Top 10 Most Dog-Friendly Neighborhoods in Portland, OR

Portland, OR is often ranked among the most dog-friendly cities in the country, thanks to its mix of pet-welcoming businesses, miles of trails, and an impressive network of dog parks. More than 30 off-leash areas, both fenced and unfenced, give pups room to run, while neighborhood trails and greenways put walks within easy reach of any Portland apartment.

With so many pet-friendly neighborhoods in Portland, you can find a spot that matches both your lifestyle and budget. The average rent in Portland, OR is $1,531/month, but options above and below that price point means there’s plenty of choices for pet owners looking for the right fit.

These are the top dog-friendly Portland neighborhoods:

• Uptown Portland
• Goose Hollow
• Pearl
• Arts District
• Waterfront
• South Waterfront
• South Portland
• Buckman
• Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill
• Sellwood-Moreland

Uptown Portland

• Average rent in Uptown Portland: $1,681/month
• Pet destination: Dog Park at Wallace Park

Uptown Portland puts an eclectic mix of businesses and restaurants right at your doorstep. Nob Hill is a hotspot for residents with boutiques and eateries along 21^st and 23^rd Street. The pet-friendly atmosphere and amenities make the neighborhood a favorite for pet owners.

Stroll with your furry friend along the tree-lined sidewalks to one of the local pet stores to pick them up a treat. Then get yourself a treat at one of the many restaurants with outdoor seating that welcome four-legged friends.

Outdoor spaces

Uptown Portland has a couple of great parks where your dog can run off leash. The Wallace Dog Park is broken into fenced spaces for small and large dogs with plenty of shade. The Couch Park off-leash area is next to Nob Hill.

As the neighborhood is next to Forest Park, you can get to its over 80 miles of trails via the Lower Macleay Trail that starts at the end of Upshur Street. Remember to keep your dog on a leash and to bring bags for waste.

Goose Hollow

• Average rent: $1,647/month
• Pet destination: Washington Park

Goose Hollow is a compact neighborhood where parks and apartment communities are intertwined. Businesses line the edges of the neighborhood, which is mostly residential until you reach major streets. This makes for quiet walks with your dog under trees and past historic Victorian and Colonial Revival homes and modern apartment communities. The neighborhood’s central location makes it convenient to Nob Hill or Downtown Portland, with the MAX light rail making the trip easy.

Outdoor spaces

Goose Hollow’s most popular spot for walking is Washington Park on the west side of the neighborhood. This park gives residents access to 15 miles of trails through gardens, forests, and wild areas that fill the 410 acres of the park. Leashed dogs are welcome on all Washington park trails; the only parts of the park where pets are not permitted are the Oregon Zoo and Portland Japanese Garden.

Pearl

• Average rent: $1,902/month
• Pet destination: The Fields Park

Pearl is a trendy neighborhood, offering shopping, dining, and recreation all within walking distance. It is more aligned with a city lifestyle as buildings are packed into blocks with condos and apartments filling mid- and high-rises. The walkable streets, pet stores, and pet-friendly restaurants make it easy and fun for pet owners.

It’s easy to get around Pearl on foot, but if you need to travel to the rest of the city, public transport makes it quick. Downtown Portland is only a 15-minute ride by Max Light Rail, streetcar, or bus.

Outdoor spaces

While Pearl has many amazing parks to enjoy with your pooch, there are a couple of standouts. In the corner of The Fields Park is a fenced off-leash dog area with sections for both large and small dogs. From here you can head to the waterfront to walk along the Willamette Greenway Trail.

Breaking up the city is North Park Blocks, a beautiful green belt spanning five blocks of lush trees and grass. Brick sidewalks offer plenty of space to walk your dog without having to worry about traffic. Slow down and watch the fountains as you pass through Jamison Square. Trees and grass provide a nice place to lay down a blanket and spend an afternoon with your pup.

Arts District

• Average rent: $1,558/month
• Pet destination: South Park Blocks

Arts District is the place to be for entertainment lovers. Filled with countless museums and theaters, there is always a fun concert or show to go to. When you want a day out with your dog, you’ll find many restaurants offering outdoor seating where your pet can join you.

Portland State University anchors the southern corner of this neighborhood, giving students, faculty, and staff an easy commute. Arts District sits at the crossroads of the city, bordered by some of Portland’s most lively areas. With public transit weaving through every corner, getting to class, work, or a night out is effortless.

