Portland and Multnomah County do not impose a hard numerical cap on dogs or cats per household, but MCC 13.05.015 caps 'specified animals' (chickens, ducks, rabbits, miniature goats, pot-bellied pigs) at three per residential lot without a permit. Keeping unusually large numbers of dogs or cats can trigger kennel-licensing requirements under MCC 13.301, nuisance enforcement under PCC Title 29, and zoning rules barring commercial kennels in residential zones (PCC 33.110.030).
Unlike many cities, Portland does not specify '3 dogs maximum' or '5 cats maximum' in its code. Instead, three rules combine to set practical limits: (1) MCC 13.05.015 caps non-dog/cat 'specified animals' at three per lot before a permit is required; (2) MCC 13.301 requires a kennel license once a property is keeping animals for breeding or boarding, and the threshold for commercial-kennel zoning under PCC 33.920.350 starts at small-scale commercial operation; (3) PCC 33.110.030 limits residential zones to residential uses, so keeping animals in numbers that constitute a commercial kennel triggers a zoning violation. In practice, neighbors can trigger enforcement by filing a Property Maintenance (Title 29) nuisance complaint for odor, noise, or sanitation; BDS investigators and MCAS coordinate the response. When animals are kept in conditions inconsistent with minimum-care standards (MCC 13.601), MCAS may impound under MCC 13.701 and refer for ORS 167.330 prosecution.
Operating an unlicensed kennel under MCC 13.301 is a Class A violation. Zoning violations under PCC 33.700 trigger BDS administrative fines starting at $250/day. Nuisance abatement under PCC Title 29 may require remediation within 30 days, with city abatement costs recovered as a property lien. Animal-cruelty conditions trigger ORS 167.325/167.330 criminal charges (felony at 11+ animals).
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