City Code Chapter
13.10.010 Purpose.
- The purpose of this Title is to allow Portland residents to keep bees and livestock in an urban environment under certain circumstances and in a manner that supports the health and safety of people and animals, and reduces animals-related nuisances such as vermin, smells, noise and property damage by:
- A. Establishing and enforcing a maximum number of smaller livestock, such as chickens, ducks, rabbits and miniature goats, that could be allowed on a lot based on the type of animal, the size of the lot and a minimum required area dedicated to the animal.
- B. Allowing larger livestock, such as horses, cattle, standard sheep and goats, as well as domestic fowl with loud and potentially aggressive behaviors, such as geese, turkeys and peacocks, only on lots that allow agricultural land uses.
- C. Establishing standards for livestock facilities that keep animals humanely and reduce animal-related nuisances.
- D. Providing best practice recommendations for bee and livestock keepers to improve animal husbandry knowledge that supports the needs of the animals and reduces animal-related nuisances.
- E. Establishing procedures for addressing animal-related nuisances and violations to these regulations.
13.10.020 Definitions.
- As used in this Chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:
- A. “Apiary” means the place where bee colonies are located.
- B. “Bees” mean honey-producing insects of the species apis mellifera commonly known as honeybees.
- C. “Beekeeper” means a person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of bees.
- D. “Director” means the Director of the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, or their designee.
- E. “Livestock” means animals including, but not limited to: fowl, horses, mules, burros, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, emu, ostriches, rabbits, swine, or other domesticated farm animals excluding dogs and cats. For the purposes of this Title there are two categories of “livestock”.
- 1. “Backyard Livestock” are small animals that may be kept humanely in urban backyards with minimum impacts to adjacent properties. These animals include, but are not limited to: small domestic fowl, such as chickens, ducks, and pigeons; rabbits; and some miniature breeds of livestock (e.g., goats, sheep, pigs).
- 2. “Large Livestock” are larger animals than Backyard Livestock and due to their size, require more space than typically available in an urban backyard to be kept humanely without the potential for significant negative impacts on adjacent properties. These animals include, but are not limited to: horses (standard and miniature); cattle; llamas; and standard size sheep and goats.
- F. “Livestock Facility” means the area used for the keeping and confinement of livestock, including but not limited to shelters such as coops, hutches, stables and outdoor pen areas.
- G. “Livestock Keeper” means any person who harbors, cares for, or exercises control over livestock animals.
- H. “Livestock Owner” means the person who owns livestock.
- I. “Person” means any natural person, association, partnership, firm, corporation or other legal entity.
- J. “Specified Animal Facility Permit” means a permit granted by Multnomah County for the keeping of bees or livestock.