Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Oregon (2026)
A typical Oregon range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in Oregon
Oregon deposits run above the national typical range in Portland, Bend, and the Willamette Valley, and closer to it in the eastern and coastal counties. State law sets no dollar cap but requires deposits to be spelled out in a written rental agreement, sets a return window commonly cited as 31 days with an itemized accounting, limits carpet cleaning charges to what the agreement provides, and allows doubled damages, and Oregon also has statewide rent stabilization that shapes lease terms, so confirm the current rules. Wet winters west of the Cascades bring moss, mildew, and moisture wear that is climate driven, while the high desert east brings dry-air cracking.
Tips for Oregon buyers
- Put every deposit and fee in the written agreement; anything not in writing is hard to keep.
- Charge carpet cleaning only if the agreement provides for it and you actually had it done.
- Mildew on window tracks in the Willamette Valley is ordinary wear; charge only for cleaning if the move-in condition was documented.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.