🏠 OREGON · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Oregon
In Oregon, ORS § 90.300 gives your landlord 31 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Oregon sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith.
The Oregon statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ ORS § 90.300
To claim any part of a deposit or prepaid rent, the landlord must give the tenant a written accounting stating the basis of the claim within 31 days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession, and must return the unclaimed balance within the same 31 days (subsections (12)–(13)). Withholding without that accounting, or in bad faith, entitles the tenant to twice the amount withheld (subsection (16)). Oregon sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Verified against primary statute text (ORS 90.300) 2026-07-27.
Read the Oregon source text →Oregon deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Oregon requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 31 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith |
| Governing statute | ORS § 90.300 |
The 31 days run from termination of the tenancy AND delivery of possession; security deposits and prepaid rent require separate accountings. Every figure here was read from the Oregon statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Oregon
The 31 days clock in OregonORS § 90.300 sets Oregon's deadline at 31 days from the end of the tenancy. The 31 days run from termination of the tenancy AND delivery of possession; security deposits and prepaid rent require separate accountings.
Oregon does not cap the depositOregon sets no statutory ceiling on the deposit amount, so the lease controls how much you can be charged. The return deadline and itemization rules in ORS § 90.300 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Oregon requires a written, itemized statement within the 31 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in OregonTwice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith — that is the remedy ORS § 90.300 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Oregon, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Oregon the 31 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 31 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing ORS § 90.300 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Oregon small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Oregon
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Oregon?
ORS § 90.300 gives your landlord 31 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The 31 days run from termination of the tenancy AND delivery of possession; security deposits and prepaid rent require separate accountings.
What happens if my Oregon landlord misses the deadline?
Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith. That remedy is written into ORS § 90.300 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Oregon?
Oregon sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in ORS § 90.300 still apply regardless of size.
Can my Oregon landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 31 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.