Frequently Asked Questions

Chickens and roosters are allowed in all rural areas of the county, but there are restrictions in urban areas and/or residential zoning districts. For urban areas, please refer to Section 821 of the Clackamas County Zoning & Development Ordinance (ZDO) or contact the Planning and Zoning Division at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500.

A person can have many dogs as long as they meet the criteria in Section 5.01.040 of Title 5 of the Clackamas County Code, which takes the size of the property into account. A person cannot keep dogs with the intent of making a profit without land use approval. Dog breeding and/or kennels, training facilities, etc. require land use approval. Contact Planning and Zoning at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500.

The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon may be able to help you.

Call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211.

Contact Dog Services at 503-655-8628 to report this. If the dog is acting aggressively, please call 9-1-1.

The County has a resolution-based program to respond to complaints about continuous annoyance from barking dogs. The program is designed to resolve problems through mediation and agreement, with a focus on voluntary compliance. The intent is to resolve the issue as quickly and amicably as possible with both the complainant and the dog owner. However, a complaint can lead to fines and hearings if no other resolution can be found. Continuous annoyance is defined in Chapter 5.01 of the County Code as: "Any dog that unreasonably causes annoyance, alarm or noise disturbance to any person by barking, whining, screeching, howling or making other sounds which may be heard beyond the boundary of the owner's or keeper's property, either as an episode of continuous noise lasting for a minimum of 30 minutes or repeated episodes of intermittent noise lasting for a minimum of 45 minutes within a 24-hour period." A complaint form and details about the resolution-based response program are available from Clackamas County Dog Services or by calling 503-655-8628.

The County does not have resources to provide residents assistance with rodent problems. You may want to seek advice from a pest extermination service, or provide or purchase your own method of eradication. In addition, since rats are attracted to household organic waste, you could check your property and your neighborhood for sources of household waste. Any such material should be disposed of at an authorized disposal facility.

Livestock neglect is a criminal matter. If you believe an animal is not receiving adequate food and water to maintain a healthy body weight or otherwise looks neglected or abused, please call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211

If the smell comes from a farm in a land use zone that allows farming, there is no ordinance prohibiting the smell. If the farm is in an urban or residential area, please contact the Planning and Zoning Division at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500 to determine if the farming practice is an allowed use in that zone.

Composting manure in the rural zones is a common agricultural practice regulated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (503-986-4550). If the property is in the urban area, this may be violation of the Clackamas County Solid Waste and Waste Management Code. Please call 503-742-4452 to report a violation or file a complaint online.

If the animals are allowed based on the land use zoning, then there is little the county can do. There are numerous traps, sprays and services that may provide a solution.

The Clackamas County Transportation Maintenance Division may be able to remove the animal if it is causing a hazard on a County road. Please call 9-1-1 to report the hazard.

The County does not have a housing code requiring landlords to maintain certain living conditions. This is a landlord/tenant issue and a civil matter. Please contact Clackamas County Dispute Resolution at 503-655-8850 for assistance.

If you are unsure if work being done requires permits or may already be permitted, contact the Building Codes Division at 503-742-4739.

It is the county's policy to allow people to use recreational vehicles as temporary living space for up to 30 days in a calendar year. This use is intended primarily for guests. There may be a way to legalize the use for a longer period of time; however, the criteria for this approval is very specific and there is a formal application process. See Section 1204 of the Zoning and Development Ordinance or contact the Planning and Zoning Division at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500.

The County does regulate this activity when it occurs regularly and the person(s) occupying the tent do not have a bedroom in the residence on the property. The use of a tent on residential property for additional living space is not allowed. Call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

The County prohibits camping in areas not specifically designated for such use. Call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

The County supports economic development by promoting home based businesses (home occupations); however, the business must meet the criteria in Section 822 of the Clackamas County Zoning and Development ordinance. Home occupations are allowed in many zoning districts; however, land use approval is required. Please contact the Planning and Zoning Division at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500 for more information.

Clackamas County Code Chapter 6.11 states that it is the responsibility of the affected property owner to remove any graffiti within 15 days after being tagged. Failure to do so is a violation of 6.11 of the Clackamas County Code. Call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online. If you see graffiti being applied, call 9-1-1.

Most streams and creeks, and all rivers in Clackamas County have a protected buffer. The buffer distance varies depending on the size of the waterway. Tree cutting, vegetation clearing, grading, excavation work or any sort of development within or near a stream bank without a required permit is a violation of the Clackamas County Zoning and Development Ordinance. For more information, please contact Planning and Zoning at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500, or call 503-742-4452 to report a violation or file a complaint online.

Any grading, excavation or tractor work in or within a protected buffer along a creek bank without required permits is strictly prohibited and constitutes a violation of the Clackamas County Zoning and Development Ordinance. Please call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

A grading permit is required for any grading, excavations or filling activities larger than 50 cubic yards, exceeds more than a foot in depth (except for agricultural purposes) or that changes the flow of surface water drainage. Additionally, creating a pond requires approval from the Oregon Water Resources Department. Please call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

Mold is a common problem in Oregon due to the wet weather and mild temperatures. It's possible that there is a structural problem in your home that allows inadequate ventilation that may be causing too much moisture to remain in your home and allowing mold to grow. The County does not address mold issues. More information about mold can be found at Oregon.gov or EPA.

