Chapter 6.20
ANIMAL SHELTER, KENNEL, CATTERY, GROOMING SERVICE, PET SHOP, HOBBY KENNEL AND HOBBY CATTERY REGULATIONS
Sections:
6.20.030 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services, and pet shops – Conditions.
6.20.040 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services and pet shops – Indoor facilities.
6.20.050 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries and pet shops – Outdoor facilities.
6.20.070 Grooming service – Additional conditions.
6.20.090 Special hobby kennel or hobby cattery license.
6.20.100 Hobby kennels or hobby catteries – Reporting required – Licensing material.
6.20.010 Animal shelter, kennel, cattery, grooming service and pet shop license – Licensing requirement.
Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services and pet shops shall comply with the licensing requirements of the Seattle-King County department of public health. Subject to applicable restrictions in SMC 20.40.240, the facilities may board animals as authorized by their Seattle-King County department of public health license. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.020 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, or pet shops – Reporting required – Licensing material.
A. Each animal shelter, kennel, cattery, or pet shop shall provide the animal care and control authority with a monthly list of all dogs and cats that it has given away or sold. The list shall include the origin, age, sex, color, breed, altered status and, if applicable, microchip number and license number of each dog or cat given away or sold and the new owner’s name, address and, if available, email address and telephone number.
B. Each animal shelter, kennel, cattery or pet shop that sells or gives away dogs or cats without licenses shall make license application materials available to new pet owners. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.030 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services, and pet shops – Conditions.
Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services and pet shops shall meet the following conditions:
A. Housing facilities shall be provided to the animals; shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair; shall be designed so as to protect the animals from injury; shall contain the animals; and shall restrict the entrance of other animals.
B. Electric power shall be supplied in conformance with city, county, and state electrical codes adequate to supply lighting and heating as may be required by this chapter. Water shall be supplied at sufficient pressure and quantity to clean indoor housing facilities and primary enclosures of debris and excreta.
C. Suitable food and bedding shall be provided and stored in facilities adequate to provide protection against infestation or contamination by insects or rodents. Refrigeration shall be provided for the protection of perishable foods.
D. Provision shall be made for the removal and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, dead animals, and debris. Disposal facilities shall be maintained in a sanitary condition, free from the infestation or contamination of insects or rodents or disease, and from obnoxious or foul odors.
E. Washroom facilities, including sinks and toilets, with hot and cold water, must be conveniently available for cleaning purposes, and a large sink or tub provided for the purpose of washing utensils, equipment and facilities.
F. Sick animals shall be separated from those appearing healthy and normal and, if for sale, shall be removed from display and sale. Sick animals shall be kept in isolation quarters with adequate ventilation to keep from contaminating well animals.
G. There shall be an employee on duty at all times during hours any store is open whose responsibility shall be the care and welfare of the animals in that shop or department held for sale or display.
H. An employee or owner shall come in to feed, water and do the necessary cleaning of animals and birds on days the store or shop is closed.
I. No person, persons, association, firm or corporation shall knowingly sell a sick or injured animal or bird.
J. No person, persons, association, firm or corporation shall misrepresent an animal or bird to a consumer in any way. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.040 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming services and pet shops – Indoor facilities.
Animal shelters, kennels and pet shops which have indoor housing facilities for animals and birds shall:
A. Be sufficiently heated or cooled to protect such animals from temperatures to which they are not normally acclimatized;
B. Be adequately ventilated to provide for the health of animals contained therein and to assist in the removal of foul and obnoxious odors. Provision shall be made so that the volume of air within any enclosed indoor facility shall be changed three times or more each hour. This may be accomplished through the location and periodic opening of doors and windows. If fans or ventilating equipment are used, they shall be constructed in conformance with current standards of good engineering practice with respect to noise and minimization of drafts;
C. Have sufficient natural or artificial lighting to permit routine inspection and cleaning at any time of day. In addition, sufficient natural or artificial lighting shall be supplied in the area of sinks and toilets to provide for the hygiene of animal caretakers;
D. Have interior wall and ceiling surfaces constructed of materials which are resistant to the absorption of moisture and odors, or such surfaces shall be treated with a sealant or with paint, when such materials are not originally resistant to moisture or odors. Floor surfaces shall not be made of unsealed wood. In addition, interior walls shall be constructed so that the interface with floor surfaces is sealed from the flow or accumulation of moisture or debris; and
E. Contain a drainage system which shall be connected to a sanitary sewer or septic tank system which conforms to the standards of building codes in force within the city of Shoreline and shall be designed to rapidly remove water and excreta in the cleaning of such indoor housing facility under any condition of weather or temperature; provided, this requirement shall not apply to hobby kennels and pet shops. All indoor housing facilities for animals, fish, or birds shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and a safe and effective disinfectant shall be used in the cleaning of such facilities. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.050 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries and pet shops – Outdoor facilities.
