Portland layers extra duties on Oregon's 31-day state rules — deposit caps in some cases, a separate interest-bearing account, condition reports, and notice requirements, at $250 per violation.
Both Oregon law and Portland's ordinance apply to you.
Oregon state law (ORS 90.300) also applies independently: a 31-day return deadline and up to 2× the wrongfully withheld deposit. This 2× is the STATE penalty on the deposit money itself — separate from, and stackable with, the city’s $250-per-violation penalty for procedural failures.
Portland penalty
$250 per violation
City ordinance — separate remedy
Under PCC § 30.01.087 (amended through Ordinance 191973, eff. January 1, 2025), a landlord who violates any of the section’s duties is liable for up to $250 per violation, plus actual damages and reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Attorney's fees may also be recoverable.
Oregon penalty
2× damages
State law — still applies
A landlord who wrongfully withholds is liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld under ORS 90.300(16) — Oregon courts treat the doubling as flat and non-discretionary — and failure to give the itemized accounting forfeits the right to withhold.
These are two distinct remedies under two different laws — they are not the same claim, and one does not replace the other. The Oregon return deadline of 31 days still applies.
Two independent layers: A Portland letter can invoke both — ORS 90.300’s 2× on the wrongfully withheld deposit AND PCC 30.01.087’s $250 for each procedural failure. The $250-per-violation figure is the city penalty; the 2× lives only at the state level.
Not Portland, Maine: These Oregon rules do not apply to Portland, Maine — Maine tenants follow Maine state law only.
Yes. Oregon state law (ORS 90.300) also applies independently: a 31-day return deadline and up to 2× the wrongfully withheld deposit. This 2× is the STATE penalty on the deposit money itself — separate from, and stackable with, the city’s $250-per-violation penalty for procedural failures.
Caps the deposit: one full month’s rent if last month’s rent was NOT collected (§ A.2), or half a month’s rent additional if last month’s rent WAS collected (§ A.1) Where the tenant was conditionally approved under the screening ordinance, permits an additional deposit of up to half a month’s rent — but the landlord MUST offer to accept it in installments over up to three months (§ A.3, added eff. 1/1/2025) Requires a separate financial-institution account within two weeks of receipt (interest to the tenant) Requires a signed condition report at move-in Requires a notice of rights with the final accounting and a rent-payment-history form on request
Under PCC § 30.01.087 (amended through Ordinance 191973, eff. January 1, 2025), a landlord who violates any of the section’s duties is liable for up to $250 per violation, plus actual damages and reasonable attorney fees and costs. This is a separate remedy from the Oregon state penalty, which also applies: A landlord who wrongfully withholds is liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld under ORS 90.300(16) — Oregon courts treat the doubling as flat and non-discretionary — and failure to give the itemized accounting forfeits the right to withhold.
Portland City Code § 30.01.087. We verify these against the ordinance text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The Portland rules on this page were verified against the ordinance text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Portland sits on top of Oregon's statewide security deposit law. Read the full Oregon rule →
Your letter cites the Portland ordinance and the Oregon statutes that apply to your situation.
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