Demand letters in Oregon.
In Oregon, landlords must return a deposit within 31 days, and the Small Claims Department (Circuit Court) hears claims up to $10,000. Here's the law you need — and a generator that cites it for you.
Oregon demand letter facts at a glance
31 days
$10,000
Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional
6 years
2 years
9% per year (post-judgment) where no contract rate applies.
Security deposit demand letters in Oregon
If your former landlord is holding your deposit, Oregon law is on your side. A landlord must return your security deposit within 31 days, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding can expose the landlord to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Governing statute: Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300 · read it
Statutes of limitation in Oregon
A demand letter doesn't pause the clock — you must file suit within these windows:
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral contracts | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
| Property damage | 6 years |
Small claims court in Oregon
The relevant court is Small Claims Department (Circuit Court). Limit: $10,000. Filing fee information: Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional. A dollar limit alone does not establish eligibility; check the court’s claim, venue and service requirements.
Read the limit sourceSmall-claims limit source checked: 2026-09-29. This date does not apply to the other laws on this page.
How Oregon compares
The same dispute is worth pursuing in one state and barely worth the paperwork in another. Here is where Oregon actually sits.
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Small Claims Department (Circuit Court) in Oregon: $10,000. Filing fee information: Check the filing court’s current fee schedule; service charges may be additional. Limits are not directly comparable across states because court, plaintiff and claim-specific rules differ.
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Patience is required in Oregon: a landlord gets 31 days, 1 days beyond the 30-day median and 11th most generous to landlords of the 51. Writing before that window closes weakens the letter, because nothing has been breached yet. Miss it and Oregon exposes the landlord to up to 2× the amount withheld, which is the figure to quote in the letter.
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Oregon is comparatively forgiving on timing: 6 years on a written contract, the same as the 6-year median and 12th longest of the 51. That is breathing room, not licence — evidence and memories decay long before the 6 years do, and oral agreements run out at 6.
Worth putting a number on: withhold $1,500 wrongly in Oregon and the exposure reaches $3,000 once the 2× penalty applies, still inside what Small Claims Department (Circuit Court) can award. A landlord reading your letter is weighing that figure, not the deposit.
Good to know in Oregon
Oregon uses a 31-day deposit deadline and requires a written accounting of any deductions; wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to double damages. Small claims in the Circuit Court’s Small Claims Department covers up to $10,000, and many claims must first attempt resolution before a hearing — a credible demand letter aligns well with that expectation. Oregon’s six-year contract and property-damage limitations periods are relatively generous; personal injury is shorter at two years.
Common demand letters in Oregon
Each generator automatically applies Oregon law where it matters.
Security Deposit Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding the return of your security deposit, citing your move-out date and your state’s legal deadline.
Create this letterUnpaid Invoice Demand Letter
A firm final notice that tells a non-paying client exactly what they owe, by when, and what happens if they ignore it.
Create this letterDemand Letter to a Contractor
A formal letter demanding a contractor finish the work, fix defective work, or refund your money under your agreement.
Create this letterDebt Collection Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding repayment of money you are owed on a personal loan, IOU, or other unpaid debt.
Create this letterLandlord Demand Letter to Tenant
A formal letter from a landlord demanding a tenant pay unpaid rent, repair damage, or cure a lease violation.
Create this letterProperty Damage Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding payment from whoever damaged your property, backed by repair estimates and photos.
Create this letterUnpaid Wages Demand Letter
A formal letter demanding an employer pay wages, overtime, or a final paycheck you earned and are owed.
Create this letterOregon demand letter FAQ
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Oregon?
What is the small claims court limit in Oregon?
How long do I have to sue in Oregon?
Do I have to send a demand letter before filing in Oregon?
Send a demand letter that cites Oregon law.
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