Animal shelters, kennels, catteries and pet shops which have outdoor facilities for animals and birds shall:
A. Be constructed to provide shelter from excessive sunlight, rain, snow, wind, or other elements. In addition, such facilities shall be constructed to provide sufficient space for the proper exercise and movement of each animal contained therein;
B. Be constructed to provide drainage and to prevent the accumulation of water, mud, debris, excreta, or other materials and shall be designed to facilitate the removal of animal and food wastes; and
C. Be constructed with adequate walls or fences to contain the animals kept therein and to prevent entrance of other animals. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.060 Animal shelters, kennels, catteries, grooming service and pet shops – Inspections – Unsanitary conditions unlawful.
A. It shall be the duty of the director of the Seattle-King County department of public health or the director’s agent or the director of the animal care and control authority or the director’s agent to make or cause to be made such an inspection as may be necessary to ensure compliance with SMC 6.20.030, 6.20.040, and 6.20.050. The owner or keeper of an animal shelter, kennel, cattery, grooming service or pet shop shall admit to the premises, for the purpose of making an inspection, any officer, agent or employee of the Seattle-King County department of public health or animal care and control authority at any reasonable time that admission is requested.
B. It is unlawful to keep, use or maintain within the city of Shoreline any animal shelter, kennel, cattery, grooming service or pet shop that is unsanitary, nauseous, foul or offensive, or in any way detrimental to public health or safety and not in compliance with SMC 6.20.020, 6.20.030, 6.20.040, and 6.20.050. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.070 Grooming service – Additional conditions.
Grooming services shall:
A. Not board animals but keep only dogs and cats for a reasonable time in order to perform the business of grooming;
B. Provide such restraining straps for the dog or cat while it is being groomed so that such animal shall neither fall nor be hanged;
C. Sterilize all equipment after each dog or cat has been groomed;
D. Not leave animals unattended before a dryer;
E. Not prescribe treatment or medicine that is the province of a licensed veterinarian as provided in RCW 18.92.010;
F. Not put more than one animal in each cage;
G. All floors and walls in rooms, pens and cages used to retain animals or in areas where animals are clipped, groomed or treated must be constructed of water impervious material that can readily be cleaned, and must be maintained in good repair;
H. Hot and cold water must be conveniently available and a large sink or tub provided (minimum size 24 inches by 18 inches by 12 inches);
I. Toilet and hand washing facilities with hot and cold running water must be conveniently available for personnel employed;
J. Only equipment necessary to the operation of the licensed establishment shall be kept or stored on the premises and shall only be stored in a sanitary or orderly manner; and
K. All cages, pens, or kennels used for holding animals shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and must be disinfected on a routine basis. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.080 Hobby kennel or hobby cattery licenses – Required – Limitations – Requirements – Issuance and maintenance.
A. All hobby kennels and hobby catteries must be licensed by the animal care and control authority. Licenses shall be valid for one year from the date of application. The fee for the license shall be as provided in the fee schedule. There is no proration of the license fee. Renewal licenses shall retain the original expiration date whether renewed on or after their respective renewal month. Issuance of a license under this section shall not excuse any requirement to obtain a private animal placement permit. In addition, each animal that is maintained at a hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall be licensed individually under SMC 6.10.010. Under no circumstances shall the number of dogs or cats in a hobby kennel or hobby cattery exceed 20.
B. Any hobby kennel or hobby cattery license shall limit the total number of adult dogs and cats kept by the hobby kennel or hobby cattery based on:
1. Animal size;
2. Type and characteristics of the breed;
3. The amount of lot area, though the maximum number shall not exceed:
a. Five where the lot area is less than 20,000 square feet;
b. Seven where the lot area is between 20,000 square feet and 35,000 square feet; and
c. For lots over 35,000 square feet, seven plus an additional three per acre of site area, not to exceed 20;
