Multnomah County requires all cats over six months old kept within Portland city limits to be licensed under MCC 13.301. Licenses must be renewed annually and require proof of current rabies vaccination. Cats are not required to be leashed under Portland or Multnomah County law, but cats running at large that damage property or wildlife may be impounded by Multnomah County Animal Services under MCC 13.701.
MCC 13.301 establishes the cat-licensing program administered by MCAS. Licensing fees are reduced for spayed/neutered cats and for low-income residents; lifetime tags are available for microchipped, sterilized cats. There is no countywide cat-confinement (indoor) mandate, but MCC 13.501 prohibits any animal from running at large in a way that causes a nuisance, and MCC 13.601 minimum-care standards apply to outdoor cats just as to dogs. Portland's general nuisance ordinance, PCC Title 29 (Property Maintenance), can be used to abate odor or feces conditions caused by free-roaming colonies. Feral cat colonies are managed primarily through partnerships with the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and MCAS's trap-neuter-return programs; colony caretakers are not separately licensed but must comply with the minimum-care rules.
Operating without a current cat license under MCC 13.301 is a Class C civil violation with a base fine typically under $100, plus the unpaid license fee. Repeat impoundment under MCC 13.701 carries escalating boarding fees. Failure to vaccinate against rabies before licensing is a separate violation under Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR 333-019).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Portland, OR
Portland does not have a general ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, garden statues, or yard decorations on private residential property. Items must remain...
Portland, OR
Portland has no specific city ordinance regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must stay on the property and not...
Portland, OR
Portland does not have a specific ordinance regulating residential holiday lighting. General electrical safety and nuisance standards apply. Historic Conserv...
Portland, OR
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Portland require Bureau of Development Services permits when they include gas, plumbing, electrical, or structural work. Built-...
Portland, OR
Residential outdoor smokers (offset, pellet, kamado, vertical) are legal in Portland under the cooking-fire exemption to PCC 31.16, but persistent smoke that...
Portland, OR
Portland adopts the Oregon Fire Code (2022 edition based on IFC 2021) through PCC 31.16. Under IFC §308.1.4, propane (LPG) and charcoal grills are prohibited...
See how Portland's cat rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.