The County does not enforce Oregon Drainage Law in regards to groundwater runoff from neighboring properties. This is a civil matter and legal counsel should be contacted or you could consider the county's mediation services available to County residents at 503-655-8850.

The County does not require property owners to have garbage service; residents are allowed to haul their own garbage to an authorized disposal facility. However, garbage must be removed from the property at least once every 7 days and must be kept in a rodent-proof container with a tight fitting lid while on site. If this is not the case, please call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

An accumulation of household trash of any amount on property is a violation of the Clackamas County Solid Waste and Waste Management Code. An accumulation of other debris may or may not be allowed depending on location, type and amount. Please call 503-742-4452 for more information.

All open burning in Clackamas County is regulated by local fire districts and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). If garbage is being burned, the DEQ has regulatory authority. For more information about open burning, please contact DEQ at 1-888-997-7888 or contact your local fire district.

Commercial properties are required to maintain adequate garbage receptacles and disposal for their complex. Failure to do so is a violation of Chapter 10.03 of the County Code. Call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

Dumping trash, litter, refuse or debris in any amount is a violation of Chapter 10.03 of the Clackamas County Solid Waste and Waste Management Code and may be subject to civil penalties up to $3,500 if evidence can be found identifying the owner of the garbage. Please call 503-557-6391 or email us at roadconcerns@clackamas.us to report this violation.

Contact the Dump Stoppers program at 503-650-3333.

Please call METRO at 503-234-3000 or file a complaint online to report this violation.

Call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211. If you are reporting a life or death emergency, or an in-progress property crime, call 9-1-1.

The Planning and Zoning Division can tell you what the setbacks are in your area. Please contact the Planning and Zoning Division for more information at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500.

Fences when adjacent to a one- or two-single family residence can be built up to eight feet tall without permits. Please contact Building Codes for more information at 503-742-4739, or call 503-742-4452 to report a violation or file a complaint online.

The County can not give legal advice. In this situation it may be best to contact an attorney to determine your rights and responsibilities.

In some circumstances this may be a violation. Please contact the Planning and Zoning Division at zoninginfo@clackamas.us or 503-742-4500 for more information.

Clackamas County does not have an ordinance that addresses this issue. Properties in the county that are outside of city limits are not required to cut their grass or remove noxious vegetations such as blackberry vines or English Ivy, nor can the County require residential property owners to maintain their landscaping. You may contact Clackamas County Dispute Resolution for free mediation services at 503-655-8850.

Property owners are required to maintain the vegetation which may grow into the public right-of-way adjacent to their property. Failure to do so is a violation of Title 7 of the Clackamas County Code. Please call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

Please call the Transportation Maintenance Division at roadconcerns@clackamas.us or 503-557-6391.

As long as there is an adequate barrier around the pool, the county would not regulate this. You can contact Vector Control at 503-655-8394 to discuss a solution for mosquitoes.

An accumulation of junk tires is a violation of Chapter 10.03 of the Solid Waste and Waste Management Code. Please call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

Call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211. If you are reporting a life or death emergency, or an in-progress property crime, call 9-1-1

Business activities in residential zones may be allowed; however, the county regulates the activity including the noise level. Please contact the Planning and Zoning Division at 503-742-4500 or zoninginfo@clackamas.us for more information.

Riding dirt bikes or ATVs on private property for personal use is allowed in most areas of the county. However, if the noise is excessive it may be a violation of the Clackamas County Noise Ordinance which is regulated by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. Please call the Clackamas County Sheriff's non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211.

If there are events happening on the property regularly that are open to the public, advertised or to which an admission fee is charged, this activity would constitute a violation of the Clackamas County Zoning and Development ordinance. To report these violations, please call 503-742-4452.

Clackamas County does not have any lighting regulations that address this issue. The County does, however, offer free mediation services to residents of the county. Please contact Clackamas County Dispute Resolution at 503-655-8850.

Portable basketball hoops are not prohibited; however, using, storing or abandoning a portable basketball hoop on the public road or in the public right-of-way is a violation of Chapter 7.03 of the Clackamas County Code. Please call 503-557-6391 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

In certain rural residential areas, people may add an accessory dwelling unit(ADU) on their property to use as a second residence.

Using a recreational vehicle (RV) as a second dwelling on certain urban and rural residential properties may be permitted.

Vehicles must be operable and licensed. If they do not meet this criteria, the county considers them to be a violation of Section 10.03 of the Clackamas County Code. Call 503-742-4452 to report this violation or file a complaint online.

They may be in violation of Section 7.01 Vehicle Parking and Towing. Please contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s non-emergency at 503-655-8211 for violations of Section 7.01.

No vehicle in excess of 11,000 GVW (gross vehicle weight) can be parked or stored in a residential zone without land use approval. The truck owner/operator may be able to obtain a permit allowing this activity if they can comply with the criteria in Section 822 of the Clackamas County Zoning and Development Ordinance.

Vehicles may not be left in the right-of way for more than 72 hours. Contact the Sheriff's Office non-emergency dispatch number at 503-655-8211.

There is no regulation on how many vehicles a person can own as long as the vehicles are currently licensed and operational.