Animal Ordinances in Whatcom County, WA (2026)

RCW 7.48.305(1)

Agricultural activities conducted on farmland and forest practices, if consistent with good agricultural and forest practices and established prior to surrounding nonagricultural and nonforestry activities, are presumed to be reasonable and shall not be found to constitute a nuisance unless the activity or practice has a substantial adverse effect on public health and safety.

RCW 16.08.040(1)

The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.

RCW 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 regulations...

RCW 15.60.021(1)

Registration of hives. (1) Each person owning one or more hives with bees, brokers renting hives, and apiarists resident in other states who operate hives in Washington shall register with the director by April 1st each year. (2) The registration application shall include: (a) The name, address, and phone number of the apiarist or broker; (b) The number of colonies of bees to be owned, brokered...

Whatcom County Code § 6.04.070(A)

A. Permit. A permit from the animal control authority shall be required for any person, firm, corporation or business to own or maintain any wild or exotic animal for the creation of a sanctuary. No person shall be permitted to own, harbor, or maintain any wild or exotic animal for any purpose of other than the creation of a sanctuary. Distribution, sale, trade, breeding, allowing reproduction,...

Whatcom County Code §§ 6.04.020(U), 6.04.190

"Stray animal" means any unidentified dog, cat or other animal whose owner is unknown or who has no owner. The stray animal is declared to be a nuisance, and any such stray may be seized and impounded. ... Upon the written complaint of any party that any cat or other living creature other than man is trespassing upon the premises or property of the complaining party and thereon doing substantia...

WCC § 6.04.095(F)

The animal control authority, upon issuing the declaration called for in WCC § 6.04.090, may place the following conditions upon the dog owner or keeper: ... F. Require the animal to have a microchip implant for a permanent form of identification. G. If this animal is moved from the county, the owner shall notify both the Whatcom County animal control agency and the agency who controls animals ...

WCC § 20.72.154(2)

In the Small Town Commercial District: (1) Hotels, motels, and timeshare condominiums. (2) Animal groomers and accessory kennels for up to six animals. (3) Recreational vehicle parks meeting the requirements of WCC § 20.80.950 (Mobile home and recreational vehicle park standards). (4) Up to three storage containers or similar temporary storage units per lot if accessory to an approved commercia...

WCC § 20.36.150(.155)

.155 Animal hospitals and accessory kennels and stables provided: (1) No building or animal enclosure shall be located closer than 50 feet from the external property lines; (2) Such facilities must have a waste disposal program approved by the county health department; and (3) Such facilities shall be operated at all times in a manner specifically designed to prevent the use of the facilities f...

Whatcom County Code § 20.40.150(.193)

Wildlife animal rescue hospitals and/or rehabilitation facilities including accessory enclosures thereto, such as kennels, cages, stables, aviaries, runs, and fenced pastures, to provide for the care of and management of sick, injured, displaced or orphaned wildlife provided: ... applications made to operate wildlife rescue rehabilitation facilities in the Agriculture Zoning District may only b...