Multnomah County, OR Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- more animals than owner can reasonably care for
- Compliance window
- 72 to 120 hours
- Non-compliance
- impoundment plus cost recovery
- Infraction class
- Class A infraction
- Applies in
- unincorporated county only, not Portland
Summary
Animal Services can order an owner to abate a nuisance when animals exceed what they can reasonably care for, and impound the animals if the order is ignored.
IMMEDIATE HEALTH HAZARD. Exists if at any given location there are conditions related to animal care that the director determines warrant immediate intervention; such conditions include, but are not limited to inadequate sanitation, untreated disease, or animals in numbers greater than the animal's owner or keeper can reasonably care for. KEEPER. Any person or legal entity who harbors, cares for, exercises control over, or knowingly permits any animal to remain on premises occupied by that person for a period of time not less than 72 hours or someone who accepted the animal for the purpose of safe keeping. LIVESTOCK. Animals, including but not limited to fowl, horses, mules, burros, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, emu, ostriches, swine or other farm animals, excluding dogs and cats. LIVESTOCK FACILITY. Any site for the keeping of livestock. MINIMUM CARE. Has the meaning as provided in ORS 167.310(8). MOBLE OR TRAVELING HOUSING FACILITY. Any transporting vehicle such as a truck, trailer or railway car, used to transport or house wild or exotic animals while traveling for an animal display. MUZZLE. A device constructed of strong, soft material or a metal muzzle that is made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration but must prevent it from biting any person or animal. (S-2018)
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Multnomah County – Animal Services
Full Breakdown
County Animal Services defines an immediate health hazard to include animals kept in numbers greater than the owner or keeper can reasonably care for, alongside inadequate sanitation or untreated disease. Once the director determines an animal is a public nuisance on that basis, a written abatement order goes to the owner, occupant, or person in control of the premises, giving 72 to 120 hours to remove and abate the problem. Ignoring the order lets the director impound the animals and bill the owner for the cost, on top of a Class A infraction.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with an abatement order is a Class A infraction; unaddressed cases can be referred to state court, and impounded animals stay held until a director, hearings officer, or court orders release.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many animals count as hoarding in Multnomah County?
Does this rule apply inside Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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