Stop Unannounced Landlord Visits in Oregon: Your Privacy Rights

Privacy Rights & Landlord Entry Oregon published June 21, 2025 Flag of Oregon

As a renter in Oregon, you have important privacy rights that protect you from unannounced visits by your landlord. Understanding these rights under state law helps you maintain a safe and private home. This guide explains how Oregon law handles landlord entry, your options for stopping unauthorized visits, and what practical steps you can take if problems occur.

Your Right to Privacy in Oregon Rentals

Oregon’s laws protect tenants' right to quiet enjoyment of their rental home. This means landlords cannot enter your unit without proper notice—except in emergencies. The main law protecting these rights is the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.[1] The Oregon Judicial Department oversees residential tenancy disputes.

When Can a Landlord Enter Your Rental?

  • Written Notice Required: Landlords must provide at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering.[1]
  • Permitted Reasons: Entry is allowed for inspections, repairs, or showing the unit, but only with notice.
  • Emergencies: In emergencies (like a fire or severe leak), notice is not required.

What Counts as "Improper Entry"?

Any entry without proper notice or valid reason—unless it is a true emergency—is considered improper and violates your legal rights as a tenant. This includes a landlord or their agent entering your home without warning, repeatedly coming by outside of business hours, or failing to provide required notification.

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How to Stop Unannounced Landlord Visits

  • Document Each Incident: Keep detailed notes of every visit, including date, time, and what occurred.
  • Communicate in Writing: Ask your landlord to respect Oregon’s notice rules. Written communication (letter, email, or text) is best.
  • Request Compliance: Politely remind your landlord they must give at least 24 hours’ notice, unless there's an emergency.
If you feel your privacy is being invaded, calmly point to Oregon law and ask your landlord to follow the correct process. Written requests are easier to prove if you need to escalate the issue.

Using Official Oregon Forms

Oregon provides an Official Notice of Noncompliance with Entry Law (no standard state form number, but you can use a general written notice). Here’s how you can do this:

  • Name: No standard state-issued form number; simply write a Notice of Noncompliance or Privacy Violation. Some local agencies provide printable templates.
  • When to use: If your landlord enters without proper notice, notify them in writing that they’ve violated ORS 90.322.
  • How to use: Date your letter, describe the incident, and request that the landlord follow the legal notice requirements going forward. Keep a copy for your records.

Sample template downloads may be available from regional resources, such as Oregon Housing and Community Services rental help.

Next Steps if the Problem Continues

Steps to Take if Your Landlord Violates Entry Laws

Always start by keeping records and communicating clearly. If your landlord ignores the law after you have asked them in writing to stop, you may have the right to break your lease, claim damages, or seek legal remedies through the Oregon courts.[1]

Relevant Oregon Legislation and Tribunal

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can my landlord enter my apartment without giving notice in Oregon?
    Generally no, unless there is an emergency such as a fire, flood, or urgent repair need. For all other situations, landlords must give you at least 24 hours’ written notice.
  2. How much notice must my landlord give before entering my rental?
    Oregon law requires landlords to give at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering for inspections, repairs, or showings.
  3. What should I do if my landlord keeps coming over without warning?
    Document every incident, politely provide a written notice asking them to stop, and refer to Oregon’s landlord-tenant law. If it continues, you can file a complaint or seek help from renters’ advocacy services.
  4. Can I refuse my landlord entry if I haven’t received notice?
    Yes, you generally can refuse entry if notice wasn’t given, unless it’s an emergency.
  5. Where can I get official help with landlord entry disputes in Oregon?
    You can contact the Oregon Judicial Department for formal complaints or reach out to local mediation programs listed below.

Key Takeaways

  • Oregon law requires landlords to give at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering a rental property (except in emergencies).
  • Always communicate in writing and keep records if your landlord enters without proper notice.
  • If the problem continues, official forms, local resources, and the Oregon Judicial Department can help enforce your rights.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

  1. Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORS Chapter 90)
  2. Oregon Judicial Department: Landlord-Tenant Disputes

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Bob Jones
Bob Jones

Editor & Researcher, Renter Rights USA

Bob writes and reviews tenant law content for various regions. They’re passionate about housing justice and simplifying legal protections for tenants everywhere.

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