Oregon Dog Breeder Licensing Requirements

Oregon does not have a state-issued dog breeder license, so no breeder needs one from the state. However, if you keep 10 or more unsterilized dogs aged eight months or older, you must follow care standards under Oregon law (ORS 167.376). State law also sets a hard cap: no person may possess more than 50 sexually intact dogs aged two years or older for breeding purposes. Even though there is no state license, many counties and cities treat keeping several dogs as running a kennel and may require a local kennel permit. For example, local rules in some counties define a 'kennel' as keeping four or more dogs, which can trigger a permit requirement. Always check with your city or county animal control office before you start breeding.

There is no state dog breeder license application in Oregon, so there is no state form to fill out for breeding. If your county requires a kennel permit or a dog license, you apply through your local county animal services or sheriff's office. For regular dog licenses, counties typically ask for the dog's name, breed, age, gender, spay/neuter status, and proof of a current rabies vaccination. You can usually apply online, by mail, or in person at the county licensing office. Because requirements differ by county and city, contact your local animal control office to learn what permits apply to your situation.

Oregon does not charge a state dog breeder license fee because no such license exists. Local counties set their own dog license fees. For example, one county charges $15 a year for a spayed or neutered dog and $30 for a dog that is not spayed or neutered, plus a small processing fee. Oregon has no statewide breeder or kennel permit fee, so costs depend on your county or city rules.

Because Oregon has no state breeder license, there is no statewide breeder inspection program for private breeders. Care standards under ORS 167.376 are enforced locally by animal control and law enforcement, and the exercise requirement is noted as an inspection priority. Under ORS 167.376, each dog over four months old must get at least one hour of regular exercise a day, meaning time out of its enclosure walking on a leash, moving freely in a building or outdoor space, or on a treadmill prescribed by a veterinarian. Note that beginning in July 2021, animal rescues (not private breeders) are inspected and licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture Office of the State Veterinarian rather than by county animal services.

Even without a license, ORS 167.376 requires anyone who has 10 or more sexually intact dogs aged 8 months or older to keep a record for each such dog showing its date of birth (or the date acquired and the source), any veterinary care, and its disposition, including the new owner's name and address, and to keep each record for three years after the dog dies or leaves their care. Anyone with 50 or more such dogs must also record breeding dates and litter sizes (ORS 167.374). As a best practice, breeders should keep vaccination records, veterinary exam records, and documentation of any known health conditions, which also helps protect against consumer claims. If you sell or transport dogs across state lines, the receiving party typically needs a copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and the rabies vaccination record for each animal.

Because there is no state breeder license, there is no penalty for breeding without one at the state level. However, violating the breeder care and record rules in ORS 167.376 or the 50-dog limit in ORS 167.374 is a Class B misdemeanor; for the 50-dog limit, the court must suspend the sentence if the person agrees to spay or neuter enough dogs to come into compliance. Breeders who misrepresent a dog's health may also face liability under general consumer protection laws. If you operate without a required local kennel permit or county dog license, you may face fines or other local enforcement actions. Check with your county for the exact penalties that apply where you live.