4. The facility specifications and dimensions in which the dogs and cats are to be maintained;
5. The zoning classification in which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery would be maintained.
C. The following are requirements for hobby kennels and hobby catteries:
1. All open run areas shall be completely surrounded by a six-foot fence set back at least 20 feet from all property lines, though this requirement may be modified for hobby catteries as long as the open run area contains the cats and prohibits the entrance of children. For purposes of this section, “open run area” means that area, within the property lines of the premises on which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is to be maintained, where the dogs and cats are sheltered or maintained. If there is no area set aside for sheltering or maintaining the dogs within the property lines of the premises the 20-foot setback does not apply. The property lines of premises not containing an open run area must be completely surrounded by a six-foot fence;
2. No commercial signs or other appearances advertising the hobby kennel or hobby cattery are permitted on the property except for the sale of the allowable offspring set forth in this section;
3. The director of the animal care and control authority may require setback, additional setback, fencing, screening or soundproofing as the director deems necessary to ensure the compatibility of the hobby kennel or hobby cattery with the surrounding neighborhood. Factors to be considered in determining the compatibility are:
a. Statements regarding approval or disapproval of surrounding neighbors relative to maintenance of a hobby kennel or hobby cattery at the address applied for;
b. History of verified animal care and control complaints relating to the dogs and cats of the applicant at the address for which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is applied for;
c. Facility specifications or dimensions in which the dogs and cats are to be maintained;
d. Animal size, type and characteristics of breed; and
e. The zoning classification of the premises on which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is maintained;
4. The hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall limit dog and cat reproduction to no more than one litter per license year per female dog and two litters per license year per female cat; and
5. Each dog and cat in the hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall have current and proper immunization from disease according to the dog’s and cat’s species and age. The immunizations shall consist of distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvo virus (DHLPP) inoculation for dogs over three months old and feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus and panleukopenia virus (FVRCP) inoculation for cats over two months old and rabies inoculations for all dogs and cats over four months old.
D. A hobby kennel or hobby cattery license may be issued only when the director of the animal care and control authority is satisfied that the requirements of subsections (C)(1) through (C)(5) of this section have been met. The license may be terminated if the number of dogs and cats exceeds the number allowed by the animal care and control authority or if the facility fails to comply with any of the requirements of subsections (C)(1) through (C)(5) of this section. [Ord. 920 § 2 (Exh. B), 2021; Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.090 Special hobby kennel or hobby cattery license.
A. Persons owning a total number of dogs and cats exceeding three, who do not meet the requirements for a hobby kennel or hobby cattery license, may be eligible for a special hobby kennel or special hobby cattery license to be issued at no cost by the animal care and control authority, which shall allow them to retain the specific animals then in their possession, but only if the following conditions are met:
1. The applicant must apply for the special hobby kennel or special hobby cattery license and individual licenses for each dog and cat by the time they are contacted by an animal care and control officer, license inspector or pet license canvasser; and
2. The applicant is keeping the dogs and cats for the enjoyment of the species, and not as a commercial enterprise.
B. The special hobby kennel or special hobby cattery license shall only be valid for those specific dogs and cats in the possession of the applicant at the time of issuance, and is intended to allow pet owners to possess animals beyond the limits imposed by SMC 20.40.240 until such a time as the death or transfer of the animals reduces the number possessed to the legal limit set forth in SMC 20.40.240.
C. The director of the animal care and control authority may deny any application for a special hobby kennel or special hobby cattery license:
1. Based on past animal control regulation code violations by the applicant’s dogs and cats or verified complaints from neighbors regarding the applicant’s dogs and cats; or
2. If the animal or animals are maintained in inhumane conditions. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.100 Hobby kennels or hobby catteries – Reporting required – Licensing material.
A. Each hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall provide the animal care and control authority with a monthly list of all dogs and cats that it has given away or sold. The list shall include the origin, age, sex, color, breed, altered status and, if applicable, microchip number and license number of each dog or cat given away or sold and the new owner’s name, address and, if available, email address and telephone number.
B. Each hobby kennel or hobby cattery that sells or gives away dogs or cats without licenses shall make license application materials available to new pet owners. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.110 Hobby kennel or hobby cattery licenses, registration – Revocation, suspension or refusal to renew.
The animal care and control authority may, in addition to other penalties provided in this title, revoke, suspend or refuse to renew any hobby kennel or hobby cattery license upon good cause or for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter. Enforcement of such a revocation, suspension or refusal shall be stayed during the pendency of an appeal filed in accordance with SMC 6.40.070. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.120 Hobby kennel or hobby cattery licenses, registration – Revocation or refusal waiting period.
If an applicant has had a license revoked or a renewal refused, the applicant shall not be issued a hobby kennel license or hobby cattery license for one year after the revocation and refusal. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.20.130 Animal shelters, hobby kennels, kennels, hobby catteries, catteries, pet shops, grooming services – Additional conditions.
The director of the animal care and control authority is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations not in conflict with this chapter as they pertain to the conditions and operations of animal shelters, hobby kennels, kennels, hobby catteries, catteries, pet shops and grooming services. Enforcement of these rules and regulations may be appealed to the animal care and control authority board of appeals in accordance with SMC 6.40.070. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]