UPDATE IN PROGRESS - Rental Housing Protections for Immigrants in Oregon

In Oregon, landlords are not allowed to treat you unfairly because of your immigration status. 

A landlord is the person who owns or manages the place you rent. The law protects you from discrimination (unfair treatment) when you apply for housing or live in a rental. 

What landlords can’t do 

Your landlord cannot: 

• Ask about your immigration or citizenship status, unless they are required to ask because of a federal housing program like Section 8.
• Refuse to rent to you because of your immigration status, citizenship, race, national origin, religion, or skin color.
• Reject your rental application just because you—or someone in your household—doesn’t have a Social Security number or immigration documents.
• Report you or your family to immigration authorities (or threaten to) to scare you or punish you for standing up for your rights. 

Landlords must also follow Oregon's other rental housing laws. 

Can a landlord ask for identification? 

Yes. Landlords can ask for identification to verify who you are when you apply to rent a home. 

Can a landlord require a Social Security number or birth certificate?  

No. They cannot require a specific form of ID. They must accept any of the following forms of ID: 

• Social Security card or other proof of a Social Security number
• Birth certificate
• Green card (Permanent Resident Card)
• Immigrant or nonimmigrant visa
• ITIN card (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
• Passport, driver’s license or other government-issued ID (even if expired)
• Non-government ID or a combination of documents that reasonably show your identity 

What to do if you’re discriminated against 

What you do next depends on your goals. 

1. You might want the landlord to stop breaking the law, so what happened to you doesn’t happen to others.
2. Or you might want to take legal action and get money for the harm you experienced. 

You can choose one or both. 

Option 1: If you just want your landlord to follow the law  

If you just want your landlord to follow the law, or aren’t sure what to do, you can report the discrimination to the Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO).  

FHCO can help you understand your rights, investigate, gather evidence, educate the landlord, and refer the case to a lawyer or government agency if the landlord keeps breaking the law.   

Option 2: If you want justice for yourself 

If you want to pursue a legal claim against the landlord, you can:   

1. File a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). BOLI investigates and helps people who have experienced illegal housing discrimination. Learn more at the BOLI Fair Housing page. 

2. File a complaint with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD also investigates and helps people who have experienced illegal housing discrimination. Learn more at HUD’s Report Housing Discrimination page. 

3. To sue for money, talk to a lawyer who handles housing discrimination cases. You can find a lawyer using the Legal Directory on this site or by contacting Oregon’s Lawyer Referral Service.     

Act quickly! If you think you experienced housing discrimination, you have only:   

• One year to file a complaint with a government agency like BOLI or HUD. 

• Two years to file a lawsuit in court. 

If you wait too long, you may lose your chance to take action.

Where can I find these laws? 

In 2025, Oregon passed Senate Bill 599. This bill updated two laws—ORS 90.303 and ORS 90.390—to add additional anti-discrimination protections for immigrants. 

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