10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Spokane County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Spokane County's agricultural and forestry zones, small animals or fowl are allowed at one per 2,000 square feet of lot area, and large livestock at three livestock units per gross acre. Coops, pens, and manure must sit 50+ feet from neighboring homes.
SCC 14.616.230(7)(d)
Animal density requirements: i. Large animals: Three livestock units per gross acre. ii. Small Animals: One small animal or fowl per two thousand square feet.
Unincorporated Spokane County prohibits dogs running at large. Off the owner's property a dog must be on a leash, tether, or chain no longer than 8 feet, except in a designated off-leash area. SCRAPS enforces countywide.
SCC 5.04.070(1)
The owner or keeper of a dog or dogs shall prevent said dog(s) from: (1) Running at large in the county, whether licensed or not; provided, that this subsection shall not: a) prohibit a person from walking or exercising a dog in public when the dog is on a leash, tether or chain not exceeding eight feet in length.
Spokane County has no breed-specific ban, and Washington state prohibits municipalities from banning dogs solely by breed. A dog is regulated as dangerous or potentially dangerous based on its behavior, not its breed, under SCC Chapter 5.04.
SCC 5.04.020(12)
"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.
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.
SCC 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.
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.
SCC 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.
Spokane County has no ordinance banning residents from feeding wildlife such as deer or waterfowl. Washington state rules govern instead: feeding large wild animals like deer, elk, or bears can be restricted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife under WAC Title 220.
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).
SCC 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.
Spokane County has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but excessive-animal situations are controlled two ways: keeping more than four dogs or cats triggers kennel licensing (SCC 5.04.020), and animal cruelty or neglect is a crime under Washington state law RCW 16.52, enforced by SCRAPS.
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.
SCC 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.
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.
SCC 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.
1 cities in Spokane County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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