Salem's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Salem, Oregon, there are 10 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Beekeeping

Salem caps residential beekeeping at five hives per property, temporarily seven from April through August for splits and swarms, under SRC 50.720, requires hives to meet zone setbacks and sit in the side or rear yard, and mandates a six-foot flyaway barrier or ten-foot elevation for any hive within 25 feet of a property line.

Key details: Max hives: 5, up to 7 April-August. 25-ft setback rule: 6-ft flyaway barrier or 10-ft elevation. Water source: within 15 ft. of each hive. Warning sign size: 10 in. by 10 in. minimum. First violation fine: $250.00, SRC 50.720(e)(1).

Keeping bees out of compliance with SRC 50.720 is an infraction: $250.00 for a first violation, $500.00 for a second, and $750.00 for a third or later violation, with a third violation also barring the keeper from keeping bees in Salem for ten years. Noncompliant hives are also a declared public nuisance the City can abate under SRC 50.800 through 50.880 after notice.

Bird Protection

Salem makes it unlawful to disturb, injure, damage or kill any bird, bird nest or egg inside a city park under SRC 94.120, a misdemeanor-level offense. A companion section, SRC 95.235, separately bans killing, injuring, taking or molesting any duck or duck nest in or near waters anywhere within Salem's city limits, not just in parks.

Key details: Park birds: Unlawful to disturb, injure or kill, SRC 94.120. City waters ducks: Protected citywide, not just parks, SRC 95.235. Permit exception: State agencies/schools only, for research or relocation. Park bird penalty: Misdemeanor, SRC 94.990(a). Duck penalty: Misdemeanor, SRC 95.990(b).

A violation of SRC 94.120 (harming birds or animals in a park) is a misdemeanor under SRC 94.990(a). SRC 95.235 (killing or molesting ducks) is not among the infractions listed in SRC 95.990(a), so it defaults to a misdemeanor under SRC 95.990(b) as well; both provisions carry criminal-level exposure rather than a simple citation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Salem actively enforces its bird protection requirements.

Pet Groomer Rules

Salem's Unified Development Code treats pet grooming as an 'animal services' use, and in the General Commercial (CG) zone, Table 523-1 under UDC Sec. 523.005 allows grooming of household pets only when it is conducted inside a completely enclosed building; every other animal service that doesn't fit that description is barred from the CG zone outright.

Key details: Permitted use: Grooming of household pets, CG zone only. Building condition: Must be conducted within a completely enclosed building. Home-based grooming: Regulated as a home occupation under Sec. 700.020. Governing table: UDC Table 523-1, Sec. 523.005. Max civil penalty: $2,000 per day under SRC § 20J.150.

Running a grooming business as an unlisted or open-air 'animal services' use in a zone where the table marks it N is a UDC violation. SRC § 20J.140 requires the enforcement officer to issue a correction order with at least ten business days to comply before any penalty attaches, SRC § 20J.150 caps the resulting civil penalty at $2,000 per day the violation continues, and the operator has 15 business days under SRC § 20J.190 to appeal to the Hearings Officer.

Wildlife Rescue Permits

Salem's UDC treats a wildlife rehabilitation facility as an 'animal services' land use rather than issuing a city wildlife-rescue permit. State-licensed facilities operating since before July 14, 1994 are grandfathered as a conditional or permitted use depending on the zone, per SRC 111.001, but most zones bar any brand-new facility outright.

Key details: Use classification: 'Animal services', SRC § 400.120(e). Grandfather cutoff: Operating since before July 14, 1994. State license required: Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. RS zone status: Existing facility conditional; new facility not allowed. Excluded species: Cougars, wolves, and bears.

Operating a wildlife rehabilitation facility in a zone where the use table marks it 'N' (not allowed), or starting a new facility where the code only grandfathers an existing licensed operation, is a UDC violation enforceable under SRC 110.065 and 110.070, on top of separate state penalties for rehabilitating wildlife without an ODFW license. Falsifying an application for the conditional use approval a facility does need is a misdemeanor under SRC 110.155.

This is one of the stricter rules in Salem's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Salem requires small animal veterinary services to keep operations inside soundproof buildings and, if outdoor dog runs are used, to limit their hours to 7 a.m.-6 p.m., set them back 60 feet from residential property, and screen them under SRC 700.075.

