Animal Ordinances in Yakima County, WA (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yakima County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Rural, unincorporated Yakima County is permissive about poultry and livestock on agricultural and larger-lot land. The City of Yakima allows up to four hens and no roosters, with coop setbacks. Washington's Right to Farm law shields established farms.
Yakima County Chickens & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsRCW 7.48.305
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.
Dog Leash Laws
Dogs must be licensed and kept under control in Yakima County. The county code requires adult dogs licensed and prohibits running at large, and cities add leash rules. Under RCW 16.08.040 an owner is strictly liable for dog bites.
Yakima County Dog Leash & License Laws
Some RestrictionsRCW 16.08.040
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.
Breed Restrictions
Yakima County has no breed ban: dangerous-dog status turns on a dog's own behavior, graded Level 1 through 6, under YCC § 8.36.160. Owners of a Level 2 through 6 dog face escalating leash, enclosure, insurance, and registration duties under § 8.36.170, and a Level 6 dog is euthanized at the owner's expense.
Yakima County Dangerous Dog Control Rules
Significant RestrictionsYakima County Code § 8.36.160
It is unlawful for any owner to permit any dog to engage in any of the following behavior: (1) Level 1 Behavior. Level 1 behavior occurs when a dog is at large. (2) Level 2 Behavior. Level 2 behavior occurs when a dog, while at large, menaces, chases, displays threatening or aggressive behavior, or otherwise threatens or endangers the safety of any person, domestic animal or livestock. (3) Leve...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping fits Yakima County's agricultural character and is broadly allowed, with cities setting hive placement and setbacks. Washington requires anyone owning one or more hives to register with the state Department of Agriculture by April 1 each year.
Yakima County Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsRCW 15.60.021
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.
Exotic Pets
Washington bans keeping most dangerous wild animals, so no Yakima County resident may acquire big cats, bears, primates, or venomous reptiles. RCW 16.30 prohibits possessing or breeding a potentially dangerous wild animal, with a grandfather clause for animals held before July 22, 2007.
Yakima County Exotic & Wild Animal Rules
Heavy 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.... A person shall not breed a potentially dangerous wild animal.
Pet Limits
Yakima County doesn't cap how many dogs a household may own outright. Once you keep more than six dogs, or run what the code calls a "hobby kennel" of up to ten adult dogs, YCC § 19.18.250 and § 8.36.350 require a zoning permit and a kennel license from the Yakima Humane Society.
Yakima County Dog Kennel & Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsYakima County Code §§ 19.18.250(2), 8.36.020(12)(d), 8.36.350
Applicability. This Section applies to commercial and foster shelter kennel facilities for more than six dogs. Kennels defined by YCC Subsection 8.36.020(12), including commercial and foster shelter kennels for more than six dogs, and hobby kennels for ten or fewer adult dogs, are subject to an additional kennel license required by Yakima County Sheriff – Animal Control. All kennels of whatever...
Microchipping
Yakima County doesn't require every dog to carry a microchip, but a chip works as identification in the places the code actually regulates: it can shorten an impounded dog's recovery deadline, it's tracked on kennel and dangerous-dog records, and animal control can order one for any dog classified as potentially dangerous.
Yakima County Dog Microchipping Rules
Light RestrictionsYakima County Code §§ 8.36.020(15), 8.36.170(2), 8.36.310(1)
"Microchip" means a device implanted for identification purposes... All potentially dangerous dogs may be required by the department to be microchipped at the owner's expense... A dog wearing a dog tag, tattoo or microchip may be recovered within five business days of impoundment. Dogs not wearing a dog tag, tattoo or microchip may be recovered within three business days of impoundment. Injured...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Yakima County bars veterinary clinics and animal hospitals from operating as home businesses anywhere in the unincorporated county. YCC § 19.18.240(4)(j) and (4)(s) name veterinary clinics and hospitals, alongside kennels, among the uses flatly excluded from residential home-business status, meaning a vet practice must locate in a zoning district that lists the use as allowed.
Yakima County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsYakima County Code § 19.18.240(4)(j), (4)(s)
(4) Uses Not Permitted as Home Businesses. The following uses, by the nature of their operation or investment, have a pronounced tendency, once started, to increase beyond the limits permitted for home businesses, interfere with or impair the use and value of adjoining properties, or violate the restriction of no exterior evidence...Therefore, the uses listed below shall not be permitted as hom...
Animal Ordinances by City in Yakima County
1 cities in Yakima County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Yakima County ordinances
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