What are the Oregon pet deposit rules?

Short answer

Oregon allows a landlord to charge a pet deposit for permitted pets when the lease clearly discloses it. The pet deposit is treated as part of the security deposit under ORS 90.300, so the 31-day accounting and itemization rules apply at move-out. Assistance animals required as a reasonable accommodation under fair housing law are not pets and are generally not subject to pet deposits or pet rent.

When this comes up

This question often comes up when a landlord is screening a tenant with a pet, adding a pet to an existing lease, or charging for pet-related damage at move-out. It also comes up when a tenant requests a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal.

Oregon rule or source to check

ORS 90.300 governs security deposits, including pet deposits. The lease should disclose the pet deposit amount and any conditions. Federal fair housing law (and state equivalents) treats assistance animals required as a reasonable accommodation as not pets, so pet deposits, pet rent, and no-pet policies generally do not apply to them. Pet damage at move-out is still chargeable to the extent it exceeds ordinary wear and tear.

Practical workflow

1. 1. Practical workflow. 1) Disclose the pet deposit, pet rent (if any), and any pet rules in the lease before move-in. 2) Document the unit's condition before the pet moves in. 3) At move-out, treat the pet deposit as part of the overall security deposit and follow the 31-day accounting under ORS 90.300. 4) For assistance animals, review the accommodation request under fair housing rules rather than the pet policy. 5) Keep documentation supporting any pet-related damage charges.
2. 2. Common mistakes. Charging a separate non-refundable pet fee that the lease does not clearly support; treating an assistance animal as a pet and charging deposits or pet rent; missing the 31-day accounting deadline because the pet deposit was tracked separately; and failing to document pet-related damage with photos and invoices.
3. 3. Related forms or workflows. A lease with clear pet disclosures, a pet addendum where appropriate, an assistance-animal accommodation process, and a deposit accounting that treats the pet deposit as part of the overall security deposit.

Common mistakes

Related forms or workflows

Related questions

• What is the Oregon security deposit return deadline?
• What does an Oregon deposit accounting need to include?
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Related Oregon resources

• Oregon Landlord-Tenant Resource Center
• Oregon security deposit rules and deadlines
• Oregon Landlord-Tenant Law Hub