Medford, OR Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum room temperature
- 68°F (20°C) in habitable rooms
- Minimum hot water temp
- 120°F at fixtures
- Enforcing agency
- Police Dept. Code Enforcement Division
- Adopted code edition
- 2012 International Property Maintenance Code
- Max penalty
- $5,000, or $1,000/day continuing
Summary
Medford's Property Maintenance Code requires every rental dwelling unit to have heating facilities that can hold at least 68°F, measured three feet above the floor and two feet from exterior walls in every habitable room. The Medford Police Department's Code Enforcement Division enforces this and the rest of the adopted IPMC under Medford Municipal Code § 9.901.
602.3 Heat Supply. Every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68°F (20°C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor and 2 feet (610 mm) from exterior walls in all habitable rooms at the design temperature. [Amended]
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
901 to fit local conditions. 901(5): every dwelling unit must have heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68°F (20°C), measured at a point three feet above the floor and two feet from exterior walls, in all habitable rooms at the design temperature. 2, bars relying on cooking appliances, portable space heaters, or open-flame or inverted heaters to satisfy that requirement; only approved, permanently installed heating appliances count. 2 requires dwelling units to carry at least a 60-amp, 120/240-volt electrical service. 1. A tenant or inspector reporting a habitability problem is reporting a violation of this same adopted code, not a separate ordinance.
Violations & Fines
A rental unit that cannot maintain 68°F, lacks connected plumbing, or fails other adopted IPMC standards is in violation of Medford Municipal Code § 9.901, enforced under the Chapter 9 penalty scheme at §§ 9.660-9.662: up to $5,000 in administrative civil penalties, or $1,000 per day for a continuing violation, following a Notice of Civil Violation. Owners of qualifying low-income or elderly-occupied properties may seek a hardship waiver of up to three years under § 9.910.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Medford landlord use a space heater to meet the heat requirement?
What temperature does hot water need to reach in a Medford rental?
Who enforces habitability standards for Medford rentals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
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