Multnomah County, OR Noise Ordinances: Barking Dogs (2026)
Barking dog rules in Multnomah County, OR, also called nuisance dog, dog noise, or excessive barking ordinances, define when a barking dog becomes a code violation and how complaints are handled.
Key Facts
- Noise threshold
- 10 min continuous or 30 min intermittent
- Enforcing agency
- Multnomah County Animal Services
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $250 (Class B)
- Coverage
- Countywide, including Portland and Gresham
- Affirmative defense
- Animal was provoked by another party
Summary
Multnomah County bans dogs and other animals from barking, howling or making other noise disturbances audible beyond the owner's property for 10 minutes straight or 30 minutes on and off.
Permit any animal unreasonably to cause annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to any person or neighborhood by barking, whining, screeching, howling, braying or other like sounds which may be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property under conditions wherein the animal sounds are shown to have occurred either as an episode of continuous noise lasting for a minimum period of ten minutes or repeated episodes of intermittent noise lasting for a minimum period of thirty minutes. It shall be an affirmative defense under this subsection that the animal was intentionally provoked by a party other than the owner to make such noise. Provided, 13.305(B)(5) shall not be applicable to any lawful livestock owner or keeper; kennel or similar facility, wherein the presence of livestock or the operation of a kennel or
similar facility is authorized under the applicable land use and zoning laws and regulations;
(6) Leave an animal unattended for more than 24 consecutive hours without minimum care;
(7) Deprive an animal of proper facilities or care, including but not limited to the items prescribed in § 13.153. Proper shelter must provide protection from the weather and is maintained in a condition to protect the animals from injury;
(8) Physically mistreat any animal either by abuse or neglect or failure to furnish minimum care;
(9) Permit any animal to leave the confines of any officially prescribed quarantine area;
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County Code § 13.305(B)(5) makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to permit an animal to unreasonably cause annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to a person or neighborhood by barking, whining, screeching, howling or braying that carries beyond the property line: either as one continuous episode of at least ten minutes or repeated intermittent episodes totaling at least thirty minutes. It is an affirmative defense that someone other than the owner intentionally provoked the noise, and the rule does not apply to lawfully kept livestock or a licensed kennel authorized under zoning law. Multnomah County Animal Services enforces this countywide, including inside Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village.
Violations & Fines
Class B infraction: $50-$250 fine for a first offense, rising to $100-$250 for a second within 12 months and a flat $250 for a third; unpaid fines increase 25-50%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply if I live in Portland?
How long must a dog bark before it violates the law?
Is there a defense if someone provokes my dog into barking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon noise ordinances overview
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