Key details: Governing section: SRC 700.075. Outdoor run hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Attendant required: Yes, on-site during run hours. Setback from residential property: Minimum 60 feet. Screening required: Sight-obscuring fence, wall, or hedge.

Operating outside dog runs beyond the 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. window, without the required 60-foot residential setback, or without required screening is a special-use standard violation, enforced by the City's code compliance division under SRC chapter 20; a clinic seeking relief from these standards must pursue conditional use approval under SRC chapter 240 rather than a simple permit modification.

Chickens & Livestock

Salem allows up to twelve poultry per residence, community garden, or school and religious-organization lot under SRC 50.710, but bans roosters outright and requires birds be confined to a poultry facility except when under an owner's direct control, with the coop sited in the rear yard, at least three feet from other buildings and 25 feet from a neighboring residence.

Key details: Max poultry per property: 12, roosters prohibited. Coop size cap: 120 sq ft. Setback from neighbor's home: 25 ft. minimum. First violation fine: $250.00, SRC 50.710(e)(1). Third violation penalty: $750.00 plus 10-year keeping ban.

Keeping poultry out of compliance with SRC 50.710 is an infraction: $250.00 for a first violation, $500.00 for a second, and $750.00 for a third or later violation, and a third violation also bars the responsible person from keeping poultry in Salem for ten years. Noncompliant birds are also a declared nuisance the City can abate under SRC 50.800 through 50.880 after notice.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Salem has no general spay/neuter mandate for dogs or cats, but SRC 50.715 requires any miniature swine kept as a residential pet to be spayed or neutered, caps ownership at one animal per residence, and defines 'miniature swine' as a pig under 100 pounds and 18 inches at the shoulder at maturity.

Key details: Applies to: miniature swine only, not dogs/cats. Max per residence: 1 miniature swine. Weight/height definition: under 100 lb, under 18 in. at shoulder. Mandate: must be spayed or neutered, SRC 50.715(c)(2). First violation fine: $250.00.

Keeping a noncompliant miniature swine, unaltered or beyond the one-per-residence cap, is an infraction under SRC 50.715(e): $250.00 for a first violation, $500.00 for a second, and $750.00 for a third or later violation, which also bars the owner from keeping miniature swine in Salem for ten years. The animal is also a declared public nuisance the City can abate under SRC 50.800 through 50.880 after notice.

Compared to other cities, Salem takes a harder line on mandatory spay/neuter. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Dog Leash Laws

Salem does not have a citywide dog-at-large ordinance in its municipal code; animal control in Salem is handled by Marion County. Within city parks specifically, SRC 94.020(b) requires every dog to be on a leash held by a person at all times, except in areas the Parks Director has posted as an off-leash "dog exercise area."

Key details: Scope: City parks only, not citywide. Rule: Leash held by person at all times in parks. Exception: Posted off-leash "dog exercise area". Cleanup duty: Owner must immediately remove feces, SRC 94.020(d). First infraction fine: Up to $50, rising to $250 by third.

Violating the park leash rule in SRC 94.020(b) is an infraction under SRC 94.990(c), which sets penalties of no more than $50 for a first infraction, no more than $150 for a second infraction of the same section, and no more than $250 for a third or subsequent infraction of the same section.

Breed Restrictions

Salem does not impose breed-specific legislation. Oregon's potentially dangerous dog statutes (ORS 609) address dogs based on behavior, not breed.

Key details: Breed Bans: None. State Law: ORS 609.090-609.190. Dangerous Dog: Behavior-based designation. Requirements: Confinement, muzzle, insurance.

Owners of dangerous dogs who fail to comply with requirements face criminal charges, fines, and potential destruction of the animal.

Salem is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Exotic Pets

Oregon regulates exotic pet ownership through ORS 609.305-609.355 and ODFW rules. Exotic animals including primates, large cats, bears, and venomous reptiles are prohibited without permits.

Key details: Ferrets: Legal in Oregon. Prohibited: Primates, large cats, bears, wolves. State Law: ORS 609.305-609.355. Permits: Available for education/science only.

Keeping prohibited exotic animals without a permit is a violation carrying fines and confiscation of the animal.

The Bottom Line

Salem is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Salem, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Salem's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.