How To Check if Your Landlord’s Eviction Notice Is Legal
If you rent in Oregon and your landlord wants you to move out, they must follow certain steps set by Oregon laws. These steps include:
- Give you a written eviction notice, also known as a termination notice.
- File an eviction case in court if you do not move out.
- Go through the court process and win the case.
- Wait for the sheriff to remove you after the court case ends.
Each step has its own set of rules. Your landlord cannot legally evict you unless they finish every step and follow all the rules.
This page focuses on the first step, the termination notice. It will help you see if your landlord did this step correctly and followed all the rules.
Eviction notice checklist
Did your landlord give you a written eviction notice?
A landlord cannot evict you just by telling you to leave. They must first give you a written notice. The notice must explain why the landlord wants you to move out, the date you must move out by, and other important details. These details are explained below.
Did your landlord deliver the notice in the right way?
Your landlord must give you a copy by either:
- Handing you the notice,
- Mailing it to you by regular, USPS mail,
- Posting it on your door and then mailing you a copy (but only if your rental agreement says they can do this), or
- Emailing it to you and then mailing it to you (but only if you signed something saying you agree to get email notices).
Does your landlord's notice include information for veterans?
All notices (including notices for renters who aren't veterans) must include information for veterans on where to find community resources.
Does your landlord's notice tell you the exact date (and sometimes time) you must move out by?
Your landlord's notice must always state the exact date you must move out by.
- Right: January 1, 2026.
- Wrong: 30 days from now.
In some situations, your landlord's notice must also include the exact time you must move out by. This rule applies if you get one of these notices:
- 72-hour, 10-day, or 13-day notice for not paying rent
- 24-hour notice for extreme or outrageous behavior, including domestic violence, sexual assault, or other serious crimes
- 24-hour or 48-hour notice for drug or alcohol violations if you live in drug and alcohol-free housing
- 24-hour notice for being an unauthorized occupant (squatter)
Did your landlord follow all of these rules?
If not, your landlord's notice is probably incorrect. If you want to stay in your rental or delay moving out, here are some options:
- Talk to your landlord. Explain why their notice isn't correct and ask them to withdraw it. Your landlord can give you a new notice later, but they'll have to give you more time to move.
- Talk to an outside expert. Try calling the Community Alliance of Tenants hotline, or if you are low-income, Oregon's Eviction Defense Project. These programs provide free help to tenants facing eviction in Oregon.