HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 5859 CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 5859
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING RMC
SECTIONS 6-6-1,6-6-4,AND 6-6-5, REPEALING RMC SECTION 6-6-3,AND ADDING
A NEW RMC SECTION 6-6-13, "ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES,"ALL TO CLARIFY
OWNERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL THEIR ANIMALS, INCLUDING MAKING
ANIMAL OWNERS STRICTLY LIABLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS BEING AT LARGE AND
STRENGTHENING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY
AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Renton prioritizes the safety, security, health, and welfare of its
residents, visitors, and animals; and
WHEREAS, animals that are not kept under control by their owners negatively impact the
safety, security, health, and welfare of its residents, visitors, and animals; and
WHEREAS, to protect the safety, security, health and welfare of the City's residents,
visitors, and animals, this ordinance imposes strict liability for those that fail to control their
animals;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 6-6-1 of the Renton Municipal Code is amended as follows:
6-6-1 '�';" ^`"��"' Tn �""' nT ' "��" CONTROI OF ANIMALS OFF OWNER
PREMISES:
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
c,-ar�c� �� � c�cr�c . —�,v.urrvrr-v� �
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A. Animal at Lar�e:An Owner is in violation of this Section if his or her Animal
is At Lar�e. This subsection does not applv to (a) cats, or (b) do�s in an Off Leash
Do�Park so lon�as the do�and Owner are in compiiance with all other applicable
rules and re�ulations. If the Animal is a Vicious Animal or has previouslv been
declared a Dan�erous or Potentiallv Dan�erous Do�,the violation is punishable as
a misdemeanor. Other violations of this subsection are punishable as an
infraction.
B. Iniury Caused BV Animal At Large: An Owner is in violation of this Section
if, while his or her Animal is At Lar�e, the Animal (a) phvsically inlures a person or
domestic animal or (b) causes monetary dama�e to another person's real or
personal propertv. A violation of this subsection is punishable as a misdemeanor.
C. Affirmative Defense: This Section is intended to impose strict liabilitv
upon Owners without requirin�the Citv to prove intent, knowledge, recklessness,
or negli�ence. However, an Owner mav avoid a committed or �uiltv findin� for
violations of this Chapter if the Owner proves as an affirmative defense bv a
preponderance of the evidence that he or she took such precautions that were
within his or her control to prevent the violation as would a reasonable person in
the same or similar circumstances knowing what the owner knew or should have
known at the time about the animal's disposition, past behavior and other
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
relevance circumstances. It is not, bv itself, an affirmative defense for an Owner
to establish that he or she was not present or that the animal was on a leash at
the time of the violation. Multiple Owners mav be char�ed with violatin� this
Section for the same occurrence.
SECTION II. Section 6-6-3 of the Renton Municipal Code is repealed in its entirety and
shall be marked "Reserved," as follows:
6-6-3 �^`"" nT � nor_r.(RESERVEDI
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SECTION III. Section 6-6-4 of the Renton Municipal Code is amended as follows:
6-6-4 DEFINITIONS:
For the purpose of this Chapter the following definitions shall be controlling:
A_ANIMAL: Any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian.
B_ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY: An entity acting alone or in concert with
other local governmental units for enforcement of the animal control laws of the
City, County and State, and the shelter and welfare of animals.
C_ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: Any individual employed, contracted with or
appointed by the City for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this Chapter
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, or seizure and
impoundment of animals, and includes any State or local law enforcement officer
or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that
involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
D. AT LARGE:An animal is "At Lar�e" when it is (a) outside a premises owned
or controlled bv the animal's owner and (b) not Under Control.
E_DANGEROUS DOG:Any dog that:,(a) inflicts or has inflicted severe injury or
death on a human being without provocation on public or private property, jb)
���;�+� �r ��� ;^��;�+�,� � - �^�+" ^^ kills a domestic animal without
provocation while the dog is off the owner's property, �c) has been previously
found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a human, the
owner having received notice of such and the dog again aggressively bites, attacks
or endangers the safety of humans, or �d) has been adjudicated as a dangerous
dog elsewhere in this state or any other state.
F. DOMESTIC ANIMAL: An animal that is lawfully owned or harbored bv a
ep rson•
G_OFF-LEASH DOG PARK: A specifically designated area within the confines
of a City-owned public park which allows dogs to run or roam without being
leashed, as long as their owner, handler or custodian is nearby within the park
premises.
