State Dog Bite Law

Dog bite law in all 50 states and D.C., cited to the statute and dated

Every state checked against its statutes, October 2026

Oregon Dangerous Dog Law

Reviewed For dog owners and bite victims

After a dog bites someone in Oregon, the bite is reported to the local health officer and the dog is observed for 10 days15,16. A dog that injures someone without provocation can be treated as a potentially dangerous dog, a public nuisance; one that causes serious injury becomes a dangerous dog, and its keeper can be prosecuted2,18. A county board can also order a biting dog killed, subject to a 10-day writ of review19.

After a bite in Oregon

Rabies observation10 daysDetails below
State dangerous-dog lawORS 609.035, 609.095, 609.098 and 609.990Maintaining dangerous dog; potentially dangerous dog as public nuisance
Classes of dogpotentially dangerous dog, dangerous dog
Required insurance for a declared dogNo statewide minimum
Breed-specific lawsAllowed: cities and counties may adopt them
Civil liability for the bitePartial strict liability

What happens right after a bite?

Anyone who knows of an animal bite that breaks the skin must report it immediately to the local health officer, under ORS 433.34515. The Oregon Health Authority's investigative guidelines, updated in July 2026, list physicians, veterinarians, animal control officers, police and the animal's owner among those who must report, and ask for the report within one working day17.

The dog is then observed. Under OAR 333-019-0024, a dog that has bitten a person "shall be held for observation until the 10th day following the bite", supervised by a veterinarian or someone the local public health administrator designates, in an enclosure or with restraints that keep it away from people and other animals16. The guidelines say the local health department decides where: a county shelter, a humane society, or, for low-risk dogs with responsible owners, the owner's own premises. They also say observation is preferably at the owner's expense17. If animal control impounds a dog for biting, ORS 609.090(9) requires it to be held at least 10 days before it is released or destroyed19.

Nobody, including a veterinarian, may euthanize a dog that has bitten a person without the local health administrator's authorization16. The administrator may order euthanasia and rabies testing only in narrow cases, such as an inadequately vaccinated dog that bit someone on the face, head or neck without provocation16. Dogs six months or older, or with permanent canine teeth, must be vaccinated against rabies under ORS 433.36528.

How does Oregon classify a dog after a bite?

Oregon law has two tiers, both defined in ORS chapter 609.

Potentially dangerous dog

A dog is "potentially dangerous" under ORS 609.035(8) if, without provocation, it inflicts a physical injury on a person that is less severe than a serious physical injury. The term also covers a dog that menaces a person while off premises the keeper can lawfully close to others, and, since SB 733 (2025), one that injures or kills livestock or another domestic animal off those premises24,2. "Menaces" means lunging, growling, snarling or similar behavior that would make a reasonable person fear for their safety2.

A potentially dangerous dog is a public nuisance. Keeping one is a Class B violation, with a fine of up to $1,00030,21,3. Anyone may complain to the city or county orally or in writing, and the complaint is enough to start an investigation21.

Dangerous dog

A dog is "dangerous" under ORS 609.098 if, without provocation and in an aggressive manner, it seriously injures or kills a person. A dog also qualifies if it repeats a potentially-dangerous act after its keeper was already found in violation of the nuisance law, or if it is used as a weapon in a crime18. "Serious physical injury" carries the criminal-code meaning in ORS 161.0152.

Is a bite a crime for the owner?

It can be. A keeper commits the crime of maintaining a dangerous dog if, with criminal negligence, they fail to prevent the dog from doing one of those acts18. That is a Class A misdemeanor: up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250. If the dog kills a person, it is a Class C felony: up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $125,0003,23. On conviction the court may also order restitution for the injuries the dog caused and the cost of impoundment3.

Can the dog be put down?

Yes, by three routes.

  1. After a dangerous-dog conviction, the court "shall order the dangerous dog killed in a humane manner". The order is mandatory3.
  2. After a nuisance finding, a court may order a potentially dangerous dog killed. First it must weigh the ORS 609.093 factors and write findings on them3,20.
  3. Without any criminal charge, a county dog control board or governing body may order a dog killed if it bit a person, or menaced or chased someone off the keeper's premises. It too must weigh the 609.093 factors in written findings19.

The 609.093 factors include the circumstances and severity of the bite, the keeper's history, the keeper's ability to prevent another incident, and whether the dog can be moved to a secure facility or another keeper20. Against a county order, the keeper has only 10 days after notice is sent to petition the circuit court for a writ of review19. The dog may not be killed while review or an appeal is pending. In court cases, though, that protection lasts only while the keeper keeps paying impoundment costs in advance3,19. A dog whose keeper is charged under ORS 609.098 stays impounded until the charge is resolved, and the court may require a deposit19.

What must the owner do if the dog is spared?

State law sets no registration, insurance, muzzle or signage scheme. Instead, the court or county may impose "reasonable restrictions" at the keeper's cost, which may include sterilization3,19. Ignoring them, or failing to prove compliance within 10 days, is itself maintaining a public nuisance21. Cities and counties may add their own dangerous-dog rules, because ORS 609.015 leaves local dog ordinances intact22.

