Washington County has no general rental registration or landlord licensing program. Rentals are governed by Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORS 90) and state habitability standards. Portland operates a registry, but the county does not.
Unincorporated Washington County does not require landlords to register rental properties or obtain a business license for residential rentals. This contrasts with Portland, which requires Residential Rental Registration and a Schedule R tax return. Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Tigard also do not operate rental registries. Oregon's statewide habitability standards under ORS 90.320 apply: working plumbing, heat, smoke/CO alarms, weatherproofing, lead disclosure for pre-1978 units, and safe electrical. Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher units are subject to HUD HQS inspections. Oregon law (ORS 90.316) requires carbon monoxide alarms in all rentals with fuel-burning appliances.
Habitability failures: tenant remedies under ORS 90.360-90.370 including repair-and-deduct, rent reduction, or termination. Missing CO/smoke alarms: fines up to $250 per violation. No county registration penalty (not required).
Washington County, OR
Washington County noise control is governed by Chapter 8.24 of the Code of Ordinances. Business noise violations are handled by the Solid Waste & Recycling P...
Washington County, OR
Washington County requires electrical permits for Level 2 EV chargers under OAR 918-311-0065. HOAs cannot prohibit EV charger installation on owner property ...
Washington County, OR
Washington County Sheriff enforces parking regulations in unincorporated areas. Parking against traffic, storing vehicles on streets, parking over 18 inches ...
Washington County, OR
Washington County Sheriff's Office tags and tows abandoned vehicles on public rights-of-way under ORS 819.110 and county Chapter 8.16. A vehicle on public st...
Washington County, OR
Washington County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of foundation to top of wall (CDC 419-4). Walls su...
Washington County, OR
Washington County Community Development Code §411 permits standard residential fencing materials — cedar, vinyl, composite, wrought iron — and prohibits barb...
See how Washington County's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.