Squatters' Rights in Oregon
Oregon rules on squatters & abandoned property for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: A 'squatter' is a person occupying a dwelling (or other property used for dwelling) who is not entitled under a rental agreement or authorized by the tenant; a tenant holding over is not a squatter. ORS 91.140 (2025 c.356); ORS 90.100(47); ORS 105.115(1)(h)
The rules in Oregon
| Squatters / unauthorized occupants | A 'squatter' is a person occupying a dwelling (or other property used for dwelling) who is not entitled under a rental agreement or authorized by the tenant; a tenant holding over is not a squatter. The owner or landlord may give the squatter 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is the person's status as a squatter, then take possession through the forcible entry and detainer (FED) court process (ORS 105.100-105.168). The notice does not create a tenancy. No statute authorizes police removal without a court judgment. Squatter procedure added by 2025 Or. Laws c.356. Definition at ORS 90.100 (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors090.html); FED cause at ORS 105.115 (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors105.html). |
|---|---|
| Belongings left behind | Before storing, selling or disposing of abandoned property the landlord must give written notice by personal delivery or first-class mail (to the premises, any known P.O. box and any forwarding address) stating the property is considered abandoned, where it is stored, and a date to contact the landlord: not less than 5 days after personal delivery or 8 days after mailing (45 days for manufactured dwellings/floating homes). Landlord must store goods with reasonable care and may charge reasonable storage costs (not after a sheriff's restitution). If the tenant responds, landlord must make the property available for 15 days (30 for dwellings/homes). If unclaimed, property is conclusively presumed abandoned and may be sold at public or private sale or, if low value, disposed of. Separate rules for manufactured dwellings/floating homes in facilities (ORS 90.675) and for a deceased sole tenant (ORS 90.425(20)). Alternative post-eviction method in ORS 105.165. Source: ORS 90.425 |
Related questions
Oregon vs. neighboring states
| State | Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Belongings left behind |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | A 'squatter' is a person occupying a dwelling (or other property used for dwelling) who is not entitled under a rental agreement or authorized by the tenant; a tenant holding over is not a squatter. The owner or landlord may give the squatter 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is the person's status as a squatter, then take possession through the forcible entry and detainer (FED) court process (ORS 105.100-105.168). The notice does not create a tenancy. No statute authorizes police removal without a court judgment. ORS 91.140 (2025 c.356); ORS 90.100(47); ORS 105.115(1)(h) | Before storing, selling or disposing of abandoned property the landlord must give written notice by personal delivery or first-class mail (to the premises, any known P.O. box and any forwarding address) stating the property is considered abandoned, where it is stored, and a date to contact the landlord: not less than 5 days after personal delivery or 8 days after mailing (45 days for manufactured dwellings/floating homes). Landlord must store goods with reasonable care and may charge reasonable storage costs (not after a sheriff's restitution). If the tenant responds, landlord must make the property available for 15 days (30 for dwellings/homes). If unclaimed, property is conclusively presumed abandoned and may be sold at public or private sale or, if low value, disposed of. ORS 90.425 |
| California | California has no special fast-track squatter-removal statute. Entering and occupying property without the consent of the owner, the owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession is misdemeanor trespass. Refusing to leave property that is not open to the public, after the owner or a peace officer acting at the owner's request asks the person to leave, is also trespass. An owner can file one notarized request on the police agency's form so officers can act against trespassers for up to 12 months (or a shorter period set by local ordinance) while the owner is absent or the property is closed and posted. The request may be submitted electronically and ends if the property is sold. If police will not act (for example, because the occupant claims to be a tenant), the owner must go to court with an unlawful detainer or forcible detainer case (CCP 1159 et seq.). The occupant has 10 court days to respond after being served. A single lodger in an owner-occupied home who stays after a proper Civ. Code 1946.5 notice expires commits an infraction and may be arrested and removed. Cal. Penal Code § 602(m), (o) (as amended by SB 602, Stats. 2023, ch. 404); Cal. Penal Code § 602.3; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1167 (as amended by AB 2347, Stats. 2024, ch. 512) | When belongings are left after a tenancy ends and the tenant has moved out, the landlord must give written notice to the tenant and to anyone the landlord reasonably believes owns the property. The notice must describe the property, say where it can be claimed, say that reasonable storage costs may be charged, and set a claim deadline at least 15 days after personal delivery or 18 days after mailing. Notice goes by personal delivery or first-class mail to the last known address, with a copy mailed to the vacated unit; email may also be used if the tenant provided an address. The landlord must keep the property on the premises or in safe storage with reasonable care. Property reclaimed within 2 days of move-out from the dwelling must be released without storage charges. Unclaimed property must be sold at a public sale advertised in a newspaper, with leftover proceeds paid to the county, where the owner can claim them within 1 year. If the landlord reasonably believes the total resale value is under $700, the landlord may keep or dispose of it. Property left after a sheriff's eviction lockout follows the same notice, storage, and disposal rules. Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1983-1988; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1174(e)-(l) |