Outdoor spaces

South Park Blocks, a 12-block park, extends the length of Arts District. The paved trails and trees of South Park Blocks are within walking distance, no matter where your apartment is located.

Morrison Street and Yamhill Street are particularly picturesque places to walk, with trees stretching over brick sidewalks. These corridors take you into the heart of Downtown Portland as well. If you don’t mind a longer walk, it’s a straight shot to the Waterfront Park Trail and nearby parks for views of the river.

Waterfront

• Average rent: $1,725/month
• Pet destination: Waterfront Park Trail

Part of Downtown Portland, Waterfront serves as one of the main hearts of the city. The area is known for being packed with activities and delicious food spots, and there are more than enough eateries with outdoor seating for dogs. Major businesses in the area provide opportunities in different sectors. Public transit helps you skip traffic as many lines run up and down the streets.

Waterfront boasts infrastructure for walking and is home to several parks, making the area dog-friendly. Find pet-friendly apartments in the south part of the neighborhood, right in between parks or next to the waterfront.

Outdoor spaces

The Waterfront Park Trail winds along the river, giving wide-open views of the water next to many riverfront parks. It is also part of the 2.6-mile Downtown Waterfront Loop Walk. Start a new yearly tradition with your dog by heading to the Japanese American Historical Plaza at the north end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park for cherry blossom viewing. This event happens in the spring, but the park is beautiful no matter the time of year. Additional pocket parks and green spaces tucked between high-rises and apartment communities provide more ways to get outside with your dog.

South Waterfront

• Average rent: $1,991/month
• Pet destination: The Tilikum Crossing Bridge

While South Waterfront may be small, its compact size means everything you need is close at hand, from parks and trails to dog-friendly eateries and pet stores. Plenty of nearby restaurants have outdoor seating or grab-and-go options, perfect for sharing a meal with your pet. The neighborhood’s scale makes it easy to spend a day with your dog on foot, moving from a morning walk to an afternoon coffee.

The North-South Line of the streetcar has several stops in front of the many apartments in the neighborhood. On the north edge, stations for the MAX Light Rail take you over the river to Central Eastside or up to Downtown Portland. The Portland Aerial Tram can take you up the hill to the Homestead-Council Crest neighborhood.

Outdoor spaces

The South Waterfront Greenway stretches along the Willamette River for shaded walks with your pet. For a change of pace, cross the pedestrian-only paths on the Tilikum Crossing Bridge to the Eastbank Esplanade. A few block away, Elizabeth Caruthers Park adds open lawns for plenty of space to spread out a blanket and lounge with your leashed dog.

South Portland

• Average rent: $1,469/month
• Pet destination: Willamette Park Off-Leash Dog Area

South Portland stretches all the way down to the Sellwood Bridge. The north side is filled with pet-friendly apartments and townhomes nestled between retail spaces. Leaning more residential, the south has many cozy rental homes paired with restaurants and businesses along Macadam Avenue. Restaurants all over South Portland welcome pets on their patios.

I-5 cuts through South Portland, connecting the neighborhood with Downtown Portland and highways leading to other areas of the city. The area is walkable for day-to-day activities, but since the city’s public transit doesn’t extend here, a car is often the easiest way to get around.

Outdoor spaces

The South Waterfront Greenway transforms into the Willamette Greenway, continuing south all the way to Willamette Park. Here, you’ll find a spacious fenced dog park where your pup can run free and make friends.

Willamette Park also features a convenient boat ramp where you can launch a kayak or paddleboard with your four-legged co-pilot. Set out on the Ross Island Paddle Loop, a winding route that circles the island and frames the city skyline from the water.

On the neighborhood’s west side, South Iowa Street leads to the George Himes Trail, a wooded loop that winds through its namesake park. From there you can climb up Terwilliger Parkway to the forested expanses of Marquam Nature Park.

Buckman

• Average rent: $1,514/month
• Pet destination: Laurelhurst Park

The air in Buckman vibrates with energy as the area is overflowing with attractions, restaurants, and shops. Eateries with outdoor patios spilling onto sidewalks line major streets and local pet stores pepper the neighborhood, making it easy to pick up treats or toys on a walk with your dog.

