Animal Ordinances in Benton County, OR (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Benton County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Benton County, dog owners are prohibited from letting a dog be at large: off the owner's property and out of a competent person's immediate control. County Code § 9.205 makes this a citable offense, enforced by the Sheriff's Office Animal Control Program, with exceptions for supervised hunting, herding, dog shows and obedience training. Violators face fines up to $500 per incident, doubling to $1,000 for a continuing violation, under § 9.820.
Dogs Must Not Be At Large in Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 9.005(7), 9.205, 9.820
(7)"At Large" means a dog off the premises of the owner and not under the immediate control of the owner or of a competent person; except "at large" does not include exhibition in dog shows, obedience training or the use of a dog under the supervision of a person to hunt, chase or tree predatory animals or game birds, or the use of a dog to control or protect livestock or use in other related a...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Benton County bans using wild or exotic animals, listed exhaustively in County Code § 9.805(4) from elephants and big cats to bears and primates, in traveling circuses, fairs, rides or similar displays. Section 9.810 makes participation unlawful outright, with narrow exemptions for accredited zoos, veterinary and wildlife-rehab facilities, and licensed research or 4-H programs. Violators face fines up to $500, or $1,000 for a continuing violation.
Wild and Exotic Animal Display Ban in Benton County
Heavy RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 9.805, 9.810
(4)"Wild or Exotic Animal" means any live animals listed below, including any hybrid of such animal:(a)Hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, deer, antelope, and chevrotains;(b)Alligators, crocodiles and camans; ... (e)Tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, panthers, cheetahs, cougars, lynx, bobcat, ocelot, margay, Fisher cats, and European wild cats but excluding domestic cats; ... (h)Apes, monkeys, lem...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Unincorporated Benton County allows commercial kennels as an accessory use to a veterinary clinic or pet shop in any zone under BCC 91.405(4), while a hobby kennel accompanies any dwelling outright and a freestanding commercial kennel needs a conditional use permit in the Rural Residential zone. Veterinary and animal-sales uses are also listed outright in the Flexible Industrial Overlay near Corvallis.
Where Veterinary Clinics and Kennels Are Zoned in Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 85.205(2), 91.405, 91.410(2)
(2)Commercial uses: animal sales and services (commercial kennels, veterinary), automobiles and equipment repairs (heavy, light, and farm equipment), wholesaling, storage and distribution (light). ... (1)A hobby kennel is allowed as an accessory use to a dwelling in any zone.(2)A commercial kennel is allowed as a home occupation in any zone.(3)A commercial kennel not provided in conjunction wit...
Bird Protection
Benton County's Sensitive Fish and Wildlife Habitat Overlay Zone (/FW) protects Northern Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Spotted Owl nests with a quarter-mile development review buffer, and Great Blue Heron rookeries and Band-tailed Pigeon mineral springs with a 600-foot buffer. Any tree removal or permitted development inside those buffers triggers a mandatory review by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or Forestry before the county can approve it.
Protected Bird Nest Buffers in Benton County's Wildlife Overlay
Significant RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 87.210, 87.220
(1)The Sensitive Fish and Wildlife Habitat Overlay Zone shall be applied to all Northern Bald Eagle nests and roosts, Spotted Owl nests, Osprey nests, Great Blue Heron rookeries, and Band-tailed Pigeon mineral springs.(2)Unless alternatively identified by using cultural boundaries, waterways, topography, or through a site specific evaluation of significant habitat components, an established Sen...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Benton County does not license wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities itself; instead, County Code § 9.810(2)(b) exempts any veterinary clinic or wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility 'licensed or permitted by the State of Oregon' from the chapter's ban on using wild or exotic animals in traveling displays. The exemption sits inside the Chapter 9 ban enforced by the Animal Control Officer, with fines up to $1,000 for violations of the underlying ban.
Benton County Exempts Licensed Wildlife Rescues From Ban
Few RestrictionsBenton County Code § 9.810(2)(b)
9.810 - Prohibitions. ... (2)The following facilities, institutions, persons, entities, associations, and government agencies are exempt from compliance with BCC 9.810(1): ... (b)Veterinary clinics or wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities that are licensed or permitted by the State of Oregon;
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