A former incarnation of Multy, the Multnomah County mascot

In accordance with Oregon public records requirements, records retention schedules describe the types of records created and maintained by Multnomah County. Records are analyzed for their operational, fiscal, legal and historic value, and from this analysis, the length of time a record needs to be maintained—its retention—is determined.

Many records are exempt from disclosure under Oregon public records law. Members of the public looking to request records should consult the department or agency listed in the retention schedule for questions regarding records access. General county information and referral to all departments can be obtained by calling (503)823-4000.

Note that retention schedules do not require the creation of a given record, nor do they necessarily list records currently available. Retention schedules are generally on a five year review cycle. The retention schedules listed on this site reflect records keeping practices at the time of schedule development and review. While we make every effort to maintain up-to-date retention schedules, current records keeping practices may have changed since the time the retention schedule was last developed or reviewed. If Multnomah County employees have any questions regarding potential records not listed on the retention schedule, please contact us. 

Please see our Explanation of Legal Citations for assistance with reading the retention schedules.