How Many Dogs Can You Have in Oregon?
While Oregon law doesn’t dictate how many dogs you can own at the state level, certain cities might impose a local limit.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
While Oregon law doesn’t dictate how many dogs you can own at the state level, certain cities might impose a local limit. Others might require you to apply for a permit or license to own a larger number of dogs.
Can’t get enough of your dogs? Wish you could bring just one more home? You’re far from alone! But depending on where you live in Oregon, your city might take issue with it.
But dog ownership limits aren’t the only dog laws in Oregon you should know about as a pet parent. They might not cross your mind often, but knowing the applicable dog laws where you live can help keep you and your dog happy and safe—and sometimes, they can mean the difference between life and death for your dog.
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Does Oregon have laws limiting how many dogs you can own?
The limit on how many dogs you can own in Oregon depends on where you live.
Here’s a look at how different cities with dog ownership limits compare:
- InCottage Grove, you’re limited to owning no more than three dogs older than six months—if you owned more, you would need to be licensed as a kennel.
- In Hillsboro, the limit is three dogs older than six months.
- The limit inIndependenceis four dogs older than six months. With an approved hobby kennel permit, you can have up to seven dogs older than six months.
In cities that do have ordinances limiting the number of dogs you can own, an exception is usually made for a mother dog’s puppies while they’re still young (typically under six months). Still, it’s important to check your local laws to see exactly what’s allowed.
As a pet parent, dog ownership limits aren’t the only Oregon dog laws you should know about. Take a look at some more state laws of note for dog owners below.
MORE: 8 steps to a perfect road trip with your dog
Are there any dog breeds outlawed in Oregon?
At the state level in Oregon, there’s currently no breed-specific legislation (BSL) outlawing specific dog breeds. However, city or county governments can introduce (or repeal) BSL of their own.
While Oregon state law doesn’t ban any dog breeds in particular, it does have laws regarding dogs considered “dangerous” as well as “potentially dangerous.”
State law defines a “potentially dangerous” dog as any of the following:
- Injures a person without being provoked
- Injures or kills a domestic animal without provocation off of the owner’s property
- “Menaces” a person off of the owner’s property
A dog becomes considered a “dangerous” dog if it meets any of the following criteria:
- Injures or kills a person without being provoked
- Continues acting “potentially dangerous” after it’s already been deemed as potentially dangerous
- Is used by a person as a weapon in an attempt to commit a crime
As for the dog that’s been deemed dangerous, a court can order the dog to be killed. For that reason, keeping your dog properly contained on your property and properly restrained when you’re out in public are essential to keeping your dog safe.
What are the leash laws in Oregon?
Leash laws are pretty much what they sound like: laws requiring dogs to be restrained in some shape or form when they’re not on their owner’s property. At the state level, Oregon doesn’t have much to say about leash laws, although it does allow law enforcement or animal control officers to impound dogs without a leash.
If your dog manages to pull an escape stunt and gets into mischief
as defined by state law
, they could also risk being deemed a public nuisance. There can also be additional leash laws at the local level. In
Portland
, for example, dogs must be leashed in public parks unless they’re in a designated off-leash area, and the same goes for Forest Grove
.Penalties for breaking dog laws in Oregon
The penalties for breaking dog laws in Oregon will vary depending on the severity of the violation. Some violations may carry a small fine, while others could land you prison time and end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For example, failing to pick up your dog’s waste in a Portland park is a city-level violation that could earn you a fine of up to $150.
Maintaining a dog that’s a public nuisance as defined by state law is considered a Class B violation, which could carry a $265 fine.
Penalties for dangerous dog violations are some of the most severe in Oregon. That said, Oregon is one of just a few states with a so-called “one-bite rule,” which essentially means that if a dog injures a person for the first time and the owner had no indication their dog was potentially dangerous, they might not be considered liable.
However, if the injury was determined to be caused by a dog owner's negligence, that rule won’t fly, and the dog’s owner may be deemed liable for damages if their dog injures or kills someone, or damages their property. Certain violations would constitute a Class A misdemeanor, which could result in up to a year of prison time and/or up to $6,250 in fines. However, if a dog kills a person, the owner could be convicted of a Class C felony, which could result in up to five years in prison and/or up to $125,000 in fines.
Where to find affordable insurance in Oregon
Here’s how good insurance benefits not only you but also your dog:
- Your home is their home: If your home becomes unlivable after a fire or natural disaster, both you and your pet(s) could be out of a place to live. Main dwelling coverage can help cover rebuilding and repair costs, while in the meantime, loss of use coverage can help cover another place to live for you and your pet until you’re able to move back into your home.
- Your coverage protects their stuff: With adequate personal property protection, if you have pet items that are damaged due to a reason covered by your policy, it can help replace your dogs’ beds, food and water bowls, and even their favorite toys.
- It providespersonal liability coverage: You hope it never happens, but if you end up in a situation where your pet has injured someone or damaged their property, personal liability protection can help cover legal costs. You’ll just want to make sure your pet is adequately listed on your policy.
With Jerry, all it takes to get started is answering a few quick questions in the app—then you can instantly start comparing customized quotes from some of the nation’s top insurance providers.
But that’s not where Jerry’s services end! Our friendly, experienced agents are here to help if you run into questions along the way, like what options you can consider if you have a “dangerous” dog breed that’s difficult to find a compatible home or renters insurance policy for.
They can even help you with switching to your new policy and canceling your old one.
Plus, Jerry’s users save an average of $800+ per year—and that’s just on car insurance!
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