Albany, OR Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Section 6.04.015 of the Albany Municipal Code, Number of Dogs Permitted, sets the household dog limit in the City of Albany, Oregon. No person, family, or business shall keep more than two dogs past the age of six months on any property within the City, except within a kennel approved under the Albany Development Code regulations. A dog is deemed kept by any adult person who resides at the property where the dog is housed or maintained. A dog is not deemed kept if it is being temporarily cared for and is licensed to a third party who is not a resident of the household. Under § 6.04.185, the adult occupants of a dwelling are presumed to be the co-owners of any dogs housed there.

An exception exists for up to four dogs. A person, family, or business can apply for a permit and shall be issued one allowing not more than four dogs if all four criteria in § 6.04.015(2) are met: a fully completed application on the form provided by the City Manager or designee; proof that all of the applicant's adult dogs are fully licensed by the county of the applicant's residence; no conviction of the applicant, or of any person residing with the applicant, for violating any ordinance, code, or regulation concerning the care, possession, maintenance, or control of an animal within five years before the application; and payment of a fee of $50.00. The licensing duty itself comes from § 6.04.010, which requires a dog with a set of permanent canine teeth, or six months old, whichever comes first, to be licensed under the ordinances of the county where the dog is kept.

The permit is conditional. Under § 6.04.015(3) it is revoked without any administrative or judicial action if the holder or anyone residing with the holder is or has been convicted of any violation of an animal control regulation of the City of Albany, Linn or Benton counties, or any other unit of government. Under subsection (4) it is valid for three years, after which a new application is required. Under subsection (5) the City Manager or designee can also revoke at any time on finding the holder is no longer eligible, after written notice of the grounds and an opportunity to be heard orally or in writing, and the City Manager's decision is final. This section counts dogs only. Poultry, rabbits and larger animals are covered in Chapter 6.10.