Washington County, OR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WCC 6.04.230 (Animals at large)
- Infraction class
- Class C civil infraction
- Presumptive fine
- $160 (up to $500/$1,000)
- Scope
- Unincorporated Washington County only
- Tethering duty
- No unattended ROW tethering (6.04.240)
- Waste duty
- Remove feces from others' property (6.04.235)
Summary
Washington County Code 6.04.230 makes it a Class C civil infraction for any dog owner or keeper to let a dog run at large in the unincorporated county. Companion sections add separate infractions for unattended tethered dogs in the public right-of-way and for uncollected dog waste. Hillsboro and Beaverton run their own leash ordinances, so this chapter only reaches unincorporated neighborhoods.
(1)No dog owner or keeper shall allow a dog to run at large.(2)Any dog owner or keeper who allows a dog to run at large commits a Class C civil infraction.
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
' The chapter builds out the rest of the restraint picture around that single sentence. 240 separately bars leaving any animal unattended while tethered or tied in a public right-of-way, including sidewalks, trails, picnic areas, streets, parking lots, or outside a business; that is a Class D civil infraction. 235 requires owners to keep dog feces off other people's property, with immediate removal into a waste container as the only listed defense; violating it is also a Class D civil infraction. None of these sections apply inside Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Forest Grove, Cornelius, King City, North Plains, Banks, or Gaston.
Washington County Code governs only the unincorporated area, and each of those cities enforces its own leash ordinance. 12 civil-infraction hearings process: an enforcement officer issues a notice of civil infraction, and a hearings officer adjudicates any contested case. 210's Schedule of Fines, a Class C civil infraction carries a $160 presumptive fine (an $80 minimum, up to $500 for an individual or $1,000 for a corporation), while the Class D infractions for tethering and dog waste carry a $110 presumptive fine ($60 minimum, up to $250 for an individual or $500 for a corporation).
Violations & Fines
Letting a dog run at large is a Class C civil infraction: $160 presumptive fine, $80 minimum, up to $500 for an individual or $1,000 for a corporation under WCC 1.12.210. Leaving a dog tethered unattended in a public right-of-way (6.04.240) or failing to pick up dog waste off your own property (6.04.235) are each Class D civil infractions, $110 presumptive, up to $250 (individual) or $500 (corporation).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the leash law reach Hillsboro or Beaverton?
What if my dog is tied up outside while I run into a store?
Is there a defense if my dog's feces end up on a neighbor's yard?
How much is the fine for a first at-large violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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