Clackamas County, Oregon: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Clackamas County Circuit Court - Small Claims in Oregon City. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: see the fee table. Claims up to $10,000. Oregon return time: 31 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,681. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Clackamas County Circuit Court - Small Claims
City	Oregon City
Address	1000 Courthouse Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone	503-655-8447
Hours	Building Hours: 7am - 5pm (Monday - Friday); Public Service Counters: 9am - 4pm (Monday - Friday)
Statewide filing fee	$57 for claims of $2,500 or less; $102 for claims over $2,500 through $10,000
E-filing	Yes, see filing page
Small claims limit	$10,000 (statewide small claims department only)
State deposit return deadline	31 calendar days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession to the landlord. 31 calendar days after the earliest of waiver of abandoned-property process, removal of the dwelling/home from the space, storage/disposition under ORS 90.425/90.675, or sale under those statutes. Applies when: security deposit or prepaid rent secures a tenancy for a space for a manufactured dwelling or floating home the tenant owns and occupies, and the dwelling or home is abandoned.
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	ORS 90.300

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (statewide small claims department only).

Your dates and your letter

Calculate your deadline and next letter

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Oregon letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Oregon small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Oregon kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Your free letter

Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.

Write and mail my letter for $49

Get the Oregon kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

Oregon statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
Deposit return	31 days	after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession to the landlord
security deposit or prepaid rent secures a tenancy for a space for a manufactured dwelling or floating home the tenant owns and occupies, and the dwelling or home is abandoned	31 days	after the earliest of waiver of abandoned-property process, removal of the dwelling/home from the space, storage/disposition under ORS 90.425/90.675, or sale under those statutes

Oregon return rule: 31 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Clackamas County Circuit Court - Small Claims. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Clackamas County.
The Oregon business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Oregon Secretary of State (check the link; report an error if it is wrong)

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Clackamas County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,508	$1,508	$3,016	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,681	$1,681	$3,362	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$2,022	$2,022	$4,044	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$2,478	$2,478	$4,956	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Clackamas County compare with other Oregon counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,681: rank 3 of 36 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 28.7% of households rent in Clackamas County.

Clackamas County two-bedroom rent $1,681, rank 3 of 36 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Washington County	$1,746
Multnomah County	$1,688
Clackamas County	$1,681
Deschutes County	$1,556
Benton County	$1,376
Marion County	$1,338

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 36 of 36 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Clackamas County

Barlow
Canby
Estacada
Gladstone
Happy Valley
Johnson City
Lake Oswego
Milwaukie
Molalla
Oregon City
Portland
Rivergrove
Sandy
Tualatin
West Linn
Wilsonville

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Legal Aid Services of Oregon: Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income residents, including housing and tenant problems; phone is the Portland regional office. Use the locations directory for the office serving another listed county.
Oregon Law Center - Eviction Defense Project: Free legal help for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction throughout Oregon, regardless of immigration status. Normally requires an eviction court case number; Multnomah County tenants may also seek help with termination notices before a case is filed.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Clackamas County?

Statewide filing fee: $57 for claims of $2,500 or less; $102 for claims over $2,500 through $10,000.

Where do I file a deposit claim in Clackamas County?

Clackamas County Circuit Court - Small Claims is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.