ORS § 91 § 91.225
Local rent control prohibited; exclusions; exceptions.
Operative Text
(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that there is a social and economic need to insure an adequate supply of affordable housing for Oregonians. The Legislative Assembly also finds that the imposition of general restrictions on housing rents will disrupt an orderly housing market, increase deferred maintenance of existing housing stock, lead to abandonment of existing rental units and create a property tax shift from rental-owned to owner-occupied housing. Therefore, the Legislative Assembly declares that the imposition of rent control on housing in the State of Oregon is a matter of statewide concern. (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) to (5) of this section, a city or county shall not enact any ordinance or resolution which controls the rent that may be charged for the rental of any dwelling unit. (3) This section does not impair the right of any state agency, city, county or urban renewal agency as defined by ORS 457.035 to reserve to itself the right to approve rent increases, establish base rents or establish limitations on rents on any residential property for which it has entered into a contract under which certain benefits are applied to the property for the expressed purpose of providing reduced rents for low income tenants. Such benefits include, but are not limited to, property tax exemptions, long-term financing, rent subsidies, code enforcement procedures and zoning density bonuses. (4) Cities and counties are not prohibited from including in condominium conversion ordinances a requirement that, during the notification period specified in ORS 100.305, the owner or developer may not raise the rents of any affected tenant except by an amount established by ordinance that does not exceed the limit imposed by ORS 90.493. (5) Cities, counties and state agencies may impose temporary rent controls when a natural or man-made disaster that materially eliminates a significant portion of the rental housing supply occurs, but must remove the controls when the rental housing supply is restored to substantially normal levels. (6) As used in this section, “dwelling unit” and “rent” have the meaning given those terms in ORS 90.100. (7) This section is applicable throughout this state and in all cities and counties therein. The electors or the governing body of a city or county shall not enact, and the governing body shall not enforce, any ordinance, resolution or other regulation that is inconsistent with this section.
ORS § 91.225 establishes that setting rent control policy in Oregon is a statewide matter, meaning local governments — cities and counties — are generally prohibited from enacting ordinances or resolutions that cap or otherwise control rents on residential dwelling units. There are narrow exceptions: local governments may regulate rents on subsidized or publicly assisted housing, may restrict rent increases during condominium conversion notification periods, and may impose temporary rent controls following a disaster that significantly reduces the rental housing supply. The provision also bars local voters and governing bodies from passing any local measure that conflicts with this statewide rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ORS § 91.225, property owners and managers operating in Oregon can generally rely on the fact that no city or county ordinance may impose rent caps on standard market-rate rental units. Operators of subsidized or publicly assisted housing should be aware that the agency or government body that provided those benefits may retain authority to approve rent increases or set rent limits as a condition of that assistance. Landlords involved in condominium conversions should also note that local ordinances may restrict rent increases during the statutory notification period referenced in ORS 100.305.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
ORS § 91.225 means that, in most cases, Oregon tenants in market-rate housing do not have local rent control protections to rely on, because cities and counties are broadly prohibited from enacting such rules. Tenants living in publicly subsidized or assisted housing may have additional rent-related protections tied to the terms of the government assistance program, and tenants affected by a declared disaster may benefit from temporary local rent controls if their jurisdiction has enacted them. Tenants who believe a local ordinance or a subsidized-housing contract may affect their rent can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with ORS § 91.225 and the applicable program terms.
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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