Salem, OR Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Purpose
- "minimum habitability requirements" (SRC 59.002)
- Applies to
- all residential structures citywide
- Hot water standard
- 120°F minimum, 15 psi
- Heating standard
- 68°F at 3 ft above floor
- Electrical
- GFCI and AFCI required
- Civil penalty ceiling
- $2,000 per violation
- Enforcer
- City Inspector, SRC 59.600
Summary
Salem's Housing Code, SRC chapter 59, sets minimum habitability standards for every residential structure in the city. Landlords must provide 68-degree heating capacity, 120-degree hot water, safe wiring and a structure free of pest infestation, all enforced by the City's Inspector under SRC 59.002.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum habitability requirements for the protection of life, limb, health and property and for the safety and welfare of the general public and the owners, occupants, and users of residential structures. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize any work for which a permit is required under the Building Code other than in accordance with all applicable provisions of such Building Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
003 applies chapter 59 to every residential structure in the City, from single-family homes to apartment houses and hotels; a structure lawfully built before September 9, 1975 may continue if kept in compliance with either this chapter or the code it was built under. The chapter's numbered sections translate that purpose into pass/fail standards. 190(b), every required sink, lavatory, bathtub and shower must have hot and cold running water at not less than 15 psi, and water heating equipment must deliver water of at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit at any fixture on demand.
195(b) requires permanently installed heating equipment able to hold 68 degrees Fahrenheit at three feet above the floor in every habitable room; portable heaters do not satisfy the requirement, and open-flame or inverted fuel-burning heaters are banned outright. 200 requires a safe electrical system with GFCI protection on outlets within six feet of a water source and AFCI protection on sleeping-room outlets. 235 requires the structure be kept free of insect and rodent infestation, with the Inspector able to order professional treatment if ordinary extermination fails. 600, who may issue an enforcement order once a violation is confirmed by inspection.
Violations & Fines
Maintaining a residential structure out of compliance with any habitability standard in SRC chapter 59 is an infraction under SRC 59.990(a)(1), with each day of noncompliance a separate violation, and the Court may order the owner to correct it. The City can also impose a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation under SRC 59.990(b), and agents or property managers who assist a noncompliant owner face the same civil penalty under 59.990(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must my Salem rental's heat reach?
Is my landlord required to provide hot water?
What happens if my rental fails a habitability inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
Compare Salem to another location·View the Oregon rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.