Pop. 106,447 · Washington County
Hillsboro restricts large commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Small work vehicles are generally allowed in driveways.
Hillsboro restricts RV and boat parking on streets and in residential front yards. RVs may not be used as dwellings on residential property.
Vehicles in Hillsboro driveways must not block sidewalks. Driveway modifications require permits from the city's permitting center.
Hillsboro Community Development Code Section 12.40.230, adopted by Ordinance 6467, does not publish a fixed liability-insurance minimum for short-term rentals. Operators must hold a city business license and remit Hillsboro's 3% transient lodging tax plus Washington County's 9% TLT.
Hillsboro regulates short-term rentals under Community Development Code Section 12.40.230, enacted by Ordinance 6467. The CDC creates two STR types: a Partial-Dwelling STR with the owner on site (Type I permit) and a Full-Dwelling STR (Type II Development Review with 200-foot mailed notice).
Hillsboro requires STR operators to collect and remit the transient lodging tax on stays under 30 days. Washington County may levy additional taxes.
STR guests in Hillsboro must comply with the noise ordinance (Subchapter 6.24). The 9 PM–6 AM quiet period applies. Hosts must inform guests about noise standards.
STR guests in Hillsboro must comply with city parking regulations. Hosts should provide parking information to guests.
Hillsboro requires a permit for operating short-term rentals where the entire dwelling is rented. STR operators must register with the city and comply with safety standards.
Hillsboro treats a carport as an accessory structure under Community Development Code Section 12.40.104. In residential zones, side and rear setbacks may be reduced to three feet for an accessory structure meeting Subsection 12.40.104.B. Setbacks are measured to the support posts closest to the driveway, or to the roof edge.
Hillsboro allows ADUs on all single-family lots per Oregon HB 2001. ADUs are capped at 800 square feet. Both attached and detached types are permitted.
Garage conversions in Hillsboro require building permits. If creating an independent unit, it may qualify as an ADU under Oregon law.
Small sheds under 200 square feet generally do not need permits in Hillsboro. Larger structures require permits and must meet setbacks.
Washington County allows foundation-built tiny homes as dwellings or ADUs under CDC 430-89 (ADU) and ORS 197.312(5). Tiny homes on wheels are regulated as RVs or park model homes and cannot be occupied as permanent dwellings on residential lots.
Hillsboro allows home occupations in residential zones under the development code. The business must be secondary to residential use.
Hillsboro restricts home business signs to a small nameplate. Illuminated and freestanding signs are not allowed.
Hillsboro limits customer traffic for home businesses to normal residential levels. Walk-in businesses are not allowed.
Oregon ORS 329A.440 (HB 3109) requires that family child care homes be treated as residential use. Registered Family (up to 10) and Certified Family (up to 16) homes are licensed by ODELC. Washington County cannot require conditional use permits.
Oregon Domestic Kitchen law (ORS 616.706) allows limited direct sale of low-risk, shelf-stable homemade foods. Registration with ODA is not required under $50,000 annual gross sales. Washington County follows the state law with no additional local layer.
Hillsboro permits construction, industrial, and agricultural noise between 6 AM and 9 PM per Subchapter 6.24. Construction outside these hours is prohibited in residential areas.
Hillsboro Municipal Code Subchapter 6.24 prohibits unauthorized, disturbing, or unnecessary noise. Noise levels are especially enforced between 9 PM and 6 AM in residential areas.
Hillsboro addresses barking dogs through its noise ordinance and animal control. Persistent barking is a nuisance violation. Washington County Animal Services handles complaints.
Washington County has no countywide leaf blower ordinance; unincorporated area rules default to the general noise provisions of WCCO Chapter 8.20 and ORS 467, with hours mirroring construction windows. Cities inside the county (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin) apply their own local restrictions, and OAR 340-035 DEQ standards set the outer ceiling.
Amplified sound in unincorporated Washington County is regulated under the county noise ordinance and ORS 467, with outdoor amplification at public venues and events requiring a special event or temporary use permit through Land Use & Transportation. Cities within the county (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tualatin) layer their own amplification permit systems on top.
Aircraft noise in Oregon is preempted by federal law and ORS Chapter 836, which gives the Oregon Department of Aviation regulatory authority over airports. Local ordinances cannot restrict overflight noise or set in-air sound limits.
