Staff from the Auditor’s Office had a blast interacting with community members at Snohomish County Family Day in July. Our Animal Control Officers talked pet safety and responsible animal ownership while Elections staff gave future voters a taste of democracy through a lively mock election.  

Kids had fun drawing pictures of their favorite furry friends at Animal Services’ coloring station and casting ballots for their favorite pizza toppings, desserts, and sports teams during Elections’ mock election. They also had the chance to color and create their own “I Voted” buttons. These hands-on activities combined fun and learning, helping to build early civic awareness and a sense of community responsibility. 

As the new school year begins, we invite educators, community groups, and event organizers to partner with the Auditor’s Office to bring similar interactive voter education and community engagement activities to your events. Educators and event organizers can also take advantage of the Washington Secretary of State’s Student Mock Election, an annual event open to all K–12 students in the state. Learn more at sos.wa.gov/elections/mock. 

A huge thanks to Central Human Resources’ Culture and Wellness Team for organizing this fantastic and memorable day. To collaborate with the Auditor’s Office at your next event, please contact auditor@snoco.org or call 425-388-3693. 

In August 2025, the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) updated how it sends vehicle registration courtesy renewal notices. Instead of the traditional full-size letter, most customers will now receive their renewal notice either by email or postcard. 

If you have completed business online with DOL or have an email address on file, you will receive an email renewal notice from noreply@notifcations.dol.wa.gov. DOL will send a second reminder email 14 days before your registration expires if you haven’t already renewed your tabs. To ensure you receive these reminder emails, add noreply@notifcations.dol.wa.gov to your safe senders list or contacts. 

If DOL doesn’t have your email address on file, you’ll receive a postcard with renewal details and payment instructions instead. You can still renew online, in person at a vehicle licensing office, or by mail. To pay by mail, simply send the postcard along with a check payable to DOL to the return address on the front of the card. 

You can choose how you’d like to receive your renewal notices by updating your preferences on My Account/License Express. Customers with unresolved traffic or toll violations, or open safety recalls on their vehicles, will continue to receive a full-size letter notice by mail.  

Leashing your dog is the best way to keep your pup safe, and it’s the law. In unincorporated Snohomish County, all dogs off the property of their owner must be kept on a leash and under the control of a responsible individual. Dogs may only be off-leash in designated areas of county parks while directly supervised. Allowing your dog to roam freely in public spaces or wander from home increases the risk of accidents or conflicts with other animals or people.

Leash laws are in place to protect everyone. They promote public safety by reducing the chance of accidents and preventing unwanted interactions with people, other pets, and wildlife. Leashing your pup also shows respect for shared spaces, allowing you to manage your pet’s behavior responsibly. But being a responsible pet owner doesn’t stop at the leash. Licensing your pet is just as important.

Licensing not only helps reunite lost pets with their owners, but it also helps fund shelter and medical expenses for less fortunate dogs and cats in your community. To license your pet, contact Snohomish County Animal Services at 425-388-3440 or animalservices@snoco.org 

Snowmobile and snow bike season is right around the corner! If you plan to hit the snow this year, you will need to renew your snowmobile or snow bike registration after September 30. Snowmobile and snow bike registrations expire on September 30, marking the end of the prior season. You can renew online at dol.wa.gov or at a local licensing office. 

What You Need to Know:  

• New Registration Period: The new season begins on October 1 and runs until September 30, 2026.  

• Renew Anytime After September 30: You can renew at any time after September 30. There’s no penalty for renewing late. 

• If You Skipped a Renewal Year: Make sure to wait until October 1 to renew your registration. If you renew before October 1, you’ll be paying for the year last snow season, not the upcoming season. The registration period runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year, and registration fees are not prorated. 

• For Expired Registrations: If your snowmobile or snow bike registration has been expired for more than a year, you’ll need to visit a local licensing office or Snohomish County Licensing in person to renew.  

For more information, including opportunities to observe ballot processing at our new Elections Center, visit snoco.org/auditor; follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X; or email us at auditor@snoco.org. You can view our annual reports and learn more about the Auditor's Office on our website.