Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Oregon?
No. An unlawful ouster or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to up to two months’ rent or twice their actual damages. ORS 90.375. In Oregon a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by ORS 90.394, 90.396, 90.427, 105.113, 105.137, 90.375.
| What | Oregon |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Notes
Oregon’s ten-day nonpayment notice may not be served until rent is at least eight days past due, and the notice must include the statutory summary of the tenant’s rights and a list of resources.
Source
ORS 90.394, 90.396, 90.427, 105.113, 105.137, 90.375 — last checked 2026-09-16.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
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- Michigan
- Minnesota