Tualatin's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Tualatin, Oregon, there are 5 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.

Chickens & Livestock

TMC Chapter 6-15 lets residents in the Low Density Residential (RL) Planning District keep up to four domestic fowl with a city license. Roosters, on-site slaughter, and traditional livestock are prohibited, and coops must meet strict setback and size limits.

Key details: Authorizing Code: TMC Ch. 6-15 (Ord. 1454-26). Bird Limit: 4 domestic fowl per lot. Allowed Zone: RL Planning District only. Setbacks: 10 ft property line, 25 ft residence. Roosters & Slaughter: Both prohibited.

Keeping fowl without a city license, exceeding four birds, keeping a rooster, on-site slaughter, or violating the 10/25-foot setbacks, 200-sq-ft, or 8-ft height limits violates TMC 6-15. Enforcement includes citations, license revocation, and orders to remove animals.

Exotic Pets

Oregon prohibits keeping exotic animals without a valid ODA permit issued before January 1, 2010, or as provided under ORS 609.351. Cities may enact additional bans. Tualatin follows Oregon state law on exotic animal restrictions.

Key details: State Law: ORS 609.305–609.351. Permit Required: ODA permit (pre-2010). New Permits: Very limited exceptions. Local Authority: May further restrict.

Confiscation of prohibited animals. Fines $500 to $5,000. Criminal charges possible for dangerous species. Owner liable for damages from escaped animals.

Compared to other cities, Tualatin takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Dog Leash Laws

Tualatin Municipal Code 6-4-040 requires all animals to be restrained when off the keeper's private property. Dogs must be on leash in all city parks and at schools, and licensing is handled by Washington County Animal Services.

Key details: Leash Code: TMC 6-4-040 Animals At Large. Park Leash Limit: 6 feet max. Off-Leash Area: Tualatin Community Park only. Licensing: Washington County (dogs over 6 mo.). Enforcement: Washington County Animal Services.

An off-leash dog outside the owner's property or in a city park violates TMC 6-4-040. Washington County Animal Services officers may issue civil citations, impound the dog, and assess boarding fees. Unlicensed or unvaccinated dogs face additional county-level penalties.

Beekeeping

Tualatin has no city ordinance restricting residential beekeeping; the city has been a designated Bee City USA Affiliate since 2019 and supports pollinators. Beekeepers must register colonies with the Oregon Department of Agriculture under ORS 602.

Key details: City Hive Limit: None in TMC. Bee City USA: Affiliate since Oct. 2019. State Registration: ORS 602 (ODA apiary registry). Best Practices: OSU Extension EM 9186. Nuisance Backstop: TMC Ch. 6-04.

There is no Tualatin permit or hive cap to violate. If a hive creates a documented nuisance, the city may act under TMC Chapter 6-04. Failure to register colonies with ODA under ORS 602 is a state-law violation.

Tualatin is more permissive than most cities when it comes to beekeeping. That said, there are still limits.

Breed Restrictions

Neither Tualatin nor Washington County enforces breed-specific legislation. Oregon state law (ORS 609.095) uses behavior-based criteria for potentially dangerous dogs. Oregon does not preempt local breed bans but Tualatin has not enacted any.

Key details: Breed Bans: None. State Law: ORS 609.095 behavior-based. Preemption: No state preemption. Dangerous Dogs: Behavior-based only.

Dangerous dog violations: fines $500 to $2,500. Containment failure: additional fines. Serious attack: possible criminal charges under ORS 609.098.

The rules around breed restrictions in Tualatin lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Tualatin gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 2 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Tualatin's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.