Animal Ordinances in Snohomish County, WA (2026)
13 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Snohomish County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Snohomish County treats backyard chickens, turkeys, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, and similar animals as 'small animal husbandry' under SCC 30.91S.440, requiring at least 30 feet between any animal housing or feeding structure and every property line under SCC 30.23.110(19). Some rural and resource zones limit the use to a conditional permit and require a five-acre minimum site under SCC 30.22.130(37).
Snohomish County Backyard Chicken & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsSCC 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 not for the primary consumption of or use by the occupants of the premises. (Added by Amended Ord. 02-064, Dec. 9, 2002, Eff date Feb. 1, 2003). 30.91S.445 Small workshop. "Small workshop" means a structure (or a portion of a struct...
Dog Leash Laws
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.
Dog Leash Law in Unincorporated Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsSCC 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.
Breed Restrictions
Snohomish County has no breed-specific dog ban. State law, RCW 16.08.110, blocks any city or county from banning or singling out a breed unless it builds in a canine-good-citizen exemption. The county's own dangerous-dog program under SCC 9.10 evaluates individual behavior, not breed.
Breed-Based Dog Bans Barred in Snohomish County
Few RestrictionsRCW 16.08.110
(1) 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 unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) The city or county has established and maintains a reasonable process for exempting any dog from breed-based regulat...
Beekeeping
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.
Beekeeping Rules in Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsRCW 15.60.030
All colonies shall be registered with the Washington State Department of Agriculture in accordance with apiary law, RCW 15.60.030.
Exotic Pets
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.
Exotic and Dangerous Wild Animals in Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsRCW 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.
Wildlife Feeding
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.
Feeding Wildlife in Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsRCW 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.
Pet Limits
Unincorporated Snohomish County caps every household at 25 dogs outright under SCC 6.06.008, with no exception except licensed pet shops, boarding facilities, and animal shelters. Anyone keeping four or more dogs needs a private kennel, commercial kennel, or other facility license under SCC 6.06.007 well before reaching that ceiling.
Dog Limit: 25 Per Property in Snohomish
Some RestrictionsSCC 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.
Cat Rules
Cats are no longer voluntary to license in unincorporated Snohomish County: SCC 9.04.010 requires owners of all adult cats to license them since the voluntary option was repealed in 2003. Letting a cat run at large or roam unconfined while in heat is a declared public nuisance under SCC 9.12.060.
Snohomish County Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsSCC 9.12.060(7), (8)
It is unlawful for an owner to cause, allow, permit or participate in any of the following, which are, singly or together, declared to be a public nuisance: ... (7) A female domesticated animal, while in heat, running at large or not confined and accessible to other animals except for controlled and planned breeding. (8) Any domesticated animal, which runs at large; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Snohomish County does not require every pet to be spayed or neutered, but SCC 9.10.040(3)(e) makes it a condition of registering a dog that has been officially declared dangerous. The owner must prove the dog is altered before the $250 annual certificate of registration is issued.
Snohomish County Dangerous-Dog Spay/Neuter Rule
Significant RestrictionsSCC 9.10.040(3)(e)
(3) The licensing authority is authorized to issue an annual certificate of registration to the owner of a dangerous dog upon payment of a $250.00 registration fee and if the owner presents sufficient evidence of compliance with the following requirements: (a) that the dog is kept in a proper enclosure of a dangerous dog; (b) that the owner maintains a policy of liability insurance ... ...
Microchipping
Microchipping is not required for an ordinary pet in unincorporated Snohomish County, but the county rewards it: an altered dog or cat with a microchip costs $15 to license instead of $25, per SCC 9.04.040. A dog declared dangerous under SCC 9.10.040 must be microchipped as a registration condition.
Snohomish County Microchip License Discount
Light RestrictionsSCC 9.04.040(2)
(2) The annual fees for dog and cat licenses are established as follows: (a) Altered dog or cat - $25.00; (b) Unaltered dog or cat - $50.00; (c) Altered and microchipped dog or cat - $15.00; (d) Senior citizen (62 or older) owned altered dog or cat - $20.00; (e) Senior citizen (62 or older) owned altered and microchipped dog or cat - $10.00; (f) Service Dogs $15.00; ...
Pet Store Rules
Snohomish County does not ban pet stores from selling dogs or cats, but every pet shop in the unincorporated county needs a license under SCC 6.06.015 and pays $200.00 a year. Stores cannot sell sick, diseased, or injured animals, and a kennel that resells animals it did not breed must hold a separate pet shop license.
Pet Shop Licensing Rules in Snohomish
Some RestrictionsSCC 6.06.016(10),(14),(15)
(10) sick, diseased or injured animals shall not be sold. They shall be separated from healthy, normal animals, and shall be removed from display and kept in isolation quarters with adequate ventilation to prevent contamination of healthy animals and humans; ... (14) private kennel and/or commercial kennel owners and/or operators may not purchase and/or acquire animals for the purpose of resale...
Pet Groomer Rules
Any grooming parlor in unincorporated Snohomish County needs a license under SCC 6.06.015 and pays $200.00 a year (SCC 6.01.050(2)). Operators cannot board animals overnight, must restrain each pet during grooming, sterilize equipment between animals, and cannot leave an animal unattended while it dries or cage more than one animal together.
Grooming Parlor License Rules
Some RestrictionsSCC 6.06.030
The following additional requirements apply to any grooming parlor owner/operator required to obtain a license pursuant to SCC 6.06.015: (1) the grooming parlor shall not board animals but keep them only for the period of time necessary to perform the business of grooming; (2) restraints shall be provided for the animal while it is being groomed so that it shall not be harmed; (3) the owner/ope...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Snohomish County's zoning code allows a veterinary clinic outright in ten commercial and industrial zones, from Neighborhood Business to Heavy Industrial, but only as a conditional use in the Low Density Multiple Residential and Multiple Residential zones. It's not allowed at all in single-family or Townhouse zones. This applies only in unincorporated county land; Everett, Marysville, and other cities set their own rules.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsSCC 30.22.100; SCC 30.22.130(86)
| TYPE | R-9,60088 | R-8,40088 | R-7,20088 | T | LDMR | MR | NB | PCB | CB128 | GC128 | IP76 | BP | LI55 | HI55 | MHP114 | UC122 | MUC122 | | Veterinary | | | | | C | C | P | P | P86 | P | P | P | P | P | | P | P | ... (86) Outdoor display or storage of goods and products i...
Animal Ordinances by City in Snohomish County
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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