Oregon DEQ adopted statewide industrial noise standards under OAR 340-035-0035, setting maximum allowable decibel limits for new and existing industrial sources. While DEQ enforcement was defunded in 1991, the rules remain on the books and are referenced statewide.
Hillsboro follows Oregon state fireworks law. Only state-approved fireworks are legal. Bottle rockets, firecrackers, and aerial fireworks are banned. Legal use is limited to June 23–July 6.
Open burning is largely prohibited in Hillsboro. Backyard debris burning is not allowed. The Oregon DEQ and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue regulate burning restrictions.
Hillsboro allows recreational fires in approved fire pits with safety restrictions. Fires must maintain clearance from structures and be attended at all times.
Washington County, OR follows SB 762 wildfire hazard mapping with defensible space obligations concentrated in wildland-urban interface (WUI) zones along the west county foothills near the Tillamook State Forest. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) is the primary fire agency and enforces Oregon Fire Code clearance rules.
Oregon Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map (SB 80, 2023) classifies Washington County parcels as low, moderate, or high hazard. Only high-hazard parcels in the Wildland-Urban Interface are subject to defensible space and fire hardening code. Coast Range foothills are most affected.
Oregon law does not require neighbor consent for fences on your own property. Shared fence maintenance may be split. Hillsboro enforces code compliance for height and condition only.
Hillsboro's development code regulates fence heights. Front yard fences are typically limited to 3.5 feet and side/rear fences to 6 feet in residential zones.
Most standard residential fences in Hillsboro do not require building permits. Fences exceeding height limits, retaining walls, and masonry structures may require permits.
Washington County requires pool and spa barriers meeting Oregon Residential Specialty Code Appendix G / Chapter 42. Minimum 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gate. Inspected at building permit.
Washington County Community Development Code §411 permits standard residential fencing materials — cedar, vinyl, composite, wrought iron — and prohibits barbed wire and razor wire in residential zones. Cedar dominates due to the wet Willamette Valley climate; chain-link is allowed but discouraged in front yards.
Washington County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of foundation to top of wall (CDC 419-4). Walls supporting surcharge loads or taller than 4 feet require engineered plans stamped by a licensed Oregon PE.
Hillsboro requires dogs to be leashed off the owner's property. Washington County Animal Services enforces leash laws.
Hillsboro has no breed-specific dog bans. Oregon state law (ORS 609.035) preempts local breed-specific legislation. Dogs are regulated by behavior.
Beekeeping is allowed in Hillsboro. Oregon supports urban beekeeping. Register hives with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Exotic pet ownership in Hillsboro follows Oregon ODFW regulations. Many species require permits or are prohibited.
Urban unincorporated Washington County allows backyard chickens in R-5/R-6/R-9 zones with hen-only rules; roosters prohibited outside EFU/AF zones. Larger livestock restricted to AF-5, AF-10, AF-20, and EFU lands protected under Oregon Right to Farm (ORS 30.930).
Oregon ORS 496.731 authorizes ODFW officers to order removal of wildlife attractants for bear, cougar, coyote, and wolf. Washington County has no standalone wildlife feeding ordinance, but feeding creating a nuisance is enforceable under Chapter 8.20.
Oregon prosecutes animal hoarding under ORS 167.325 through 167.333, with felony charges available when 11 or more animals are involved or domestic animals are neglected. The criminal framework applies in every county.
Hillsboro follows regional water conservation guidelines. Mandatory restrictions may apply during summer drought. Efficient irrigation is encouraged.
Hillsboro requires property owners to maintain vegetation. Overgrown grass and weeds trigger code compliance action.
Hillsboro requires property owners to maintain trees for clearance over sidewalks (8 feet) and streets (14 feet).
Hillsboro regulates tree removal through its development code. Significant trees and street trees may require approval before removal.
Rainwater harvesting is permitted in Washington County for outdoor irrigation and non-potable use under Oregon Water Resources Department policy. Systems over certain thresholds require plumbing permits under OAR 918. Many Bethany and Hillsboro HOAs encourage rain barrels.
