Portland, OR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash length
- 8 feet maximum
- Scope
- Applies inside city parks
- Waste
- Must remove promptly
- Off-leash
- Only city-designated areas/hours
- Citywide law
- Handled by Multnomah County
Summary
Portland City Code requires any animal inside a city park to be leashed to no more than eight feet, with waste picked up promptly; general dog-at-large enforcement outside parks belongs to Multnomah County Animal Services.
B. Leash; remove waste.
1. A person in possession of any animal in a park must physically restrain and maintain control of the animal by leash no greater than eight feet in length.
2. The City Administrator may designate off-leash areas for dogs in a park and promulgate administrative rules, regulations, and hours of use for these areas. A violation of any rule regarding designated off-leash areas will be a violation of this Section.
3. A person in possession of a dog, cat, horse, livestock, or other animal in any park must promptly remove excrement and waste generated by the animal while in a park.
C. Prohibited conduct related to animals.
1. A person must not hitch any animal to any tree, shrub, fence, railing, or other structure or facility in a park, except to such posts as are designated for that purpose.
2. A person must not injure, harm, disturb, or molest any animal in a park.
3. A person must not feed or offer food items to any wild animal or aquatic life in a park.
4. A person in control or possession of an animal must not allow that animal to enter or remain upon any of the following in a park:
a. Any lake, water feature, splash pad, fountain, pond, or stream;
b. Any tennis court, basketball court, running track, or other artificial sports surface or sports field;
c. Any sports facility enclosed by a fence or wall;
d. Any area where animals are prohibited.
D. Exemptions.
Full Breakdown
Portland City Code § 20.12.140 requires anyone with an animal inside a city park to physically restrain it on a leash no longer than eight feet, and to promptly pick up its waste. The City Administrator can designate off-leash areas and set their hours; ignoring those posted boundaries or hours is itself a violation of the section. The mandate applies specifically within park boundaries: general dog-at-large and licensing rules citywide are handled by Multnomah County Animal Services, not this city code section. Dogs with a valid county license can run off-leash only in city-designated areas.
Violations & Fines
Rangers and the City Administrator can issue a civil-penalty citation under Section 20.12.260 for leash violations in a park; the fine is appealable to the Code Hearings Officer under Title 22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this leash rule apply outside Portland parks?
Can my dog be off-leash anywhere in a Portland park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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