Washington County, OR Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- WCC 6.04.300, .310, .320 (Dangerous Dogs)
- Basis
- Behavior-based, not breed-specific
- Top tier
- Class A: bite/injure a person, possible euthanasia
- Required for all classes
- Microchip implant + added licensing fee
- Relief
- Restrictions may lift after 1 year compliance
- Scope
- Unincorporated Washington County only
Summary
Washington County Code does not ban dogs by breed. Instead, WCC 6.04.310 classifies 'dangerous behavior' by what a dog actually does, menacing, biting, or seriously injuring a person or another animal, in three graduated civil-infraction classes, and WCC 6.04.320 then imposes muzzling, secure-enclosure, and microchipping requirements on whichever dog is found dangerous, regardless of its breed.
(1)Class C civil infraction dangerous behavior is established if a dog at large is found to menace, chase, display threatening or aggressive behavior or otherwise threaten or endanger the safety of any domestic animal or livestock but does not cause physical injury.(2)Class B civil infraction dangerous behavior is established if:(a)A dog at large is found to menace, chase, display threatening or aggressive behavior or otherwise threaten or endanger the safety of any person, or while not at large bites any person and does not cause serious physical injury;(b)A dog, while at large, bites and causes physical injury to any domestic animal or livestock.(3)Class A civil infraction dangerous behavior is established if:(a)A dog, while at large, bites any person;(b)A dog kills or causes serious physical injury to any domestic animal or livestock, unless the domestic animal or livestock is trespassing upon property where the dog is authorized to be;(c)A dog, whether or not at large, causes the serious physical injury or death of any person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
310 states its purpose is 'to establish a procedure whereby dogs that pose a risk of causing injury to humans, domestic animals, Livestock, or property are identified and subjected to reasonable restrictions,' and the section is conduct-based rather than breed-based. Class C dangerous behavior is a dog at large that menaces, chases, or threatens a domestic animal or livestock without causing injury; Class B covers a dog at large that menaces or threatens a person (or bites without serious injury) or bites and injures livestock; Class A covers a dog that bites any person, kills or seriously injures livestock outside a trespass situation, or causes serious injury or death to a person.
320 layers on restrictions: a Class C dog must be physically confined so it can't reach a public right-of-way or neighboring property when off-leash; a Class B dog must be kept in a secure enclosure and the owner may have to post county-purchased warning signs; a Class A dog's owner must additionally muzzle the dog and keep it on a leash held by an adult whenever it is off the property, and a dog in the worst Class A tier may be euthanized, with the court empowered to bar the owner from owning any dog in the county.
160. After one year of compliance, an owner may ask the manager to lift or reduce the restrictions based on additional training or successful temperament testing.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with the dangerous-dog restrictions in WCC 6.04.320 is itself a Class C civil infraction ($160 presumptive fine under WCC 1.12.210, up to $500 for an individual or $1,000 for a corporation). The underlying dangerous-behavior finding carries its own graduated fines, Class C ($160), Class B ($260), or Class A ($435) presumptive, and a Class A dog that kills or seriously injures a person or livestock may be euthanized, with the owner's right to keep any dog in the county subject to court suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington County restrict specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
What has to happen before my dog is labeled dangerous?
What does the owner of a dangerous dog have to do?
Can the restrictions ever be lifted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
How Washington County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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