CONTENTS:
How Can Nuisance Control Help You?
Where Else Can I
Call for Help?
VECTOR CONTROL PAGES:
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Multnomah County Health Department Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Nuisance Control
Environmental Health Section -
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What is a Nuisance? According to Multnomah County, a nuisance is "Any conditions or practice causing or capable of causing an unreasonable threat to the public health, safety and welfare…" This includes but is not limited to the following:
- Uncontrolled vegetation or noxious weeds
- Piles of garbage or junk stored outside
- Unsecured empty buildings
- Intersection obstructions
- Waste tires
- Abandoned swimming pools
- Dead or decaying trees or limbs posing a danger to the public
- Unsealed or improperly maintained wells, septic tanks or open pits
- Cars or other vehicles that don't work or are in pieces, and are sitting on private property
How Can Nuisance Control Help You?
In all unincorporated areas of Multnomah County (Outside any City jurisdiction): We are responsible for the investigation and enforcement of Multnomah County's Nuisance Codes (MCC Chapter 15.225- 15.236). We are also responsible for the investigation and enforcement of the County's Illegal Dumping Ordinance (MCC Chapter 21.700-21.799). Remember this is only for areas inside Multnomah County but outside any Municipal boundaries.
Illegal Dumping For unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, please report illegal dumping or extreme littering complaints to our office. If you observe such dumping in progress, please call 911 and the Sheriff will respond. If you observe or find an illegal dump on public or private property, do not disturb the material as it might be hazardous to your health and/or you may disturb crucial evidence that may inhibit us from detecting who dumped it. Call Multnomah County Nuisance and Vector Control so that we can sort through the material, photograph it and conduct an official investigation.
More information can be found in our Nuisance Control and Illegal Dumping brochure.
In the City of Portland:
We are responsible for enforcement of City Municipal Codes that involve health related matters. Non-nuisance sanitation, manure accumulations and odor are examples.More information can be found in our Pet Waste Disposal brochure.
If you are not sure your concern fits into these limited areas, please call the City of Portland's Neighborhood Inspections Team first! (503) 823-7306.
Specified Animals
We are also responsible for City Municipal Codes involving specified animals, including chickens, pigeons, turkeys, geese, cows, horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, llamas, bees, etc. Permits are not required if you have a combination of 3 or less ducks, chickens, rabbits or pygmy goats. If you have more than 3 of those animals or one of any other animal mentioned, you must apply for a permit from our office. The issuance of the permit is dependant on how closely your facility adheres to the City's criteria.A permit application (in English) -- (in Spanish) and more information on regulations for facilities (in English) -- (in Spanish) can be downloaded or picked up from our office at 5235 N. Columbia Blvd. Portland, OR 97203 (503) 988-3464.
If you are interested in bee and/or pigeon keeping, you will also need a signed petition form granting permission by all neighbors within 200 feet of the proposed or existing facility.Specified Animal Facilities Permit Fees
Multnomah County Code 13.002 specifies that “Any animal which is of a wild or predatory nature, and which because of its size, vicious nature or other characteristics would constitute an unreasonable danger to human life or property;” therefore, ostriches, emus, peacocks, pheasants, llamas, and bison will now be required to obtain a Specified Animal Facility Permit and will be regulated by City of Portland Municipal Code 13.05 (Specified Animal Regulations). This is limited in jurisdiction to residential and commercial settings, and not to licensed public Zoos or other accredited and recognized animal care facilities.
Cost for a Specified Animal Facility Permit is $31.00; this is a one time only initial fee.
Cost for a Specified Animal Facility Permit for Beehives is $12.00.More information can be found in our Specified Animals brochure: English | Vietnamese | Spanish | Russian
What is avian flu?
Avian (bird) flu is a virus that infects birds, mainly poultry (chicken, turkey and ducks), but also wild birds. It has been found among poultry in Asia in the last several years. Over one hundred people have contracted avian flu in Asia and have become seriously ill. Almost all of these people had direct contact with infected poultry. About half of the ill have died. Avian flu is different from the common flu that occurs every year in our community. For more information on Avian Flu and how to protect your poultry from the disease please review our Avian Flu Fact Sheet. For more information on the Common Flu (Influenza) and its prevention review our Flu Fact Sheet.Other Nuisance Complaints:
For all other complaints regarding dogs and cats - including barking dogs - and complaints regarding exotic animals; or if you are in imminent danger from a roaming animal call Multnomah County Animal Control at (503) 988-3066.
In the City of Maywood Park:
We are responsible for the enforcement of Maywood Parks City Municipal Codes. If you see a problem inside the Maywood Park City Limits, please call our office.
Where else can I call for Help?
City of Fairview
(503) 665-7929City of Gresham
Gresham Police Code Enforcement
(503) 618-2463
E-mail: CodeEnforce@ci.gresham.or.us
City of Maywood Park
(503) 255-9805City of Portland
Neighborhood Inspections Team
(503) 823-7306City of Troutdale
Code Compliance Division
(503) 665-5175City of Wood Village
(503) 667-6211
For more information:
Multnomah County Vector and Nuisance Control
5235 N. Columbia Blvd.
Portland, OR 97203
(503) 988-3464
or email vector.nuisance@co.multnomah.or.us
Environmental Health Section | Health Department | Multnomah County
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Revised April 17, 2007
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