Oregon security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Oregon. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Oregon
- Return timing
- Return or written accounting due not later than 31 days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession; electronic return only with written agreement (since 2024).
- Accounting for deductions
- Any claim requires a written accounting within 31 days stating specifically the basis of each claim; separate accountings for the deposit vs prepaid rent.
- Deposit interest
- The state deposit statute does not require interest. Check any additional lease or local rule.
Registry review: August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Check the type of tenancy, the lease and any local or housing-program rules before relying on the statewide summary.
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗What starts the return clock?
Return or written accounting due not later than 31 days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession; electronic return only with written agreement (since 2024).
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
The landlord must give a receipt for any deposit paid (§ 90.300(2)(a)). Landlord's own labor may be billed at a reasonable hourly rate; carpet cleaning deductible only with a proper carpet-cleaning machine, a carpet cleaned/replaced before move-in, and written lease authorization (§ 90.300(7)).
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗What could you recover?
Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith (§ 90.300(16)) - the doubled amount is the total recovery. Prevailing-party attorney fees under ORS 90.255 (discretionary, two-way, non-waivable).
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300(16), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $10,000. Filing: $57 (≤$2,500) / $102 (over) - 2026 schedule. The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Oregon deposit rights
How long does a Oregon landlord have to return a security deposit?
Return or written accounting due not later than 31 days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession; electronic return only with written agreement (since 2024).
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Oregon?
If no accounting or return arrives within 31 days, or the withholding is in bad faith, the tenant may recover twice the amount withheld (§ 90.300(16)). Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in Oregon?
Any claim requires a written accounting within 31 days stating specifically the basis of each claim; separate accountings for the deposit vs prepaid rent. The landlord must give a receipt for any deposit paid (§ 90.300(2)(a)). Landlord's own labor may be billed at a reasonable hourly rate; carpet cleaning deductible only with a proper carpet-cleaning machine, a carpet cleaned/replaced before move-in, and written lease authorization (§ 90.300(7)).
Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 ↗