Portland has no breed-specific legislation (BSL). Oregon state law at ORS 609.092 preempts cities and counties from adopting ordinances that target specific dog breeds; local dangerous-dog rules must be based on individual behavior. Multnomah County regulates 'potentially dangerous' and 'dangerous' dogs under MCC 13.401-13.413 based on conduct, not breed.
Oregon's preemption statute, ORS 609.092, prohibits any city, county, or other political subdivision from enacting an ordinance that 'declares any specific breed of dog to be potentially dangerous or dangerous, vicious or any similar designation.' Portland and Multnomah County therefore use a behavior-based system: MCC 13.401 defines 'potentially dangerous' dogs (level 1-3, based on conduct toward people or other animals), and MCC 13.405 sets confinement, muzzling, signage, and liability-insurance requirements scaled to the danger level. Level 3 designations under MCC 13.403 can require secure enclosures, $100,000+ liability insurance, microchipping, and sterilization. The Multnomah County Animal Services Director makes the designation after a hearing under MCC 13.411. Landlords and insurers may impose their own breed restrictions, but those are private contractual matters, not city or county law.
Failure to comply with a dangerous-dog designation order under MCC 13.405 is a Class A violation with fines that may exceed $1,000 per incident, plus impoundment under MCC 13.701. A bite causing serious injury may also trigger Oregon's criminal statutes (ORS 609.155, harboring a dangerous dog) and civil strict liability under ORS 31.360.
Portland, OR
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