Washington County enforces weed abatement under ORS 105.550-105.570 and county nuisance provisions. Vacant lots in unincorporated Aloha, Metzger, Cedar Mill, and Bull Mountain receive targeted enforcement, especially during late-spring growth peaks.
Washington County and Metro encourage native Willamette Valley plantings for stormwater and habitat. Tualatin SWCD offers the native plant sale. Clean Water Services requires native plantings in vegetated corridors along streams.
Washington County allows artificial turf on residential properties without a specific permit. Stormwater runoff from impervious turf may trigger Clean Water Services rules if over 1,000 sq ft disturbed or grading involved.
Pools in Hillsboro require permits and inspections per Oregon building code. Anti-entrapment drains, electrical bonding, and emergency shutoffs are required.
Hillsboro requires pool barriers at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates per Oregon Residential Specialty Code.
Above-ground pools in Hillsboro must meet barrier requirements. Walls under 48 inches need separate fencing. Ladders must be removable or lockable.
Building permits are required for swimming pools, spas, and permanent hot tubs in Washington County under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code and OAR 918-480. The county Building Services Division issues permits for unincorporated areas; cities handle their own jurisdictions.
Washington County requires electrical permits for hot tubs (240V circuit with GFCI). Structural permits may apply for raised installations. Hot tubs with ASTM F1346 safety covers are exempt from pool barrier rules.
Hillsboro participates in the NFIP and regulates development in FEMA flood zones. Rock Creek and Dairy Creek are primary flood areas. Construction requires elevation above BFE.
Washington County requires grading permits for earthwork over 50 cubic yards or on slopes over 15%. Drainage cannot be diverted onto adjacent properties. Clean Water Services rules and Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (OAR 918-750) apply to drainage systems.
Washington County stormwater is managed by Clean Water Services (CWS) under the county's Phase I MS4 permit. CWS Design & Construction Standards trigger on-site detention for projects creating 1,000 sq ft of new impervious. Post-construction facilities are owner-maintained.
Washington County is entirely inland in the Portland metropolitan area. Oregon Coastal Zone Management Act and LCDC Goals 17/18 do not apply. The nearest coastline is ~60 miles west at Cannon Beach and Tillamook County. No coastal development rules apply within the county.
Erosion control in Washington County follows Clean Water Services' Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Manual and DEQ's 1200-C permit. Ground disturbance of 1+ acre triggers state NPDES permit; smaller projects use CWS BMPs including silt fencing and construction entrances.
Washington County and its cities require adjacent property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks typically within 24 hours after snowfall. Beaverton BC 9.05.040 and Hillsboro HMC 11.08.050 specify clearing obligations; liability attaches for slip-and-fall injuries.
Washington County property maintenance codes and city nuisance rules require garage sale items to be stored out of sight overnight and fully removed within 24 hours of sale end. Left-at-curb items trigger blight citations from code enforcement.
Washington County enforces vegetation and debris standards on vacant lots under Chapter 8.20 and CDC 430. Grass and weeds over 10 inches, accumulated trash, and fire fuel loads are subject to abatement. Fire season adds additional rules.
Washington County requires mandatory garbage collection service under Chapter 8.04 through franchised haulers. Bins must be out of public view between collection days. Metro regional rules govern solid waste disposal.
Washington County Chapter 8.20 (Nuisances) and Chapter 8.44 (Chronic Nuisance Property) authorize code enforcement against blighted properties. Abatement and liens available. Chronic nuisance designation triggers escalating penalties.
Washington County cities including Beaverton, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro designate heritage or landmark trees. Oregon Heritage Tree program through the State Historic Preservation Office recognizes culturally and historically significant specimens countywide.
Washington County regulates significant tree removal through CDC §407 and sensitive areas under CWS rules. Cities like Beaverton (BC 9.04), Hillsboro (HMC 12.32), and Tigard (Urban Forestry Manual) have robust tree codes. Street trees cannot be removed without permit.
Tree replacement requirements apply when permitted removals occur in Washington County cities. Beaverton, Tigard, and Hillsboro require 1:1 to 3:1 replacement planting with minimum 1.5-2 inch caliper native/adapted species, with fee-in-lieu options for the municipal tree fund.
Commercial drone operators in Washington County must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Hillsboro Airport Class D airspace requires LAANC authorization. Oregon requires additional registration for government operations under ORS 837.360.
