Animal Ordinances in Walla Walla County, WA (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Walla Walla County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Walla Walla County limits backyard chickens and other fowl under WWCC § 17.26.020: a combined total of up to fifty birds is allowed per 6,000 square feet of dedicated, fenced pen space, and coops must sit at least forty-five feet from any residence. Sheep, goats and pygmy goats need 2,500 square feet of open fenced area per animal, following the same fencing rules set for horses.
Fowl and Livestock Rules, Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code §§ 17.26.010, 17.26.020
17.26.010 - General requirements. Animals and fowl kept for domestic purpose, not including commercial operations, shall be in conformance with the table set out in Section 17.26.020. ... Type of Animal Conditions ... Sheep, Goats and Pygmy Goats 2,500 square feet of open fenced area per sheep or goat. Fencing requirements shown for horses applied here. ... Fowl, Poultry, Rabbits, Chinchillas, ...
Dog Leash Laws
Inside Walla Walla County's dog control zone, established under RCW Chapter 16.10 and currently covering the Touchet area, every dog must be kept under restraint at all times. Section 6.04.250 makes it unlawful for an owner to let a dog run at large, and the code treats any dog able to leave its owner's property on its own as at large. A first offense carries a one hundred twenty-five dollar fine, rising to one hundred seventy-five and then two hundred fifty dollars under Section 6.04.410.
Walla Walla County Dog Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code §§ 6.04.250, 6.04.410
All dogs in a dog control zone shall be kept under restraint. It is unlawful for any owner of a dog to permit a dog to run at large or otherwise not under restraint in a dog control zone. A dog that is able to leave the owner's property on its own will is considered to be at large. ... 6.04.250 Restraint requirement—Running at large: First offense 125.00 Second Offense 175.00 Each subsequent Of...
Breed Restrictions
Walla Walla County does not ban any dog breed by name; instead Chapter 6.04 uses a behavior-based declaration. Section 6.04.350 lets a dog be found "potentially dangerous" for an unprovoked bite or a menacing chase toward a person, and Section 6.04.360 escalates to "dangerous dog" for severe unprovoked injury, killing a domestic animal off the owner's property, or a repeat incident after a potentially-dangerous finding, both citing RCW Chapter 16.08.
Walla Walla County Dangerous Dog Rules
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code §§ 6.04.350, 6.04.360
It is unlawful for any owner of a dog to permit his or her dog, in or out of a dog control zone, when unprovoked, to: (a) inflict a bite on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private property, or (b) chase or approach a person upon the public streets, public sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack. Violation of this section shall be an...
Beekeeping
Keeping bees in unincorporated Walla Walla County requires a conditional use permit under WWCC § 17.26.020, which caps density at one colony per 2,000 square feet of open space and 50 colonies per apiary, with a four-foot-per-colony setback. From June 1 to September 1, colonies near commercial alfalfa or clover seed fields face even tighter per-acre limits.
Beekeeping Rules, Walla Walla County
Significant RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 17.26.020
Bees The number of colonies of bees shall be limited to one colony for each 2,000 square feet of open space-when permitted by conditional use permit. 1. During the period from June 1st until September 1st of each year the following regulations will be in effect in the area described below in (2). A. Not more than one honey bee colony per acre of property cropped in commercial alfalfa for seed a...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Walla Walla County bars keeping a wild animal, defined in Section 6.04.010.G to include monkeys, bears, cougars, coyotes, foxes, poisonous snakes, lions, wolves, and any other warm-blooded animal normally found in the wild, without a permit. Section 6.04.370 lets the Board of County Commissioners issue a permit only outside residential zones, and only after the applicant shows adequate safeguards to contain the animal and prevent it from becoming a nuisance.
Walla Walla County Wild Animal Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code §§ 6.04.010, 6.04.370
"Animal, wild" means any live monkey (nonhuman primate), bear, badger, cougar, coyote, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, poisonous reptile, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, mountain lion, wolf or any other warm-blooded animal which can normally be found in the wild state. ... No person shall have, keep, or maintain, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control, within an...
Pet Limits
In unincorporated Walla Walla County, a single parcel may hold no more than four dogs or cats combined if it is a half acre or smaller, rising to six combined on any larger parcel. Walla Walla County Code Section 17.26.020 sets this cap as a zoning development standard for animals, distinct from the county's dog-licensing chapter, and requires every pen, run, or kennel used to hold the animals to sit at least ten feet off the property line.
Walla Walla County Dog and Cat Limits
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 17.26.020
Minimum standards for animals shall be as follows: Type of Animal Conditions ... Dogs, Cats Not more than a combined total of four dogs or cats over six months of age on a parcel containing ½ acre or less and no more than a combined total of six on a parcel greater than one-half acre. All cages, pens, runs or kennels used for holding animals shall be kept a minimum of 10 feet from any property...
Cat Rules
In unincorporated Walla Walla County, WWCC § 17.26.020 caps combined dogs and cats at four on a parcel of half an acre or less, rising to six on any larger parcel, with pens set back 10 feet from lot lines. There is no county cat license: WWCC Chapter 6.04 licenses only dogs, though cats are covered by the county's bite, rabies-confinement and harboring rules.
Cat Keeping Limits, Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 17.26.020
Dogs, Cats Not more than a combined total of four dogs or cats over six months of age on a parcel containing ½ acre or less and no more than a combined total of six on a parcel greater than one-half acre. All cages, pens, runs or kennels used for holding animals shall be kept a minimum of 10 feet from any property line and shall be in a clean and sanitary condition, and must be disinfected on a...
Bird Protection
In unincorporated Walla Walla County, development-related tree removal in Raptor Ferruginous Hawk Habitat is limited to the non-nesting season of August through January and to hazard trees only under WWCC 18.08.640(J), and clearing or grading within 820 feet of an active Ferruginous Hawk nest is barred from March 1 through May 31 under WWCC 18.08.640(K). Bald eagle habitat gets separate protection citing the state's Bald Eagle Protection Rules.
Walla Walla County Raptor Nesting Protections
Significant RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code §§ 18.08.640(J), 18.08.640(K), 18.08.650(A)(3)
J.In areas designated as Raptor Ferruginous Hawk Habitat, tree removal connected with a development permit will be restricted to the non-nesting season August through January, and limited to hazard tree removal unless otherwise approved by the department after review of a critical area report.K.Between March 1st and May 31st, clearing and grading activities connected with a development permit a...
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