ORS § 105 § 105.123
Complaint.
Operative Text
In an action pursuant to ORS 105.110, it is sufficient to state in the complaint: (1) A description of the premises with convenient certainty; (2) That the defendant is in possession of the premises; (3) That, in the case of a dwelling unit to which ORS chapter 90 does not apply, the defendant entered upon the premises with force or unlawfully holds the premises with force; and (4) That the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the premises.
ORS § 105.123 sets out the minimum information that must appear in a complaint filed under Oregon's forcible entry and detainer statute (ORS 105.110). A valid complaint needs to identify the property with reasonable clarity, state that the defendant currently occupies it, allege that the defendant entered or is holding the property by force or unlawfully (for non-residential or otherwise exempt premises), and assert that the plaintiff has the right to possession. These are threshold pleading requirements, not a full list of everything a court may ultimately consider.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ORS § 105.123, a property owner or manager initiating a forcible entry and detainer action generally ensures the complaint includes a clear description of the property, an allegation that the occupant is in possession, a statement about forcible or unlawful holding (where ORS chapter 90 does not apply), and a claim of entitlement to possession. Operators typically work with legal counsel to confirm the complaint meets these baseline requirements before filing. A complaint that omits any of these elements may be subject to challenge, potentially delaying recovery of the premises.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
ORS § 105.123 defines what a plaintiff must allege in a complaint to bring a forcible entry and detainer action against an occupant. If a tenant receives such a complaint, they may examine whether it actually contains all four required elements — a sufficient property description, an allegation of possession, the appropriate force or unlawful-holding allegation, and a claim of entitlement — since a deficient complaint can be raised as a procedural issue. Tenants facing this type of action may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Oregon eviction procedure.
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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