Recreational drone use in Washington County follows FAA rules (49 USC §44809, Part 44809) and ORS 837.300. Restricted airspace around Hillsboro Airport (HIO) and Portland-Hillsboro's Class D boundary constrains much of the east/central county.
No-soliciting signs carry legal weight in most Washington County cities. Beaverton and Hillsboro operate no-knock registries; ignoring a posted sign or registered address is a civil violation. Political and religious canvassing remain exempt.
Washington County does not issue countywide solicitor permits; cities regulate independently. Beaverton (BC 7.04), Hillsboro (HMC 5.08), Tigard (TMC 5.04), and Tualatin all require permits with background checks for door-to-door commercial solicitation.
Washington County CDC caps residential heights at 35 ft in most R zones, 45 ft in R-24/R-25+, and 50-75 ft in commercial/industrial zones near MAX corridors. Rural AF-zones allow 35 ft. Hillsboro Airport AGL limits apply on approach paths.
Washington County CDC sets maximum lot coverage from 40-60% depending on zone. R-5 and R-9 cap at 50%; higher-density R-24 zones allow up to 70%. Clean Water Services post-construction stormwater standards trigger above 1,000 sq ft new impervious.
Washington County Community Development Code sets setbacks by zone: R-5 requires 20 ft front, 5 ft side, 15 ft rear; R-9 requires 15/5/10; AF-5 and rural require 30 ft front, 10 ft side, 30 ft rear. Cities within the county apply their own zoning.
Washington County solid waste service is franchised by the county Department of Health & Human Services Solid Waste & Recycling program, with weekly garbage and every-other-week recycling. Haulers include Republic Services, Pride Disposal, Waste Management, and Hillsboro Garbage Disposal, by service territory.
Bulk items in Washington County are handled through franchise hauler on-call pickup or direct drop-off at Metro transfer stations — Metro South (Oregon City) and Metro Central (NW Portland) — plus the Hillsboro Landfill. Refrigerants, electronics, and HHW have separate rules.
Residential recycling follows Metro's regional list: paper, cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles/jars/jugs in the mixed recycling cart; glass in a separate bin. Contamination (plastic bags, film, clamshells, Styrofoam, food waste) results in skipped pickups.
Washington County franchise rules require carts placed at the curb by 6 AM with wheels to the house and a 3-foot clearance. Carts must return out of public view within 24 hours of pickup, per hauler and city codes.
Washington County applies Oregon state juvenile curfew under ORS 419C.680 in unincorporated areas; cities layer local ordinances. Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard each enforce 10 PM-6 AM on school nights for minors under 18, with 12 AM-6 AM weekend hours.
Washington County Parks and THPRD (Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District) parks close from dusk to dawn or 10 PM depending on the site. Violations constitute trespass under ORS 164.245. Metro-managed regional parks (Cooper Mountain, Tualatin River NWR) have posted hours.
Washington County does not require garage sale permits for unincorporated areas. Most cities within the county (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin) also allow garage sales without permits, relying on frequency and signage limits instead.
Garage sales in Washington County cities typically run 8 AM to 6 PM or dusk. Most cities prohibit sales before 8 AM or after sunset/10 PM. Items and signs must be cleaned up each evening with final removal within 24 hours of sale end.
Cities in Washington County typically limit households to 2-4 garage sales per year, each 2-3 days long. Exceeding limits triggers classification as an ongoing retail use requiring home occupation review and business licensing.
Oregon Measure 91 allows adults 21+ to grow up to 4 cannabis plants per household in Washington County. Plants must be out of public view. Unincorporated county and most cities (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard) permit home grows consistent with state law.
Washington County and most cities allow OLCC-licensed cannabis retailers in commercial zones with state-mandated 1,000-ft school buffers. Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, and Tualatin host dispensaries; Sherwood and Forest Grove have historically restricted. CDC §430 applies to unincorporated lands.
Mobile food units in Washington County require a Washington County Public Health food service license under OAR 333-150 and OAR 333-157, plus a business license from each city of operation. Commissary kitchens and annual inspections are mandatory.