What changes if the dog bites again?

Two things. A repeat potentially-dangerous act after a nuisance violation turns the dog into a "dangerous dog", with criminal exposure and a mandatory destruction order18,3. And once a court has found a dog potentially dangerous, its keeper is strictly liable for economic damages from any later injury or property damage it causes, under ORS 609.1151. The civil side is on the Oregon dog bite law page.

Are any breeds restricted?

Oregon has no statewide breed rule and no statute barring local breed laws22. Check your city and county code.

Rules for a declared dog in Oregon

RequirementRule
Reasonable restrictionsSet by the court or county, at the keeper's cost; may include sterilization3,19
Proof of complianceWithin 10 days of the orderFailing is a public nuisance.21
ImpoundmentDog held while a dangerous-dog charge is pending; deposit may be ordered19
Liability insuranceNot required by state lawCheck local ordinances.22
Rabies vaccinationRequired for dogs 6 months and olderORS 433.365.28

Oregon rules in brief

Reporting. Any person with direct knowledge of an animal bite that breaks the skin must report it immediately to the local health officer (ORS 433.345)15. The Oregon Health Authority's July 2026 guidelines name physicians, veterinarians, animal control, police and owners, and ask for a report within one working day. The local health department investigates17.

Euthanasia. A court must order a dog killed when its keeper is convicted of maintaining a dangerous dog, and may order a potentially dangerous dog killed after weighing the ORS 609.093 factors3,20. A county board may order a dog that bit someone killed without a criminal case; the keeper has 10 days after notice to seek a writ of review, and the dog is not killed while review is pending19.

Criminal penalties. Maintaining a dangerous dog (failing, with criminal negligence, to prevent a serious injury or death) is a Class A misdemeanor, up to 364 days and $6,250. It is a Class C felony, up to five years and $125,000, if the dog kills a person23,18,3.

Breed rules. Oregon has no state breed law and no statute barring local ones; ORS 609.015 leaves city and county dog ordinances intact22.

Compare states: dangerous dog laws by state, bite quarantine rules, euthanasia after a bite. If your dog bit someone, start with what happens next.

Sources

  1. ORS 609.115, liability for injury caused by a potentially dangerous dog, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  2. ORS 609.035, definitions (as amended by Oregon Laws 2025, chapter 170), Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  3. ORS 609.990, penalties and disposition of dog by court, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  4. Westberry v. Blackwell, 282 Or 129, 577 P2d 75 (1978), Oregon Supreme Court (via CourtListener). Checked 17 October 2026.
  5. Kathren v. Olenik, 46 Or App 713, 613 P2d 69 (1980), Oregon Court of Appeals (via CourtListener). Checked 17 October 2026.
  6. ORS 31.600, comparative negligence, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  7. Sandford v. Chevrolet Division of General Motors, 292 Or 590 (1982), Oregon Supreme Court (via CourtListener). Checked 17 October 2026.
  8. ORS 31.620, implied assumption of risk abolished, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  9. ORS 12.110, two-year limitation for injury to the person, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  10. ORS 12.160, tolling for minors, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  11. ORS 30.275, notice of claim against a public body, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  12. ORS 31.705 and 31.710, economic and noneconomic damages; wrongful death cap, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  13. ORS 31.730, standards for punitive damages, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  14. Park v. Hoffard, 315 Or 624, 847 P2d 852 (1993), Oregon Supreme Court (via CourtListener). Checked 17 October 2026.
  15. ORS 433.345, report of animal bites, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  16. OAR 333-019-0024, management of animal bites, Oregon Secretary of State, Administrative Rules. Checked 17 October 2026.
  17. Animal Bites and Rabies: Investigative Guidelines (July 2026), Oregon Health Authority. Checked 17 October 2026.
  18. ORS 609.098, maintaining a dangerous dog, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  19. ORS 609.090, impounding dogs; county disposition orders, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  20. ORS 609.093, factors before a dog is killed, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  21. ORS 609.095, dog as public nuisance, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  22. ORS 609.015, local dog ordinances not limited, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  23. ORS 161.605, 161.615, 161.625 and 161.635, maximum sentences and fines, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  24. Enrolled Senate Bill 733 (2025), Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  25. ORS 12.080, six-year limitation for injury to personal property, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  26. Newport v. Moran, 80 Or App 71, 721 P2d 465 (1986), Oregon Court of Appeals (via CourtListener). Checked 17 October 2026.
  27. Legal Referral Service, Oregon State Bar. Checked 17 October 2026.
  28. ORS 433.365, rabies inoculation of dogs, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  29. ORS chapter 746, trade practices in insurance, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  30. ORS 153.018, maximum fines for violations, Oregon Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
  31. Rabies, Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division. Checked 17 October 2026.

Civil claims, deadlines and insurance: Oregon dog bite law. All states

How this page is checked

Every rule on this page is cited to the statute, regulation or court decision it comes from, and each source was opened on the date shown. We don't take payments from law firms or insurers. This is general information, not legal advice; laws change, so check the cited source or ask a lawyer licensed in the state before you rely on a deadline. Spotted an error? Tell us. Our method