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Council reviews broad municipal code update package, including feral-animal rules, sidewalk responsibility and state-driven housing changes
Summary
At the April 6 meeting staff reviewed a multi-chapter municipal-code update: new feral-cat trap/neuter/release authority, proposed rabbit controls, sidewalk and planting-strip responsibility changes, right-of-way/permit clarifications, and state-directed housing code updates (transitional/emergency housing, cottage housing and parking rules). Council asked staff to refine several provisions.
Battle Ground — City staff presented a comprehensive package of municipal code updates on April 6, 2026, covering administrative, public-works, animal-control and land-use topics. Councilmembers probed enforcement burden, equity for legacy homeowners, and the implications of new state housing laws.
Key items presented
- Feral cats and rabbits: Staff proposed enabling trap–neuter–release for feral cats (with partnering organizations covering spay/neuter costs) and new language addressing domesticated rabbits that have been abandoned or become feral. Several councilmembers and residents questioned numeric caps (for example, a proposed limit of five rabbits per lot), urged exemptions for 4‑H/FFA or youth-agriculture programs and recommended focusing on controlling truly feral populations rather than limiting household pets.
- Sidewalks and planter/parking-strip responsibility: The…
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