Springfield, OR Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- SMC § 5.404
- Dog cap
- 3 adult dogs per dwelling unit
- Puppies exempt
- Under 4 months old
- Residency trigger
- 30 consecutive days or 60/90 days
- Breeding limit
- 1 female dog at a time
- Maximum fine
- $720
- Enforcing agency
- Lane County Animal Services (contract)
Summary
In the City of Springfield, Oregon, Municipal Code Section 5.404 caps residential dog ownership at three adult dogs per dwelling unit, plus any number of their offspring under four months old, and limits breeding to one female dog at a time. A dog counts as a resident after 30 consecutive days, or more than 60 days within any 90-day period, and exceeding the cap is a violation punishable by up to $720 under SMC Section 1.205.
5.404. Number of Dogs Permitted—Residential Lots. A maximum number of three adult dogs and their offspring of any number up to the age of four months may be kept per dwelling unit. No more than one female dog may be used for breeding purposes at any one time. A dog is considered a resident of the location after being there continuously for 30 days or for more than 60 days in a 90 day period. The above offense is also punishable as a violation and may include a fine not exceeding $720.00 pursuant to Section 1.205 of this code.
Full Breakdown
Section 5.404 sits at the start of Article XI, Control of Dogs and Other Animals, the same article that defines terms like keeper, owner and at large in Section 5.402 and that the city council most recently amended by Ordinance No. 6421 on October 19, 2020. The three-dog cap counts adult dogs only; puppies under four months old do not count toward the limit no matter how many a household has, but once a puppy turns four months old it becomes an adult dog for counting purposes and can push a household over the cap.
The residency test matters for enforcement: a dog someone is fostering, boarding or otherwise keeping only briefly does not trigger the cap until it has been at the address for 30 straight days, or for more than 60 days total within any rolling 90-day window, whichever comes first. The one-female-for-breeding-at-a-time rule is separate from the head-count cap and applies regardless of how many total dogs a household otherwise keeps. Springfield Municipal Code does not exempt cats from Article XI's general definitions, but the numeric cap in Section 5.404 applies to dogs specifically; separate lot-size and licensing rules elsewhere in Article XI cover farm animals, fowl, bees and livestock.
Lane County Animal Services, which enforces Article XI on the city's behalf under contract, and a household kept over the three-dog limit is subject to the standard $720 violation fine under Section 1.205.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three adult dogs per dwelling unit, or using more than one female dog for breeding at the same time, is a municipal violation under Section 5.404 punishable by a fine of up to $720 under the citywide schedule in Section 1.205. Lane County Animal Services, which enforces animal control for the city under contract, can cite the household and the case is handled through Springfield Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I legally keep at my Springfield, Oregon home?
When does a dog I'm fostering count toward my household's three-dog limit?
Can I breed more than one female dog at a time in Springfield?
What happens if I exceed the three-dog limit in Springfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle pet limits.