Licensing

1. Application: Submit an initial application to the ARE program, along with copies of 3 representative animals' records showing what your entity typically keeps.
2. Consultation: our staff will contact you to schedule and complete a licensing consultation. Consultations are done on-site for rescues with physical locations, or virtually for those without locations, and will discuss Oregon's facility and record keeping requirements.
3. Determination: If it is determined that an ARE should receive a license, a preliminary determination letter and payment form will be sent after the consultation.
4. Payment: Submit your payment with the payment form provided.
5. Approval: ODA staff will approve the license, and a physical copy of the license will be provided for each licensed location.
6. Renewal: All licenses expire on June 30. Fees are not prorated for partial years. Renewals may be made online. Your first renewal reminder will include instructions for setting up an account.
   

Licensing Fee

ARE license fees for newly issued licenses consist of a Base License Fee, plus additional registration fees for physical locations (if applicable). License renewals also include a transfer fee based on the number of animals transferred into the ARE's custody during the prior licensing year (2025/2026 for 2026/2027). If you are paying your license in late May or early June, you must include your expected number of intakes through the end of June.

Base License Fee

The base license fee for AREs depends on the operating structure of the ARE:

• ARE's which own or operate one or more physical locations meeting the definition in OAR 603-015-0080(4)(a); this fee includes one primary physical location owned or operated by the ARE. - $375
• ARE's which do not own or operate any physical locations, that operate only foster facilities or physical locations meeting the definition in OAR 603-015-0080(4)(b). - $300

Additional Physical Locations

Each additional location in excess of the paid primary location, or each physical location for an ARE that is not operating a primary location, will be an additional $75.

*A physical location is:

• any location owned/operated by the ARE where animals are kept
• any location not owned/operated by the ARE where 10 or more animals are kept
  

Annual Intake Fee (Renewals)

This fee is based on the number of animals transferred into the ARE's custody over the previous licensing year (intakes), calculated based on the chart below. Intake fees do not apply to newly licensed AREs.

• 0-250 animals - $0
• 251-500 animals - $250
• 501-1000 animals - $500
• 1001-2500 animals - $750
• >2500 animals - $1500

• Animal Rescue Entity Licensing Application
  Application to begin the process to become licensed as an Animal Rescue Entity operating in Oregon.
  
• ARE Affidavit
  Affidavit used to document an entitie's exemption from the requirements to be licensed as an ARE, either because the entity does not accept or solicit donations, or the entity does not ever have 10 or more animals in it's custody
  
• ARE License Cancellation
  Form to report the closure of a licensed Animal Rescue Entity, cancelling the ARE license.