Chapter 6.06
EXOTIC ANIMALS
Sections:
6.06.030 Possession unlawful – Exception – Rules and regulations compliance.
6.06.040 License – Issuance generally – Fees.
6.06.050 License – Application – Content.
6.06.060 License – Issuance – Inspection.
6.06.070 Periodic inspection of premises.
6.06.080 License revocation – Notice – Hearing.
6.06.100 Euthanasia in exigent circumstances.
6.06.010 Chapter intent.
It is the intent of the Woodinville City Council to limit and set conditions on the possession or maintenance of exotic animals in order to preserve the public peace and safety and to assure the humane treatment of exotic animals. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.020 Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) “Animal care and control authority” means the regional animal services section in the records and licensing services division, acting alone or in concert with other municipalities for enforcement of the animal care and control laws of the County and State and the shelter and welfare of animals.
(2) “Director” means director of the department of executive services.
(3) “Exotic animal” means any of the following:
(a) Venomous species of snakes capable of inflicting serious physical harm or death to human beings;
(b) Nonhuman primates and prosimians;
(c) Bears;
(d) Nondomesticated species of felines;
(e) Nondomesticated species of canines and their hybrids, including wolf and coyote hybrids; and
(f) The order Crocodylia, including alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gavials. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.030 Possession unlawful – Exception – Rules and regulations compliance.
The possession or maintenance of an exotic animal within Woodinville by private citizens as pets is prohibited and agrees to promptly act to satisfy the licensing requirements in WMC 6.06.040 through 6.06.090 and such rules and regulations as the animal care and control authority may adopt as provided in Chapter 2.98 of the King County Code regarding the maintenance of the animals. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.040 License – Issuance generally – Fees.
The animal care and control authority may cause to be issued an exotic animal owner’s license that shall authorize the licensee to possess or maintain all or some of such species of exotic animals as are specified according to WMC 6.06.020 if the application is accompanied by payment of the license fee, contains the information required by WMC 6.06.050 and meets the cage or confinement rules and regulations of the animal care and control authority.
The fee for the license shall be as set forth in King County Code Section 11.04.035. All licenses shall expire one year from the original application. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.050 License – Application – Content.
A verified application for an exotic animal owner’s license made in triplicate shall be filed by the applicant with the animal care and control authority. The application shall contain the following:
(1) A legal or otherwise adequately precise description of the premises that the applicant desires to use under the required license;
(2) Whether the applicant owns or rents the premises to be used;
(3) If the applicant rents the premises, a written acknowledgment by the property owner that the applicant has the owner’s permission to carry on the activity as described in the license application for the duration of the license;
(4) The extent of improvement upon the premises;
(5) A map or diagram of the premises showing where the improvements are located thereon;
(6) A statement indicating the species of exotic animal that the applicant desires to possess or maintain;
(7) A statement indicating how the animal will be caged or otherwise confined, accompanied with a drawing detailing the dimensions of and the materials used for the cage or similar confinement; and
(8) Such further information as may be required by rules and regulations of the animal care and control authority. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.060 License – Issuance – Inspection.
If, after investigation by the manager of the regional animal services section, it appears that the applicant is the owner or tenant of or has a possessory interest in the property shown in the application; if applicable, has the written permission of the property owner as specified in WMC 6.06.050 and that the applicant intends in good faith to possess or maintain an exotic animal in accordance with the law and the rules and regulations of the regional animal services section, the regional animal services section shall issue a license to the applicant describing therein the premises to be used by the licensee and certifying that the licensee is lawfully entitled to use the same for the possession or maintenance of the exotic animal or animals specified in the license. However, before issuing the license, the regional animal services section shall inspect the cage or other confinement as required by rule or regulation and specified in the licensee’s application in order to determine whether the cage or confinement meets the standard specifications for the classification of the exotic animal. If the cage or confinement is deemed inadequate, the applicant shall make such changes as are necessary to meet the standard specifications before the license shall be issued. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.070 Periodic inspection of premises.
The manager of the regional animal services section, or any other officer authorized by the manager, may make routine periodic inspections of a licensee’s premises and records in order to determine the number, kind, weight and condition of exotic animals possessed by the licensee, and for purposes of enforcing this chapter and the rules and regulations of the regional animal services section. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.080 License revocation – Notice – Hearing.
The animal care and control authority may revoke, suspend or refuse to renew any exotic animal owner’s license upon good cause for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the animal care and control authority authorized by this chapter, though the violator shall be first notified of the specific violation or violations and, if the violation can be remedied, the violator shall have 15 days after receiving the notice of violation to correct the violation. Also, enforcement of such revocation, suspension or refusal shall be stayed during the pendency of an appeal filed in the manner provided by WMC 6.02.270. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.090 Violation – Penalty.
Any person possessing or maintaining an exotic animal in Woodinville without an exotic animal owner’s license as provided herein, or transferring possession of an exotic animal to a person not licensed as provided by this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine not to exceed $250.00 and/or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.100 Euthanasia in exigent circumstances.
An exotic animal possessed or maintained in violation of this chapter or the rules and regulations of the animal care and control authority may be subject to euthanasia as defined in WMC 6.02.020 if any one of the following exigent circumstances is deemed to exist by the manager of the animal care and control authority section:
(1) The exotic animal presents an imminent likelihood of serious physical harm to the public and there is no other reasonably available means of abatement;
(2) There is no reasonable basis to believe that the violation can be or in good faith will be corrected and after reasonable search or inquiry by the animal care and control authority no facility as authorized by local, State or Federal law is available to house the exotic animal; or
(3) The exotic animal suffers from a communicable disease injurious to other animals or human beings, though this subsection shall not apply if the animal is under treatment by a licensed veterinarian and may reasonably be expected to recover without infecting other animals or human beings. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)
6.06.110 Chapter limitations.
The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the private ownership of exotic animals as pets. Therefore, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any facility possessing or maintaining exotic animals as defined in this chapter which is owned, operated or maintained by any city, county, state or the Federal government, including but not limited to public zoos, nor shall it apply to museums, laboratories and research facilities maintained by scientific or educational institutions, nor to private or commercial activities such as circuses, fairs, or private zoological parks which are otherwise regulated by law, nor to any recognized program engaged in the training of exotic animals as defined in this chapter for use as service animals by disabled citizens.
Breeding, or allowing the reproduction of, exotic animals as defined in this chapter is prohibited; provided, that this prohibition shall not apply to any governmental facility possessing or maintaining exotic animals nor shall it apply to private or commercial activities as set forth in this section. (Ord. 658 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)