Carriage horse—Operating requirements and responsibilities.
Seattle Mun. Code ch. 6.315, subch. III, § 6.315.220
in effect6.315.220 - Carriage horse—Operating requirements and responsibilities.
No carriage horse licensed by the City may lawfully be used to draw a for-hire horse-drawn carriage within the City of Seattle unless the following minimum requirements are met:
A. Each carriage horse used for drawing a for-hire horse-drawn carriage shall be distinguishable by a permanent form of identification such as a brand, lip tattoo, microchip or any other easily identifiable permanent form of identification approved by the Director (Suspension and Class B).
B. A carriage horse used in drawing a for-hire horse-drawn carriage must:
1. Be appropriately shod on all four feet and not have any loose shoes. Shoes which are designed to prevent slipping and absorb shock shall be utilized when working on paved surfaces. A horse that loses a shoe or is not appropriately shod shall be immediately taken out of service until such time the problem is cured (Suspension and Class B);
2. Not have any open wound, oozing sore, cut below skin level, bleeding wound or severe chafing (Suspension and Class B);
3. Have good flesh and adequate muscle tone, which the Director shall determine by use of the Henneke Scale or other appropriate method of equine evaluation (Suspension and Class B);
4. Not have any evidence of lameness, such as but not limited to irregular rhythm (Suspension and Class B);
5. Not work longer than ten hours per day in any 24 hour period nor more than five consecutive days in any seven day period (Class B);
6. Be properly cleaned and groomed with no caked dirt or mud and not have any offensive odor other than an odor normally associated with a horse that is clean, healthy and well groomed (Class A);
7. Not work in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (Class B);
8. Wear an equine diaper to contain all fecal droppings while drawing a for-hire horse-drawn carriage or walking the horse on public property (Class B); and
9. Have a current West Nile virus vaccination.
C. Each carriage horse licensed under this chapter must have a veterinary examination at least semiannually, and evidence of such examination shall be made available to the Director upon request (Class B).
D. The owner of each carriage horse licensed under this chapter shall permit an inspection of a carriage horse's living conditions wherever the horse is domiciled or stabled regardless of location and/or jurisdiction (Suspension and Class B).
E. Horses must be provided with sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitation and space necessary for the good health of the animal and must be provided medical care that is necessary for its health or to alleviate pain (Suspension and Class B).
F. If a carriage horse license has been suspended pursuant to subsection 6.315.220.B.2-4 the horse must be cleared for work via an examination by a veterinarian of the city's choosing and a report of such examination provided to the Director.
(Ord. 123865, § 4, 2012; Ord. 118443, § 1(part), 1996.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.315HOAWCAHODR_SUBCHAPTER_IIICAHOLIEQRE_6.315.220CAHOPEREREFetched: 11/1/2026