Food truck vending zones vary by city in Washington County. Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard each regulate mobile vending locations through zoning and right-of-way permits, with popular cart pods concentrated along Canyon Rd, Cornell Rd, and downtown districts.
Washington County regulates outdoor lighting through CDC §414 requiring shielded fixtures and no light trespass onto neighboring properties. Cities including Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard enforce dark-sky-inspired standards in commercial and industrial zones near residential edges.
Washington County Community Development Code Section 415 regulates outdoor lighting on development sites. Light sources must be shielded so direct light does not trespass on adjacent residential property. Code enforcement handles complaints in unincorporated areas.
Washington County prohibits garage sale signs in the public right-of-way along county roads. Temporary signs on private property are allowed under CDC 414. Signs must be removed immediately after the sale.
Washington County allows political signs on private property under CDC 414. Signs in public right-of-way are prohibited and may be removed without notice under ORS 368.942 and R&O 98-197. Content-neutral time/place/manner rules apply per Reed v. Gilbert.
Washington County allows holiday displays on residential property without permits. Displays must not obstruct sight lines, create fire hazards, or violate noise rules. HOA rules in subdivisions may impose additional limits.
Oregon ORS 94.762 prohibits HOAs from banning or unreasonably restricting solar panel installations. HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic guidelines but cannot effectively prevent solar. Washington County CDC 427 protects solar access for lots.
Washington County requires permits for residential solar installations under the Oregon Solar Installation Specialty Code. Most systems qualify for prescriptive (expedited) solar permits via the county's Building Services division and ePermitting.
Oregon SB 608 requires landlord just cause to terminate a tenancy after the first 12 months. No-cause terminations are only allowed in the first year. Washington County enforces the statewide standard; Board Ordinance 888 extends 90-day no-cause notice countywide.
Washington County has no general rental registration or landlord licensing program. Rentals are governed by Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORS 90) and state habitability standards. Portland operates a registry, but the county does not.
Oregon SB 608 (2019) and SB 611 (2023) set a statewide rent cap. For 2026, maximum rent increases are 9.5% (or 6% for mobile home parks with 30+ spaces). Washington County has no additional local rent control.
ORS 653.025 sets a three-tier statewide minimum wage and ORS 653.017 preempts cities and counties from adopting different local minimums.
ORS 653.601 mandates paid sick leave statewide, and Paid Leave Oregon under ORS Chapter 657B provides paid family and medical leave benefits.
ORS 653.412 to 653.485 require large retail, food, and hospitality employers to provide advance schedules and predictability pay.
Oregon issues concealed handgun licenses through county sheriffs under ORS 166.291, with statewide eligibility, training, and reciprocity standards.
Oregon law preempts most local firearm regulation but permits limited city and county rules in public buildings and on adjacent grounds.
Open carry of firearms is generally lawful in Oregon, but limited local ordinances may restrict loaded carry in incorporated public places.
Oregon allows firearms in private vehicles, but concealed loaded handguns inside a vehicle generally require a concealed handgun license under ORS 166.250.
Oregon does not mandate E-Verify use by private employers and has no statewide statute requiring electronic employment eligibility verification beyond federal I-9 rules.
Oregon enacted the nation's oldest statewide sanctuary law, ORS 181A.820, barring state and local agencies from using resources to enforce federal civil immigration law.
ORS Chapter 215 establishes Exclusive Farm Use zones that limit non-farm development and preserve agricultural land statewide.
ORS 30.930 to 30.947 protect farm and forest practices from most nuisance and trespass claims when conducted on land zoned for those uses.
HB 2509 bans most single-use plastic checkout bags statewide and requires a minimum charge for paper or thicker reusable bags at retailers.
SB 543 prohibits restaurants and food vendors from using polystyrene foam containers and bans the sale of polystyrene foam packing peanuts statewide.
ORS 459A.876 limits when restaurants and convenience stores may distribute single-use plastic straws, requiring customer request first.
Oregon prohibits the sale or distribution of tobacco and inhalant delivery systems to anyone under age 21 under ORS 431A.175.
Oregon has no statewide flavored tobacco ban, but ORS 431A.190 authorizes counties and cities to adopt stricter local tobacco rules.
Oregon licenses tobacco and inhalant delivery system retailers and bans online or mail-order sales of vapor products to consumers.