Multnomah County, OR Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign required
- Posted at property entrance
- Sign source
- Number assigned by county director
- Visibility
- Readable from nearest public property
- Penalty
- Class C infraction, $30-$150
- Extra cost
- Reimburse county investigation expenses
Summary
Multnomah County requires anyone keeping livestock to post a county-issued numbered sign at the property entrance, visible from the nearest public road, under Animal Services Code Chapter 13.
(A) Owners or keepers of livestock shall post at an entrance to property containing livestock a sign to be furnished by the director which shall display a number assigned by the director.
(B) The sign shall be posted so that it can be read from the nearest public property.
(C) An owner or keeper whose livestock are in violation of this chapter or any other statute pertaining to livestock shall reimburse the county for any expenses incurred for investigation of the violation if reimbursement is not otherwise provided for in § 13.512 or other applicable statutes. Reimbursement claims shall be a debt due the county and enforceable as such at law. Penalty, see § 13.999 (‘ 90 Code, § 8.10.210, 07/01/1998; Ord. 850, passed, 04/11/1996; Ord. 732, passed, 09/03/1992; Ord. 156, passed, 12/22/1977)
Full Breakdown
Under Multnomah County Code § 13.308, anyone who owns or keeps livestock, defined by § 13.002 as fowl, horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, emu, ostriches, swine, or other farm animals, must post a sign furnished by the county's Animal Services director at an entrance to the property, displaying a number the director assigns. The sign must be legible from the nearest public property. If the livestock later violate this chapter or any other livestock statute, the owner or keeper must reimburse the county for the cost of investigating the violation. This applies to livestock-keeping properties under county Animal Services jurisdiction; Portland runs its own separate animal code and is not covered here.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock without the required numbered sign is a Class C infraction under § 13.999, fined $30 to $150 for a first offense, rising to $150 for repeat violations within 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Multnomah County require a livestock permit?
What animals count as livestock under the code?
Does this rule apply inside Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
How Multnomah County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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