Oregon ORS 659A.421 and Portland City Code 30.01.086 prohibit Portland landlords from refusing to rent or imposing different terms based on a tenant's lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, SSI/SSDI, VA benefits, child support, and other government or third-party rental assistance.
ORS 659A.421(1)(g) defines 'source of income' broadly to include any lawful, verifiable income, including wages, retirement, public assistance benefits, child support, and all federal, state, or local subsidies including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Discrimination includes refusing to rent, refusing to negotiate, imposing different terms, advertising preferences, or using screening criteria that have the effect of excluding voucher holders. ORS 659A.421(8) provides that landlords may only apply income standards to the tenant's portion of rent after the voucher subsidy is deducted - a landlord cannot require '3x rent' income on the full contract rent if the voucher pays most of it. Portland's FAIR Ordinance (PCC 30.01.086) requires standardized screening criteria publicly posted and prohibits source-of-income discrimination at the local level, with civil penalties enforced by the Portland Housing Bureau. Both BOLI Civil Rights Division and HUD (when federal vouchers are involved) provide additional enforcement.
BOLI may award compensatory damages, civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney fees (ORS 659A.850-885). Portland Housing Bureau imposes additional FAIR civil penalties. Private right of action exists in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
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