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Bend, OR Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

At-large exemption
Bend Code § 5.20.025
Waste-cleanup exemption
Bend Code § 5.20.015
Cat nuisance list
Bend Code § 5.20.040(B)
Nuisance penalty
Class A, up to $750.00
No City cat license
only dogs are licensed

Summary

In the City of Bend, domestic cats are exempt from the citywide at-large and animal-waste requirements that apply to dogs and other animals, so cats may roam free and their owners are not required to clean up after them. A cat is still a nuisance if it bites without provocation, is used in animal fighting, disturbs people with frequent noise, or attends a special event.

It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper of an animal other than a domestic cat to allow it to deposit solid waste matter on any property other than the property of the owner or keeper of the animal. ... No animal other than a domestic cat may run at large. ... B. ... A domestic cat is a nuisance if it: 1. Bites, injures or attacks a person without provocation; 2. ... Places a person in fear of imminent physical injury, without provocation; 3. Is trained for or used in animal fighting; 4. Disturbs any person by frequent or prolonged noises; 5. Attends a special event as defined in BC Title 7.

View official code

Full Breakdown

025 bars any animal other than a domestic cat from running at large, meaning cats are the only animal the City lets roam beyond the owner's premises without a leash or tether. 040(B) sets out a shorter, cat-specific nuisance list separate from the one that applies to dogs and other animals. Under that subsection a domestic cat is a nuisance if it bites, injures or attacks a person without provocation; places a person in fear of imminent physical injury without provocation; is trained for or used in animal fighting; disturbs any person by frequent or prolonged noises; or attends a special event as defined in Bend Code Title 7. 070.

Violations & Fines

A cat nuisance violation under Bend Code 5.20.040(B) is a Class A civil infraction under Bend Code 5.20.065, carrying a civil penalty up to $750.00 imposed by the Bend Municipal Court; a cat is not cited for running at large or for failing to have waste removed, since those duties do not apply to cats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to license my cat in the City of Bend?
No. Bend Code 5.20.020 only requires licensing for dogs with permanent canine teeth; the chapter contains no separate cat licensing requirement, and cats are affirmatively exempted from the at-large and waste rules that apply to other animals.
Can my cat roam outside without a leash in Bend?
Yes. Bend Code 5.20.025 prohibits any animal other than a domestic cat from running at large, which means cats are excluded from the citywide leash and containment requirement that applies to dogs and other pets.
Can a cat still get me in trouble under Bend's animal code?
Yes, if it is a nuisance under Bend Code 5.20.040(B): biting or attacking without provocation, being used for animal fighting, disturbing people with frequent noise, or attending a special event. That is a Class A civil infraction with a penalty up to $750.00.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bend

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All Bend rules

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