ORS § 90 § 90.325
Tenant duties.
Operative Text
(1) The tenant shall: (a) Use the parts of the premises including the living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and dining room in a reasonable manner considering the purposes for which they were designed and intended. (b) Keep all areas of the premises under control of the tenant in every part as clean, sanitary and free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, rodents and vermin, as the condition of the premises permits and to the extent that the tenant is responsible for causing the problem. The tenant shall cooperate to a reasonable extent in assisting the landlord in any reasonable effort to remedy the problem. (c) Dispose from the dwelling unit all ashes, garbage, rubbish and other waste in a clean, safe and legal manner. With regard to needles, syringes and other infectious waste, as defined in ORS 459.386, the tenant may not dispose of these items by placing them in garbage receptacles or in any other place or manner except as authorized by state and local governmental agencies. (d) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits. (e) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances including elevators in the premises. (f) Test at least once every six months and replace batteries as needed in any smoke alarm, smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm provided by the landlord and notify the landlord in writing of any operating deficiencies. (g) Behave and require other persons on the premises with the consent of the tenant to behave in a manner that will not disturb the peaceful enjoyment of the premises by neighbors. (2) A tenant may not: (a) Remove or tamper with a smoke alarm, smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm as described in ORS 105.842 or 479.300. (b) Deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so. (c) Remove, obstruct or tamper with a sprinkler head used for fire suppression. (3) A tenant is not responsible for damage that results from: (a) Acts of God; or (b) Conduct by a perpetrator relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime or stalking. (4) For damage that results from conduct by a perpetrator relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime or stalking, a landlord may require a tenant to provide verification that the tenant or a member of the tenant’s household is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime or stalking as provided by ORS 90.453.
Oregon Revised Statutes § 90.325 sets out a list of duties that tenants must follow while occupying a rental unit. These include keeping the premises reasonably clean and sanitary, properly disposing of waste (including special rules for infectious waste such as needles and syringes), using appliances and fixtures responsibly, testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least every six months, and behaving in ways that do not disturb neighbors. Tenants are explicitly protected from liability for damage caused by acts of God or by a perpetrator of domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime, or stalking.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ORS § 90.325, compliant landlords generally document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline for evaluating whether tenant-caused damage has occurred. Operators typically provide written information to incoming tenants about their duties — including the six-month smoke and carbon monoxide alarm testing requirement and the rules around infectious waste disposal — so expectations are clear from the start. When a tenant reports an operating deficiency in a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm in writing, landlords generally address the issue promptly and keep records of the repair; landlords should also be aware that they may request verification under ORS 90.453 before waiving damage claims tied to domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime, or stalking.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
ORS § 90.325 outlines the responsibilities tenants carry during a tenancy, including keeping the unit clean, disposing of waste properly, and testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every six months — notifying the landlord in writing of any deficiencies found. Importantly, the law also protects tenants from being held responsible for damage caused by acts of God or by a perpetrator of domestic violence, sexual assault, bias crime, or stalking, which can be a significant defense if a landlord attempts to charge for such damage. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision are being misapplied may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or Oregon's statewide legal aid resources for general information about how these protections work.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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