. Under RCW 16.08.110 a county may not prohibit or specially regulate a dog by breed unless it offers a good-behavior exemption process. The county regulates dangerous dogs by conduct, not breed.
RCW 16.08.110
A city or county may not prohibit the possession of a dog based upon its breed, impose requirements specific to possession of a dog based upon its breed, or declare a dog dangerous or potentially dangerous based on its breed
Beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Snohomish County. There is no county-specific hive ban, but all colonies must be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture under state apiary law. Local zoning setbacks apply to hive placement.
RCW 15.60.030
All colonies shall be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture in accordance with apiary law, RCW 15.60.030.
You cannot keep dangerous wild animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, primates, or venomous snakes. Washington's RCW 16.30.030 prohibits owning, possessing, breeding, or importing a potentially dangerous wild animal statewide, with limited grandfathered and institutional exemptions.
RCW 16.30.030
A person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, or have custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal, except as provided in subsection (3). A person shall not breed a potentially dangerous wild animal.
Snohomish County's animal code does not set a general backyard wildlife-feeding ban. Feeding large carnivores such as bears and cougars is prohibited by Washington state law under RCW 77.15.792, enforced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Attractant nuisances may also draw county nuisance action.
RCW 77.15.792
A person is guilty of unlawfully feeding or attempting to feed large wild carnivores if the person negligently feeds or attempts to feed large wild carnivores or negligently attracts large wild carnivores to land or a building.
Livestock may not run at large in Snohomish County. SCC 9.16.010 designates the entire county a stock-restricted area, so horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, and swine cannot roam free. Loose livestock may be impounded at the owner's expense.
SCC 9.16.010
Livestock of any kind including but not limited to horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, and swine, shall not run at large within the boundaries of Snohomish county.
Snohomish County prohibits cruelty, neglect, and abandonment of animals under SCC 9.12.080. Failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, medical care, space, or rest is unlawful. Combined with the 25-dog limit and state cruelty law, this addresses hoarding conditions.
SCC 9.12.080
It shall be unlawful for any person to mistreat or neglect an animal by failing to provide adequate daily food or water or necessary shelter, sanitation, medical attention, space, or rest.
Unincorporated Snohomish County limits a household to 25 dogs. SCC 6.06.008 makes it unlawful to own, keep, or maintain more than 25 dogs on a premises. Licensed pet shops, boarding facilities, and animal shelters are exempt from the cap.
SCC 6.06.008
It is unlawful for any person to own, keep or maintain on their premises more than 25 dogs. Licensed pet shops, boarding facilities or animal shelters shall not be subject to this limitation.
Snohomish County has no leash requirement or number limit specifically for cats. Cats are not covered by the dog leash law, and the 25-animal cap applies to dogs. Cats are still subject to the countywide animal nuisance and cruelty rules in SCC chapter 9.12.
4 cities in Snohomish County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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