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Guide Oregon (OR)

Oregon utility billing and RUBS: what landlords should know

By MeterEase · Updated

Oregon spells out how landlords bill utility charges. ORS 90.315 lets a landlord pass through utility or service charges if the written rental agreement says so, bill in writing within 30 days of the provider’s bill, explain how the charge is allocated among tenants, and provide or offer the provider’s bill.

What the Oregon sources say

  • If the written rental agreement provides for it, a landlord may require a tenant to pay utility or service charges billed to the landlord for the unit or a common area. Common-area charges are described separately in the agreement (ORS 90.315(4)(a)).
  • The landlord bills the tenant in writing within 30 days after receiving the provider’s bill, stating rent and the utility charge separately (ORS 90.315(4)(b)).
  • The agreement or bill explains how the provider assesses the charge and how it is allocated among tenants when one bill covers several, and the bill includes the provider’s bill or an offer to inspect it.
  • A utility charge generally includes only the cost billed by the provider, with limited exceptions in ORS 90.315(4)(c).
  • If a landlord fails to follow these rules, the tenant may recover the greater of one month’s rent or twice the amount wrongfully charged (ORS 90.315(4)(f)).

Each point links to its source at the bottom of this page. Rules change, and cities, counties and utilities can add their own. Read the source before you rely on it.

Common lease and disclosure practices

  • A written rental agreement that provides for the charge, with common-area charges listed separately.
  • An explanation of how the bill is allocated among tenants, in the agreement or each bill.
  • A written bill within 30 days, with the provider’s bill attached or offered for inspection.

Electricity and gas

ORS 90.315 covers utility or service charges generally. Check your utility’s terms before billing electricity.

How to split it fairly

Where a formula split is allowed, pick one method, put it in the lease, and use it every month. Water tends to follow the number of people, so occupants or a blend of occupants and square footage is common. Trash is usually split equally per unit. Take common-area use out first if your rules call for it, and never bill tenants more in total than the master bill plus any fee your rules allow.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes public sources in plain English as of the date above. It is not legal advice and does not mean any billing method complies with the law for your property. Check your lease and local rules, and talk to a Oregon attorney if you are unsure.

Other states

Run this split every month without the spreadsheet

MeterEase reads the master bill PDF, applies your method and vacancy rule, and emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers. Plans start at $14/month.

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Questions

Can Oregon landlords bill tenants for water?

Under ORS 90.315, if the written rental agreement provides for it, with a written bill within 30 days, an explanation of the allocation and access to the provider’s bill. This is general information, not legal advice.

How fast must an Oregon landlord bill utilities?

Within 30 days after receiving the provider’s bill.

Can common-area costs be billed in Oregon?

ORS 90.315 allows charges for a common area available to the tenant if the written agreement describes them separately from the unit’s charges.

Related guides

Sources

Example numbers on this page are made up to show the math. This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules differ by state, city and utility.