top of page
Search

Multnomah County Rental Laws: Your 2026 Guide to Staying Compliant as a Portland-Area Landlord

Video summary of this article

Hey folks, it's your friendly neighborhood Mr. Portland Landlord here, kicking off 2026 with a deep dive into something that's on every rental owner's mind these days—Multnomah County rental laws. If you're managing properties in the Portland metro or anywhere in Oregon, you know regulations come at you from all directions: state, city, and yes, even the county level. Why did the landlord bring a ladder to the meeting? Because he wanted to take things to the next level—compliance level, that is! All jokes aside, getting this stuff right isn't just about avoiding headaches; it's about protecting your investment and keeping good relationships with tenants.


Map of Oregon highlighting Multnomah County
Map highlighting Multnomah County—note the unincorporated areas where county rules kick in.

Most of what we deal with comes from Oregon state law, with Portland adding its own flavor inside city limits. But for those properties in unincorporated Multnomah County—those spots outside Portland, Gresham, or other cities—the county steps in on health and safety enforcement. It's limited compared to the big state and city rules, but ignore it and you could face inspections, notices, and fines faster than you can say "habitability violation." Let's break it all down, with extra time on the county specifics since that's where a lot of you have questions.


Oregon Statewide Basics: The Foundation for All Rentals


Just to level-set, the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORS Chapter 90) is the bedrock everywhere in the state, including Multnomah County. It covers the big stuff: rent caps (9.5% max increase for 2026 on older properties), eviction rules (mostly no "no-cause" after the first year), security deposit handling (return within 31 days with itemizations), and habitability requirements (safe heat, plumbing, no major hazards). Recent tweaks like HB 3521 emphasize better documentation at move-in and move-out. This applies universally—no escaping it whether your rental's in the heart of Portland or out in the county's quieter pockets.


Portland's City Rules: Extra Protections Inside City Limits


If your property's within Portland city boundaries (which is most rentals in Multnomah County), you layer on Portland City Code Title 30. Think FAIR Ordinance for low-barrier screening, mandatory relocation assistance for certain terminations, and longer notice periods (often 90 days). It's more tenant-friendly, and violations can hit hard with complaints to the Portland Housing Bureau. But step outside city limits into unincorporated areas? Portland's rules don't apply—it's back to state plus county health enforcement.


Portland Oregon rental house exterior
A classic Portland-area rental home—beautiful, but comes with plenty of rules to follow!

Diving Deep: Multnomah County Rental Laws in Unincorporated Areas


Now, let's get to the meat of it—the limited but important role Multnomah County plays in regulating rentals, specifically in unincorporated areas (think rural-ish spots or neighborhoods not annexed into a city). The county doesn't have a full-blown rental code like Portland's. Instead, it focuses on health and safety through its Residential Rental Property standards in Chapter 21: Health of the Multnomah County Code. This adopts much of the International Property Maintenance Code, covering basics like structural integrity, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, ventilation, sanitation, pest control, and no major health hazards like mold or unsafe wiring.


Tenants (or anyone, really—social services, police, even other inspectors) can file complaints if they spot issues. Common reportable problems include:


  • Lack of adequate heat (must maintain at least 68 degrees daytime)

  • Plumbing failures (leaks, no hot water)

  • Electrical hazards

  • Pest infestations (rodents, bugs)

  • Mold or poor ventilation leading to health risks

  • Structural issues (unsafe stairs, roofs)

  • Garbage accumulation or unsanitary conditions

  • Missing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors


First step for tenants: Confirm the property's in unincorporated Multnomah County using tools like PortlandMaps.com (check for no city jurisdiction). Then, report via phone (503-988-8657) or online form (multco.tfaforms.net/176—you can even upload photos).


What happens next? A county housing inspector calls back, schedules an inspection (with tenant access for interior), and checks both inside and outside using detailed checklists. You'll get a report outlining any violations—sent to both tenant and landlord.


Landlords get 30 days typically to fix issues. The focus starts with voluntary compliance: a Request for Voluntary Compliance notice spells out what's needed and the deadline. Meet it, and you're good—no further action.


Miss the deadline? Things escalate to a Notice of Violation, which includes calculated civil fines. You have 14 days to appeal (with a $250 fee), leading to a public hearing with a Hearings Officer.


No appeal or lost appeal? Final order requires fixes plus fine payment. Fines accrue if unpaid, and after 60 days, the county can slap a lien on your property.


Resolved? They release the lien and close the case. It's all about public health protection, but repeated or egregious issues can rack up costs quickly—fines vary by violation severity, though exact schedules aren't publicly detailed online; they emphasize resolution over punishment at first. In my experience as long as you communicate with them and you actually are taking steps toward fixing the problem then they will continue to work with you.


This process keeps rentals safe without overregulating like the city does. But remember, state habitability rules still apply on top—tenants could pursue those separately if needed.


Exterior of a rental house in Multnomah County Oregon
A rental home in Multnomah County—beautiful, but subject to those health and safety standards!

Bonus: Multnomah County's Landlord Guarantee and Incentive Programs


One brighter side of county involvement? Programs to encourage landlords to rent to higher-risk or voucher-holding tenants, with built-in protections for you.

The statewide Housing Choice Landlord Guarantee Program (administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services) covers damages beyond normal wear for Section 8 or VASH voucher tenants (post-2014 leases). It's first-come, first-served with limited funding—apply online or email Landlord.Guarantee@hcs.oregon.gov.


Locally, through the Joint Office of Homeless Services, you've got Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance (RLRA)—a subsidy program similar to Section 8, managed by Home Forward in Multnomah, allowing fair market rents with supportive services.


And Move-In Multnomah offers sweet incentives: rent guarantees up to 12 months, holding fees for vacant units, damage coverage beyond deposits, and a hotline to case managers. These make renting to folks exiting homelessness less risky—definitely worth checking if you're open to voucher tenants.


Wrapping It Up: How Much Regulation from Each Level?


In the end, about 80-85% of Multnomah County rental laws come from the state (ORS 90 basics), 10-15% from Portland city code (for in-city properties), and just 5-10% from the county itself—mostly health/safety enforcement in unincorporated spots plus supportive programs. It's layered, but knowing your property's exact location is key.


Stay educated, document everything, and reach out to PAROA if you need forms or advice—we're here to help you navigate without the drama.


Stay compliant out there,

Mr. Portland Landlord

Portland Area Rental Owners Association


Sources:

NWRPM vertical ad(final).png
Portland Area Rental Owners Association

12725 SW Millikan Way
Suite 300
Beaverton, OR 97005

bottom of page