Razor Clam Limits & Licenses (Washington & Oregon)

The regulations for razor clams are simple once you know them — but a couple of rules trip people up every season, and the two states differ in ways worth knowing before you cross a border with a bucket.

Rules and fees change. This is a plain-English overview; always confirm the current year’s limits and license prices with WDFW or ODFW before you dig.

The daily limit (both states): 15 clams

In both Washington and Oregon, the daily limit is 15 razor clams per person. That part’s easy. The part people get wrong is this:

You must keep the first 15 clams you dig — regardless of size or condition. You cannot toss small or broken ones back to “upgrade” your limit with bigger clams. The first 15 that come out of the sand are yours, broken neck and all. The rule exists because discarded clams almost always die, so the states would rather you keep them than waste them.

A few related rules:

Dig your own. Each person digs their own limit.
Separate containers. In Washington, each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container — no pooling everyone’s clams into one bucket.
Oregon: it’s unlawful to remove razor clams from the shell before you leave the clamming area.

Licenses

Washington

Anyone 16 or older needs a license. Several cover razor clams:

Razor Clam license — razor clams only (annual, or a 3-day temporary that’s perfect for visitors)
Shellfish/Seaweed license — razor clams plus other shellfish and seaweed
Combination license — all fishing plus shellfish/seaweed

Resident razor clam and shellfish licenses run roughly $17–$22 a year; non-resident shellfish is higher, and a 3-day razor clam license is the cheap option for a one-off trip. Washington’s license year runs April 1 through March 31. Buy online through WDFW, at hundreds of dealers, or via the Fish Washington app.

Oregon

Everyone 12 and older needs an Oregon shellfish license. It’s inexpensive — a resident annual shellfish license is around $13, non-resident annual around $37, with short-term and combo options too. Buy it online through ODFW’s licensing portal or at license agents up and down the coast.

The biggest difference: how seasons work

This is the one to internalize if you dig both states:

Washington runs on announced dig dates. WDFW posts tentative days, then confirms each series only after toxin testing — usually a few days out. You can’t just show up; you wait for the approval.
Oregon’s Clatsop beaches are generally open year-round, except for the July 15–September 30 conservation closure and any biotoxin closures. Outside those, you can usually just go on the right tide.

We cover this in depth in the season & dig dates guide.

Don’t forget the part regulations don’t cover

A license and a limit don’t make a beach safe. Marine toxins close beaches independently of the harvest season, and they’re not something you can see or cook away. Before any dig, read the safety guide and check the official toxin status.

Want the dig dates and the toxin all-clear delivered to you? That’s exactly what ClamClock watches — sign up and skip the daily page-refresh.