About Portland

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Other Essentials

Garbage Collection and Recycling. Trash removal in the Portland area is contracted by private companies. Central Garbage Referral has information on handlers within the tri-county (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington) area. For collection in other areas, contact the nearest city.

The tri-county area has an active recycling program. In Portland and throughout most of the surrounding area, sorted recyclables are picked up at the curb weekly, with lawn and garden debris collected from every other week to once a month. Recycling containers are provided by the garbage hauler at no additional charge. Recycling requirements may differ slightly from area to area; contact a garbage hauler for detailed information.

Registering to Vote. A person may register to vote if they are a citizen of the United States by election day, will be 18 years or older by election day and are a resident of the state. All elections are by mail. Voters must be registered by the 21st day before an election.

A change of residence, mailing address, name or party affiliation requires re-registration. A voter may notify county elections officials of these changes by sending a new voter registration card to the appropriate county. If the voter registration card is sent after the 21st day before an election, the voter should call the county elections official to find out how to remain eligible to vote in the election.

Licensing Pets. Pet licensing requirements and fees vary by county. In addition to a strict leash law, Multnomah County requires both dogs and cats six months and older to be licensed.

Dogs must be licensed within 30 days in Washington County. A current rabies certificate is required. Puppies are licensed free until they are six months. Washington County will honor pet licenses from other counties or states until their expiration. Cats do not have to be licensed.

Clackamas County also requires dogs to be licensed within 30 days. A current rabies certificate is also required. Clackamas County does not require cat licenses.

Automobile Registration. Residents are required to register their vehicle as soon as they establish residency. The fee is $63 for two years and includes registration, title and standard license plates. Registration renewals cost $30. There are state Driver & Motor Vehicle Services branch offices throughout the metropolitan area.

Vehicles in the metropolitan area are also required to pass an exhaust emissions test before licenses will be granted. The fee is $21 for two years. Vehicle emission test centers are located throughout the metropolitan area. For the nearest location, check the blue pages of the phone book under Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). For the nearest location, go to the Department of Motor Vehicle web site.

New Driver’s License. An Oregon driver’s license must be obtained as soon as residency in the state has been established. With a valid, unexpired license from another state and a good driving record, only the written and vision tests are required. A driver’s license is $54.50 for the original license and is valid for eight years. Renewal is $17.25 for four years and $34.50 for eight years.

For more complete information about relocating to the Portland metropolitan area, order our exclusive Residential Relocation Packet.