How should Oregon landlords handle service animals?

Short answer

Under federal and Oregon fair-housing rules, service animals are not pets. Oregon landlords generally must allow them as a reasonable accommodation, cannot charge a pet deposit or pet fee, and may only ask narrow questions to confirm the disability-related need when it is not obvious.

When this comes up

Applications and existing tenancies where a tenant identifies a service animal, and pet-policy decisions.

Oregon rule or source to check

Federal Fair Housing Act and HUD guidance, Oregon fair-housing law, and pet-fee limits in ORS 90.302.

Practical workflow

1. Treat the request as a reasonable accommodation. Use a standard accommodation log and avoid singling out the tenant.
2. Ask only what's allowed. If the disability or need is not obvious, you may ask only narrow, allowed questions. Avoid medical-record requests.
3. Skip the pet deposit. Do not charge a pet deposit, pet fee, or pet rent for a service animal.
4. Document the accommodation. Keep the request and your response in the file as an accommodation record.
5. Hold the tenant to behavior rules. The tenant remains responsible for actual damage and for following reasonable behavior rules.

Common mistakes

Charging a pet deposit, asking invasive medical questions, and treating accommodation requests inconsistently across tenants.

Related forms or workflows

Reasonable accommodation request log, standardized response letter, lease addendum recognizing assistance animal.

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Related Oregon resources

Propsistant provides educational information and workflow guidance. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

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