Animal Ordinances in Spokane County, WA (2026)
11 rules for unincorporated Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Livestock keeping in unincorporated Spokane County's agricultural and forestry zones is capped at three livestock units per gross acre. A horse, cow, or hog equals one unit; a goat or sheep equals one-half. Barns, pens, and manure must stay 50 feet from neighboring homes (200 feet for swine).
Livestock Keeping and Density in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.616.230(7)
Equivalency units: A livestock unit equals one horse, mule, donkey, burro, llama, bovine or swine. A goat or sheep equals one-half of a livestock unit. Animal density requirements: i. Large animals: Three livestock units per gross acre.
Dog Leash Laws
Spokane County bans letting a dog run at large anywhere in the county, licensed or not, under SCC 5.04.070(1). Walking or exercising a dog in public is fine only on a leash, tether or chain no longer than eight feet, unless the dog is inside one of the county's designated off-leash areas.
Dog Leash and At-Large Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.04.070(1)
The following dog control regulations are police regulations designed to protect public health and safety. The owner or keeper of a dog is strictly liable to control his or her dog(s) as required herein, meaning that the penalty for violation of such regulations is imposed without regard to any wrongful intention of the violator. It is unlawful for the owner or keeper of a dog(s) to violate any...
Breed Restrictions
Spokane County does not ban any dog breed; SCRAPS instead declares an individual dog dangerous under SCC 5.04.020(13) based on what it actually did, severe injury, multiple bites, or a prior potentially-dangerous finding followed by another incident. A dangerous-dog declaration triggers impoundment, a fifteen-day appeal window, and strict registration conditions before the dog can go home.
Dangerous Dog Declarations in Spokane County
Significant RestrictionsSCC 5.04.020(13)
"Dangerous dog" means any dog that (a) inflicts severe injury or multiple bites on a human being without provocation on public or private property, (b) inflicts severe injury, multiple bites, or kills an animal without provocation while the dog is off the owner's or keeper's property, or (c) has previously been declared potentially dangerous under this chapter or a previous version of this chap...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is allowed as a primary or accessory use on agricultural and forestry lots in unincorporated Spokane County. Hives must sit 25 feet from any right-of-way and 5 feet from side or rear lines, and 50 feet from an adjacent residence. Beekeepers must register hives with Washington State.
Beekeeping Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.616.230(8)
Beehives shall be setback a minimum of twenty-five feet from any public right-of-way, private road, or improved shared access easement. Beehives shall be setback a minimum of five feet from any side or rear property lines and minimum of fifty feet from any adjacent residence.
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Spokane County requires an annual license to harbor or own an 'inherently dangerous mammal' (wild cats, bears, wild canids) or dangerous reptile, and only adults 18+ may keep them. Keeping such an animal without a license is a misdemeanor.
Exotic and Dangerous Animal Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.12.040
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to harbor and/or own an inherently dangerous mammal and/or any inherently dangerous reptile unless such person has achieved the age of eighteen years and obtained and maintained an annual license allowing that person to harbor and own such inherently dangerous mammal.
Pet Limits
Keeping five or more dogs or cats over six months old in unincorporated Spokane County triggers a kennel classification. Five to eight dogs (or five to ten cats) is a private kennel; more than eight dogs or ten cats, or any keeping for compensation, is a commercial kennel.
How Many Dogs and Cats You Can Keep in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.04.020(26)
"Private kennel" means a place, other than a designated animal shelter or animal care and control facility, where between five and eight dogs over six months of age and/or between five and ten cats over six months of age are kept for personal or noncommercial purposes.
Cat Rules
Spokane County regulates cats under SCC 5.04.067. Owners must keep cats from roaming while unaltered at six months or older, from trespassing on private property, from menacing people or animals off the owner's property, and from entering food establishments. Cats over six months should be licensed.
Cat Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.04.067
The owner or keeper of a cat(s) shall prevent said cat(s) from: (2) Running at large when the cat has not been neutered or spayed, and the cat is six months of age or older; (4) Running at large while being on private property without the permission of the property owner.
Microchipping
Spokane County does not require microchips on ordinary pets, but a dog SCRAPS has declared dangerous must be identified with a microchip implant at the owner's expense under SCC 5.04.036. The chip is a passive electronic transponder with a unique number, defined in SCC 5.04.020(20), that pairs with an exterior collar tag.
Microchip ID Required for Dangerous Dogs in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.04.036; 5.04.020(20)
"Microchip implant" means a passive electronic transponder that is subcutaneously injected into an animal by means of a hypodermic-type syringe device. Each microchip shall contain a unique and original number that is read by an electronic scanning device for purposes of animal identification and recovery by the animal's owner(s). The microchip implant shall be supplied with an exterior collar-...
Pet Store Rules
Spokane County bars selling, giving away, or even advertising an animal for sale on public property or on private property that's open to the public, such as a parking lot, sidewalk, or vacant lot, under SCC 5.04.044(1). Licensed pet shops, kennels, and animal shelters are exempt, so pet stores may still sell dogs and cats normally.
Public Property Pet Sales Ban in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 5.04.044
(1)No person shall display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, dispose, or advertise the availability of an animal upon any public property or upon private property open to the public.(2)For purposes of this section, public property shall include, but not be limited to, any county-owned real property, air space, or other interest in real estate...owned by or controlled b...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A veterinary clinic in Spokane County's rural R-5, RAC or UR zones must keep all treatment rooms, cages and runs inside a fully enclosed, soundproofed building and cannot board healthy animals. Section 14.618.230(3) sets these limited-use conditions, and off-street parking cannot sit in the front or flanking yard or be lit.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Spokane County
Some RestrictionsSCC 14.618.230(3)
3.Animal health services (R-5, RAC, UR zones).a.Treatment rooms, cages, yards, or runs shall be maintained within a completely enclosed building. Compliance with noise standards for a commercial noise source as identified by WAC 173-60-040 shall be demonstrated by the applicant.b.The facility shall be designed as to create an exterior appearance compatible to adjacent surroundings.c.Boarding of...
Bird Protection
Development within one-quarter mile of a documented den or nest site of a non-game priority bird species in unincorporated Spokane County triggers habitat protection standards under the county's Critical Areas Ordinance, and any project likely to affect bald eagle habitat must also follow the state Bald Eagle Protection Rules.
Nest-Site Buffers for Priority Birds in Spokane County
Significant RestrictionsSCC 11.20.060(B)(1), (C)(4)
For the purposes of this chapter, the county may restrict the regulated uses and activities shown in Table 11.20.030A or other use or activity determined by the Director subject to the purpose and intent of this section, which lie within a priority habitat by definition or within one-quarter mile of a point location (den or nest site) of a non-game priority species through the application of th...
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