Lane County, Oregon: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (statewide small claims department only). E-filing: Yes. Court: Lane County Circuit Court - Small Claims. Statewide filing fee: $57 for claims of $2,500 or less; $102 for claims over $2,500 through $10,000.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (statewide small claims department only)
Statewide filing fee	$57 for claims of $2,500 or less; $102 for claims over $2,500 through $10,000
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Oregon	6 years.
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. 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.
Penalty formula	tenant may recover twice the amount withheld without a written accounting, or twice the amount withheld in bad faith. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	ORS 90.300

The fee depends on how much you claim; the court's schedule above shows the tiers.

Where to file

Lane County Circuit Court - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Eugene

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.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Oregon for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Lane County

County median gross rent: $1,287 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$1,021
1 bedroom	$976
2 bedrooms	$1,302
3 bedrooms	$1,612
4 bedrooms	$1,650

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,302; two months is $2,604. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,302.

State legal maximum deposit in Oregon: No statewide statutory maximum under ORS 90.300. Local limits may apply (e.g., City of Portland code caps). Landlord may not charge pet security deposit for service/companion animals required as reasonable accommodation.

Total households in Lane County: 159,509.

Renter households: 64,786 (40.6% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 5.3%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Lane County, $1,302 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $10,000 (statewide small claims department only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Coburg
Cottage Grove
Creswell
Dunes City
Eugene
Florence
Junction City
Lowell
Oakridge
Springfield
Veneta
Westfir

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

Courthouse details

Address: 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Statewide e-filing portal

Statewide filing service linked by the judiciary; court and case eligibility may vary.

Statewide self-help centre: Oregon Judicial Department Self-Help Center

From the state court directory; not confirmed against the court's own page

Court contact source

Statewide help

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.
Phone: (888) 585-9638

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Oregon security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 31 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Oregon: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Oregon law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

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.

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Free Oregon template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Oregon law (ORS 90.300), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 31 calendar days after the tenancy terminates and the tenant delivers possession to the landlord.

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lane County?

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

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Oregon: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Lane County Circuit Court - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Eugene. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.