| Idaho | Sheriff removal without a lawsuit. A property owner (or authorized agent) may give the county sheriff a verified 'Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Residential Real Property' (statutory form, under penalty of perjury, with government ID or proof of agency) if: the occupants entered unlawfully and remain; the property was not open to the public; the owner told them to leave; they are not current or former tenants under an owner-authorized lease; they are not immediate family; and no related litigation is pending. After verifying ownership, the sheriff serves a notice to immediately vacate (hand delivery or posting on the front door), puts the owner in possession, and may arrest for trespass or other crimes. Sheriff charges the writ-of-restitution service fee, plus an hourly stand-by fee if requested while locks are changed and belongings moved to the property line. A person wrongfully removed may sue for restoration of possession, actual damages, triple the fair market rent, costs and attorney's fees. Idaho Code § 6-310A | After a judgment for possession, a residential tenant has 72 hours to remove belongings (7 days for commercial tenants or tracts of 5+ acres). After that period and 3 days after the court's finding, the sheriff restores possession by removing the tenant, and the landlord may remove and dispose of all remaining property (including vehicles removable under § 49-1806), subject to security interests, without compensation to the tenant. The 3-day nonpayment notice must warn the tenant of this removal period. Idaho Code §§ 6-316(2), 6-303(2) |
| Nevada | Summary court process for forcible entry/detainer by an unlawful or unauthorized occupant. The owner (or authorized representative or authorized occupant) serves a written notice to surrender that tells the occupant they are guilty of forcible entry or detainer, gives them 4 judicial days to leave, names the court, explains their right to contest by filing an affidavit with the court by close of business on the 4th judicial day, warns that the sheriff or constable may remove them within 24 hours of a court order, and explains storage and disposal of belongings (disposable 14 calendar days after removal or surrender; storage costs must be paid first). It must be served in person before a witness (no witness needed if a sheriff, constable or licensed process server serves it), or by leaving it with a suitable person and mailing it, or by posting and mailing it (addressed to 'Current Occupant' if unknown). If the occupant does not leave, the owner files an affidavit of complaint; if no contest affidavit was filed and the evidence suffices, the court must order removal within 24 hours of the sheriff's receipt. If all known adult occupants are arrested for housebreaking or unlawful occupancy, the owner may retake possession and change the locks, posting and filing a notice that gives the occupant 21 days to seek reentry in court. Owners can recover treble damages for forcible entry. NRS 40.230, 40.240, 40.280(2), 40.412, 40.414 | The landlord must store property left after abandonment or eviction safely for 30 days and may charge reasonable, actual inventory, moving and storage costs before releasing it. After 30 days, the landlord may dispose of it (and recover costs from it) only after making reasonable efforts to locate the tenant, mailing the tenant written notice of the intent to dispose (to the present or last known address), and waiting 14 days after the notice. Vehicles follow the abandoned-vehicle law (NRS ch. 487). For 5 days after an eviction or lockout, the landlord must give the former tenant a reasonable chance to retrieve essential items such as medication, baby formula, basic clothing and personal care items. Disputes over costs or access go to the justice court under NRS 40.253. NRS 118A.460 |
| Washington | An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or owners on title, were told to leave and refused, and that the premises were not abandoned or open to the public when they entered. A peace officer with probable cause of criminal trespass may then remove the persons (with or without arrest) and order them to stay off, but must first give occupants a reasonable opportunity to present credible evidence that they are tenants, legal occupants or their guests. The declarant can be sued for false statements (actual damages, costs, attorney's fees) and false swearing is a gross misdemeanor. Officers may not remove anyone entitled to occupy under a rental agreement; tenants require an unlawful detainer case. RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115 | If the tenant defaults in rent and indicates by words or actions an intent not to return, the landlord may take possession of the tenant's property and store it securely, and must make reasonable efforts (first-class mail to the last known and any other known address) to notify the tenant of where it is stored, the planned sale/disposal date, and the right to reclaim it on payment of the lesser of actual or reasonable moving and storage costs. Sale or disposal may occur 45 days after the notice is mailed or delivered (7 days if the total value is $250 or less, except personal papers, family pictures and keepsakes). Excess sale proceeds are held for the tenant for one year. Separate rules apply to a deceased sole tenant's property (two notices; sale/disposal at least 45 days after the second notice) and to property removed under a writ of restitution. RCW 59.18.310; RCW 59.18.595; RCW 59.18.312 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Squatters' Rights in Oregon FAQ
How do you remove a squatter in Oregon?
A 'squatter' is a person occupying a dwelling (or other property used for dwelling) who is not entitled under a rental agreement or authorized by the tenant; a tenant holding over is not a squatter. The owner or landlord may give the squatter 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is the person's status as a squatter, then take possession through the forcible entry and detainer (FED) court process (ORS 105.100-105.168). The notice does not create a tenancy. No statute authorizes police removal without a court judgment. (ORS 91.140 (2025 c.356); ORS 90.100(47); ORS 105.115(1)(h))
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Oregon?
Before storing, selling or disposing of abandoned property the landlord must give written notice by personal delivery or first-class mail (to the premises, any known P.O. box and any forwarding address) stating the property is considered abandoned, where it is stored, and a date to contact the landlord: not less than 5 days after personal delivery or 8 days after mailing (45 days for manufactured dwellings/floating homes). Landlord must store goods with reasonable care and may charge reasonable storage costs (not after a sheriff's restitution). If the tenant responds, landlord must make the property available for 15 days (30 for dwellings/homes). If unclaimed, property is conclusively presumed abandoned and may be sold at public or private sale or, if low value, disposed of. (ORS 90.425)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.