Many urban dogs and their humans do not have enough space at home to run free outdoors. For those Portland residents, city parks serve that recreational need. However, with only six out of Portland Park & Recreation’s 30 designated dog off-leash areas located east of 82nd Avenue, some area residents have ignored the rules requiring dogs to remain leashed in parks without off-leash areas. A new enforcement policy could curb that behavior by fining parkgoers $50 to $150 for bringing their off-leash dogs onto Portland Park property not designated for dog off-leash activity.
Portland Park & Recreation (PP&R) Park Rangers received authorization to issue citations for dogs off-leash outside of designated areas in 2013. However, a policy requiring written warnings before issuing a citation complicated the enforcement process. In 2024, the City Council approved updates to the city code for park rules, which, in part, allow the park’s safety staff to issue fines for observed violations without written warning. A person receiving a citation must pay the fine within 30 calendar days or appeal the citation within 10 business days.
PP&R says Park Rangers will work to educate visitors and gain voluntary compliance when confronted with park rule violations. However, they have the authority to require a person to leave a park for a set amount of time, along with issuing citations to visitors who violate dog-off-leash or scoop laws. Park Rangers patrol over 280 park properties across the City at all hours and respond to calls from park visitors and staff regarding concerns. PP&R first offered dog off-leash areas (DOLA) in 1995 as a way to support dog owners while maintaining parks as safe places for all users. Leashed dogs are allowed in nearly all of Portland’s parks and natural areas. The new citation policy is likely to encourage more people to follow the rules for bringing dogs into the park. However, those who have let their dogs run unleashed outside of designated park areas may now need to adjust what parks they use.
For most Montavilla residents, the best off-leash dog recreation option is Mt. Tabor Park, which features a massive area with multiple entrance gates and diverse topography. PP&R recently completed a refresh of the Mt. Tabor DOLA, enhancing access and addressing concerns about erosion. Park users will still find fenced-off areas in the off-leash section, erected by maintenance staff, to allow plants to establish on the sloped hillside. However, these areas will offer people and pets a wide range of leash-free play options without the fear of receiving a fine. A new DOLA entrance, located at the end of SE 68th Avenue, off SE Division Street, is well placed for people with dogs arriving from east of Mt. Tabor Park.
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