H. OWNER: Any person or le�al entitv who (a) harbors, keeps, causes or
permits an animal to be harbored or kept (b) has an animal in his/her possession
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
or custody (c) permits an animal to remain on or about his/her premises, or (d)
who has le�al title to an animal., ' , ,
, ,
I_POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG: Any dog that when unprovoked: �a)
inflicts a bite or bites on a human or a domestic animal either on public or private
property, or�b) chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks or any
public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or any dog
with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked,to cause
injury, or to cause injury or otherwise to threaten the safety of humans or
domestic animals.
J. PROPER ENCLOSURE OF A DANGEROUS DOG: While on the owner's
property, a dangerous dog shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely
enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young
children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure
shall have secure sides and a secure top, and shall also provide protection from
the elements for the dog.
K_SEVERE INJURY: Any physical injury that results in broken bones or
disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
l UNDER CONTROL: For an animal to be "under control," it must be (a)
restrained bv leash or other method that effectively restrains the animal from
approachin� chasin� lumpin� upon or lun�in� at any person movin�vehicle or
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
other domestic animal except as welcomed bv invitation or mutual plav, (b)
restrained from enterin� private property or public property where such animal is
not authorized and (c) restrained from causin� damage or iniurv to property,
other animals, and/or persons.
M. VICIOUS ANIMAL: An animal ^+"^� +"�^ , , includin� but not limited to a
dog—���y�s, that the Owner knows or should know has displaved the
characteristics or propensity to do an act that, if left At Lar�e, might endanger the
safety of a person, animal, or property of another, '
SECTION IV. Section 6-6-5 of the Renton Municipal Code is amended as follows:
6-6-5 ^^r'S ^T ' ^��=r. o���,�,�wir ��rncu no t^un�.e�ADDITIONAL
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VIOLATIONS:
It shall be a violation of this Chapter for any Owner:
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
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ORDINANCE NO. 5859
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A.-�: To keep or harbor any dog,cat or other animal or fowl whether licensed
or not, that emits habitual howling, yelping, barking or other frequent, long, or
continued noise that would disturb a reasonable person. The first or second
violation of this Subsection shall constitute a civil infraction ^�����"�"'^ "�� � {�^^
„� „� +„ c��� �,.� ;�..�,,,�;�„ ,..,�+� Any subsequent violation of this Subsection
shall c�nstitute a misdemean�r . . ,
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B. � To keep, harbor or maintain any dangerous dog, potentially dangerous
dog, or vicious animal in a manner which may or does endanger the safety, health
and well being of persons or the safety of property being or located off the
owner's or custodian's premises or lawfully on said premises. A violation of this
Subsection shall constitute a misdemeanor'"' ^^"^"'�""^^•••°+M o��ni on �n n��ia��
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ORDINANCE N0. 5859
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SECTION V. Chapter 6-6 of the Renton Municipal Code is amended to add a new
section 6-6-13, to read as follows:
6-6-13 ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES:
A. Public Nuisance: All violations of this Chapter are declared a public
nuisance and mav in addition to penalties provided herein, be enforced as a code
violation under the authoritv of Chapter 1-3 of the Renton Municipal Code. The
code compliance inspector has authoritv to order the owner of any animal to take
steps necessary and appropriate to abate the nuisance and prevent any continuin�
or repeated violations of this Chapter.
B. Penalties: Except as otherwise specified, any violation of this chapter shall
be punishable as a civil infraction.Violations identified herein to be misdemeanors
are punishable as provided in RMC 1-3-1.
C. Police Animals Exempt: This Chapter shall not applv to police animals
while bein�exhibited exercised or used in dischar�in�or attempting to discharge
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ORDINANCE NO. 5859
anv lawful duty or function or power of office, bv anv bona fide officer or
representative of such officer, or anv police a�encv.
SECTION VI. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or work of this
ordinance should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court or competent jurisdiction,
such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the constitutionality of any other
section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this ordinance.
SECTION VII. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after
publication of a summary of this ordinance in the City's official newspaper. The summary shall
consist of this ordinance's title.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 21st day of August , 2017.
,
Jason . Seth, Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 21st day of August , 2017.
Denis Law, Mayor
Approved as to form:
``���.a����►nna,i
,,,��G��`�,,�,F,,,R,FNj:o.,,
: '•., y=,
Shane Moloney, City torney : _ �. �"= =
* _ SE :
= AL = *_
Date of Publication: 8/25/2017 (summary) % i �% � : _
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