Oregon security deposit rules.
The Oregon rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statutory limit on the deposit amount.
When it has to come back
31 days from termination, with itemised deductions.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
No segregation requirement.
What catches operators out
- Portland imposes additional local protections: caps on deposit amounts, screening fees, and required relocation assistance.
- HB 3521 (2025): for deposits received on or after January 1, 2026, a landlord may take a deposit only after approving the application, and must refund it within five business days if the applicant rejects the unit for material habitability defects.
- Bad-faith retention triggers double damages plus court costs and attorney’s fees.
What this looks like with Standby in Oregon.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Oregon law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Oregon. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.