Feel free to navigate by foot or bike with your pet as the neighborhood’s layout puts businesses just a short trip away. For longer trips, drivers can jump on Morrison Bridge to get to Downtown Portland. Or you can catch the streetcar just outside the western side of Buckman for travel to work or school.

Outdoor spaces

The neighborhood is perfect for walks. The historic and modern homes hiding among trees create a stunning backdrop. Greet familiar faces and snouts at Colonel Summers Park, which offers paved trails next to sports courts, a playground, and a splash pad.

 Laurelhurst Park and Washington High School Dog Park have off-leash areas where dogs can run on open grass. The wide lawns draw plenty of local pet owners, turning everyday playtime into a neighborhood meet-up.

Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill

• Average rent: $1,517/month
• Pet destination: Rock Creek Dog Park

Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Portland, and it’s especially welcoming to pet owners. Trails and parks are integrated into the landscape, so whether it’s a quick walk or long hike, you’re never short on places to explore with your dog.

As a primarily residential neighborhood, shops and restaurants cluster along Northwest Cornell Road and in Tanasbourne Town Center. For a wider mix of dining, shopping, and professional opportunities, Downtown Portland is just a quick drive east on Route 26.

Outdoor spaces

What sets Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill apart from other neighborhoods is its love and support of the outdoors. The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD) maintains and expands the trail system and dog parks in the area. The Cedar Mill Creek Trail winds through parks, alongside the creek. If your pup still has energy to burn, the Jackie Husen Dog Run is a short walk away, below Jordan Woods.

To the west lies an extensive network of trails as the Waterhouse Trail and Stoller Creek Trail lead to the Rock Creek Trail and Greenway. North of the greenway is Rock Creek Dog Park, which has a small dog paddock, a main/mixed dog area, and a wood chip-covered all-season area.

 Forest Park, one of the most popular spots for outdoor activity in Portland, has over 80 miles of trails through 5,200 acres. This natural area is right next to Cedar Hills-Cedar Mill, giving residents easy access to the park. With more than 40 entry points to the park providing access to the trails, you and your pet will discover something new each trip.

Sellwood-Moreland

• Average rent: $1,525/month
• Pet destination: Sellwood Riverfront Park Off-Leash Dog Park

Sellwood-Moreland hugs the east bank of the Willamette River. This active community is always on the move, with residents biking and walking on the many trails and parks in the area. During evenings and weekends, outdoor patios get packed with dogs and their owners having a night out. Shops and restaurants are grouped together so it is convenient to explore on foot with furry friends.

The neighborhood is commuter-friendly, with the MAX Light Rail’s Orange Line and Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard heading up into Central Eastside. To get to I-5, cross the river on the Sellwood Bridge and take the highway north to Downtown Portland. This connectivity means you can enjoy the quiet, riverside vibe of Sellwood-Moreland without sacrificing access to the city.

Outdoor spaces

With so many trails and parks, chances are you’ll run into neighbors and their pets on your daily dog walks. Sellwood Riverfront Park is a favorite spot for pet owners, with an off-leash area that includes a stretch of beach where pups can splash and play. There’s also a kayak launch for those who like to take their adventure onto the water. On the east side of Sellwood-Moreland, Westmoreland Park has paved paths for easy strolls next to open lawns and ponds.

For long walks, the Bluff Trail beside Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge links up with the Springwater Trail along the Willamette. Head north and the path curves along the river all the way to the Tilikum Crossing Bridge, where you can cross over the river to the Waterfront neighborhood. Go south instead and it becomes the Springwater Corridor Trail, a greenway that follows Johnson Creek for miles.

Pet-Friendly Apartments in Portland, OR

Searching for a pet-friendly apartment in Portland doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right filters, you can easily find a place that’s a great fit for both you and your four-legged companion.

On Apartments.com, you can tailor your search by pet policies. Just choose your preferred Portland neighborhood, open the “All Filters” menu, and navigate to the “Pet Policy” options under “Specialty Housing.” From there, you can select dog-friendly, cat-friendly, or both, and your results will instantly update to show communities that welcome pets. Portland offers a wide variety of pet-friendly rental options, so you’ll have no trouble finding a home that suits your lifestyle.

Rent data is based on Apartments.com data as of September 17, 2025, and may change over time.