Security Deposit Rules
Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it. Our Oregon security deposit interest page covers whether interest is owed.
Notice Requirements
Landlord entry, month-to-month termination, and rent increase notice periods are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Check the lease for its notice terms, and confirm the current legal minimums in the statute or with a local tenant resource before relying on them.
Rent Control
Rent control rules depend on state and local law, and they change. Check the current rules with your state or local housing agency, or a local tenant resource, before relying on them.
Habitability & Repair Requirements
Oregon landlords are required to maintain rental units in habitable condition.
Market Conditions & Lease-Risk Notes for Oregon
Portland's residential market has softened significantly since 2021. Residential vacancy in some neighborhoods is over 7%, giving tenants genuine negotiating leverage. Eugene and Salem are more stable markets. Commercial markets in Portland's Pearl District and Lloyd District have seen post-pandemic recovery challenges.
The legal framework is often described as relatively protective of tenants.
Commercial tenants have significantly weaker protection than residential. Portland commercial leases with aggressive restoration clauses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Oregon have rent control?
- Yes. Oregon enacted statewide rent control in 2019 (SB 608) and tightened it in 2023 (SB 611, ORS 90.324): the annual increase is capped at the lesser of 10% or 7% plus the West-region Consumer Price Index, calculated each September by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (Office of Economic Analysis) — one statewide figure, not a city-by-city rate. The 2026 cap is 9.5%. A unit is exempt for its first 15 years, measured from its first certificate of occupancy (ORS 90.323), not the building's renovation date. (Verified November 7, 2026.)
- Can a landlord evict a tenant without cause in Oregon?
- Generally no. Oregon has just cause eviction rules that generally limit a landlord to specific legitimate reasons for ending a tenancy, such as non-payment, a lease violation, or owner move-in, and no-cause terminations are largely restricted.
- What is the security deposit limit in Oregon?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
- How much notice must an Oregon landlord give before entering?
- Security deposit limits, return deadlines, and landlord entry notice rules are set by state and sometimes local law, and they change. Confirm the current rule in the statute itself or with a local tenant resource before relying on it.
- How do tenant protections in Oregon compare with other states?
- Tenant protections vary by state. State and local laws may establish requirements that apply regardless of what a lease says. Review the lease alongside current applicable law before signing.
Cities in Oregon
Find city-specific lease guides for major markets in Oregon: