Exotic pets are controlled by Oregon state law, not a county ordinance. Big cats, non-native wild canids, bears (other than black bears), non-human primates and crocodilians are 'exotic animals' that may not be kept without a state permit issued before 2010, making new ownership effectively banned.
Clackamas County defers to Oregon's exotic-animal statutes (ORS 609.305-609.351), administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. ORS 609.305 defines an 'exotic animal' to include any non-indigenous member of family Felidae (except the domestic cat), any non-human primate, any non-wolf non-native member of family Canidae (except the domestic dog), any bear except the black bear, and any member of the order Crocodylia. Under ORS 609.341 a person may not keep such an animal without a valid ODA permit, and permits have not been issued to new owners since 2010 - so keeping these animals is effectively prohibited. Keeping other captive wildlife requires ODFW permits under ORS 497/498 and OAR 635-056.
Keeping a prohibited exotic animal without the required Department of Agriculture permit violates ORS 609.341 and is enforced by the state (ODA/ODFW), which can seize animals; unlawful holding of protected wildlife is enforced under ORS 496.992.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting of yard debris and food scraps is allowed and encouraged in Clackamas County; no permit is needed for a home compost pile. Commercial-sca...
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Oregon law (ORS 569) declares noxious weeds a public nuisance to be controlled on all lands. Clackamas County runs the WeedWise program (since 2009) through ...
See how Clackamas County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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