Oregon Housing Resources & Tenant Rights

Oregon was the first state to pass statewide rent control (SB 608 in 2019, tightened by SB 611 in 2023), and it is one of the more tenant-protective states. Annual rent increases are capped, most tenancies require just cause to end after 12 months, and source of income — including Housing Choice Vouchers — is a protected class statewide (ORS 659A.421). The rules are in ORS Chapter 90 (the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). The state housing agency is Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). This page covers the statewide rules, the eviction timeline, and links to every Oregon city we cover.

Public Housing & Vouchers in Oregon

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are run by local authorities — Home Forward (Portland/Multnomah County), and the Salem, Eugene, and other regional authorities. OHCS finances affordable apartments and allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing. Because Oregon protects source of income (below), a landlord cannot refuse your voucher.

Apply to several authorities at once. Use HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA and how to apply for Section 8 guides. City waitlist status is on the city pages below.

Statewide Rent Control (SB 608 & SB 611)

Oregon caps how much your rent can rise each year. Under SB 608 (2019) the cap was 7% plus regional CPI; SB 611 (2023) added a hard ceiling of 10%, so the limit is 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less. The exact maximum is published every September and for 2026 is 9.5% (it was 10.0% in 2025). Key points:

• One increase per 12 months, with at least 90 days’ written notice
• Newer buildings are exempt for their first 15 years after construction
• The cap does not apply during the first year of a tenancy (the landlord cannot raise rent at all in the first 12 months)

If you get a notice raising the rent above the cap on a covered unit, it is likely unenforceable — check with legal aid.

Just Cause Eviction & Source of Income

After a tenant has lived in a unit for 12 months, an Oregon landlord generally needs just cause to end the tenancy (SB 608). For “landlord-based” no-fault reasons — selling to a buyer who will move in, the owner moving in, demolition, or major repairs — the landlord must give 90 days’ notice and pay one month’s rent in relocation assistance (smaller landlords have a limited exception). Separately, under ORS 659A.421, source of income is a protected class: a landlord cannot refuse you because you would pay with a Housing Choice Voucher or other lawful assistance. File a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and read our source-of-income protections guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Oregon

• Dial 211 to reach local emergency rental and prevention funds and your regional Coordinated Entry for shelter and rapid re-housing
• OHCS funds eviction-prevention programs through local Community Action Agencies; the pandemic-era statewide program has ended, so check what is currently open
• LIHEAP / energy assistance lowers utility bills — see utility assistance programs
• The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and the Community Alliance of Tenants renters’ hotline provide help and advice

See our emergency rental assistance guide for the national picture.

Oregon Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance

Security deposits

Oregon sets no cap on the deposit amount, but the landlord must do a documented condition assessment and return the deposit with an itemized statement within 31 days of the tenancy ending (ORS 90.300). Deductions can only cover unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear. See how to recover your security deposit.

Eviction process & how long it takes

Self-help eviction is illegal; the landlord must go to court (a Forcible Entry and Detainer action in Circuit Court) and only the sheriff can remove you. The sequence:

• 10-day notice for nonpayment (ORS 90.394), or the proper just-cause notice for other grounds (often 30 or 90 days)
• FED complaint filed; you receive a summons and a first appearance, usually within a week or two
• First appearance and trial — appear and raise defenses; many courts offer mediation, and a rental-assistance application can pause a nonpayment case
• Judgment and writ: if the landlord wins, the court issues a writ of execution and the sheriff carries out the eviction

An uncontested Oregon eviction commonly runs about three to six weeks from the notice. Appear at your first appearance — missing it usually means a default. Get help at oregonlawhelp.org and read how to avoid eviction.

Other Housing Programs in Oregon

• Public housing — government-owned affordable apartments run by local authorities; the waitlist is separate from Section 8
• HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Emergency Housing Vouchers & rapid re-housing — access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
• Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date

Major Oregon Cities We Cover

• Portland affordable housing resources

Where to Get Help in Oregon

Free legal aid: oregonlawhelp.org connects you to the Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon; the Community Alliance of Tenants runs a renters’ rights hotline.

Source-of-income / discrimination: the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Civil Rights Division (971-673-0764) enforces the statewide protection.

State housing agency: OHCS for vouchers, LIHTC, and programs.

Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.

HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.

Next Steps

Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of Oregon programs in about two minutes.

If you got a rent increase above the cap or an eviction notice, do not wait: get help at oregonlawhelp.org, and if a landlord refused your voucher, file with BOLI. Read eviction prevention too.