Pet Licensing Required After Grace Period Ends

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) provided a grace period for pet licensing requirements, and did not issue citations for non-compliance or lapsed licenses. Now that many restrictions have been lifted, MCAS is resuming enforcement of the pet licensing requirements for dogs and cats.

Multnomah County requires every owned dog or cat to be licensed.

Oregon State Law and Multnomah County Ordinance require that dogs and cats must have a current rabies vaccination in order for MCAS to issue a pet license.

MCAS will continue to send license renewal notifications by e-mail and through the mail. Owners of dogs and cats without a current license are encouraged to license their pets online.

Get a license for your dog or cat

Having an unlicensed dog or cat is a Class C violation of Multnomah County Code § 13.101, and carries a fine of $100 for a first time offense.

MCAS had temporarily suspended enforcement for non-compliance with pet license laws during the COVID-19 state of emergency. For owners of pets with lapsed licenses during the temporary suspension, MCAS provides a sixty (60) day grace period from the day COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on July 1, 2021 to obtain a rabies vaccination in order to comply with license requirements.