Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Cornelius is a growing city of approximately 13,000 residents in Washington County, Oregon, located in the Tualatin Valley west of Hillsboro. With a significant Latino community and a working-class renter population, many Cornelius tenants rely on affordable rentals and need to understand their rights under Oregon law. Like all Oregon cities, Cornelius does not have its own rent control ordinance, but renters here benefit from some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the country.
Oregon's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORS Chapter 90) governs the landlord-tenant relationship in Cornelius. This law covers everything from security deposits and habitability to eviction procedures and anti-retaliation protections. Oregon was also the first state in the nation to pass a statewide rent stabilization law, which limits annual rent increases and provides just cause eviction protections for long-term tenants.
This page provides an overview of tenant rights in Cornelius, Oregon, based on state law as of April 2026. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Renters facing urgent housing issues should contact a qualified attorney or local legal aid organization.
Statewide Rent Stabilization — Not Traditional Rent Control: Cornelius has no local rent control ordinance, and Oregon state law actually prohibits local governments from enacting rent control under ORS 91.225, which preempts any city or county rent control measure. However, Oregon replaced that void in 2019 with a statewide rent stabilization law.
Under ORS 90.323, landlords may not increase rent by more than 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers, with a maximum cap of 10% in any 12-month period. This limit applies to tenancies that have been in place for at least one year. Landlords must provide written notice of any rent increase at least 90 days before it takes effect (ORS 90.323(3)).
Exemptions apply: buildings that received a certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years are exempt from the rent increase cap, as are certain affordable housing units and single-family homes rented by individual owners who are not corporations or REITs. Even with these exemptions, landlords still cannot raise rent more than once in any 12-month period for covered tenancies. In practice, Cornelius renters in newer apartment complexes may not receive this protection, while tenants in older rentals generally will.
Habitability (ORS 90.320): Every landlord in Oregon must maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This means the unit must be structurally safe, weatherproof, have working plumbing and heating, comply with applicable housing codes, and be free from pest infestations. Landlords must make repairs within a reasonable time after receiving written notice from the tenant. If a landlord fails to address a serious habitability issue, tenants may have the right to terminate the lease, repair and deduct costs (up to one month's rent), or pursue legal remedies under ORS 90.360 and ORS 90.365.
Security Deposit Rules (ORS 90.300): Oregon law does not cap the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit, but landlords must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 31 days of the tenant vacating the unit. Deductions are only permitted for unpaid rent or damages beyond normal wear and tear. If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant may recover twice the wrongfully withheld amount plus actual damages.
Notice Requirements (ORS 90.427): For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must give at least 30 days' written notice to terminate if the tenancy has lasted less than one year, or 60 days' notice if the tenancy has lasted one year or more. After 12 months of occupancy, landlords must also provide a valid just cause reason for termination (see Eviction section).
Anti-Retaliation Protections (ORS 90.385): Oregon law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise their legal rights, such as complaining about habitability issues, contacting a government agency, or organizing with other tenants. If a landlord retaliates — by raising rent, reducing services, or attempting to evict — within 90 days of protected activity, the law presumes retaliation. Tenants may recover one month's rent plus actual damages if retaliation is proven.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (ORS 90.375): Landlords in Oregon are strictly prohibited from attempting to evict a tenant through self-help methods. This means a landlord may not change the locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities (electricity, water, gas) as a means of forcing a tenant to leave. Any landlord who engages in self-help eviction may be liable to the tenant for actual damages or two months' rent, whichever is greater.
Domestic Violence Protections (ORS 90.453): Oregon provides specific protections for tenants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. These tenants may terminate a lease early without penalty upon providing proper documentation, and landlords may not discriminate against tenants based on their status as a survivor.
Oregon's security deposit rules are governed by ORS 90.300. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit in Cornelius or anywhere else in Oregon. Landlords may also charge a separate, non-refundable application screening fee (capped under ORS 90.295) and, in some cases, a fee for pets.
Return Deadline: After a tenant vacates the rental unit, the landlord has 31 days to return the security deposit, along with a written, itemized accounting of any deductions (ORS 90.300(7)). The statement must explain the reason for each deduction and the dollar amount withheld.
Permissible Deductions: Landlords may only deduct for unpaid rent, unpaid utility charges owed under the lease, or physical damage to the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear. Normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls, carpet worn from regular use, or small nail holes — cannot be deducted (ORS 90.300(6)).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord willfully fails to return a deposit or provide an accounting within the 31-day window, or makes deductions the landlord knows are not permitted, the tenant is entitled to recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus any actual damages suffered (ORS 90.300(13)). This makes it important for tenants to document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with photos or video and to provide a forwarding address in writing so the landlord can send the deposit and accounting.
Oregon's eviction process — formally called a Forcible Entry and Wrongful Detainer (FED) action — is governed by ORS Chapter 90 and ORS Chapter 105. Landlords in Cornelius must follow this process exactly; self-help eviction is illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written termination notice. The type of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Just Cause Requirement: Under Oregon's statewide just cause eviction law (ORS 90.427(5)), once a tenant has lived in a unit for 12 months or more, a landlord may only terminate the tenancy for specific enumerated reasons. These include nonpayment of rent, material lease violations, the landlord or landlord's immediate family intending to move in, the landlord intending to demolish or substantially renovate the unit, or the landlord deciding to convert the unit to a non-residential use. Landlords must specify the just cause reason in the written notice. If the landlord is terminating for certain no-fault reasons (like move-in by landlord's family or renovation), the tenant may be entitled to relocation assistance equal to one month's rent (ORS 90.427(12)).
Step 3 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not vacate by the end of the notice period, the landlord may file a Forcible Entry and Wrongful Detainer (FED) complaint in Washington County Circuit Court or the local Justice Court. The court will set a hearing date, typically within 7–14 days of filing.
Step 4 — Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. The tenant has the opportunity to present defenses, such as the landlord's failure to maintain habitability, procedural errors in the notice, or retaliation. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession.
Step 5 — Writ of Execution: If the tenant still does not vacate after a court judgment, the landlord may request a Writ of Execution. A sheriff's deputy will then remove the tenant from the property. Only law enforcement can physically remove a tenant — the landlord has no authority to do so unilaterally.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (ORS 90.375): Landlords may not change locks, remove doors, shut off utilities, or take any other action to force a tenant out without a court order. Violations may result in the landlord owing the tenant two months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Oregon and the city of Cornelius may change, and individual circumstances vary widely. Renters facing eviction, habitability disputes, or other housing legal matters should consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization in Washington County. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and encourages all users to verify current law with an attorney or by reviewing the Oregon Revised Statutes directly at oregonlegislature.gov.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.