Lincoln County, Oregon: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (statewide small claims department only). Court: Lincoln County Circuit Court - Small Claims.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (statewide small claims department only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
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

Where to file

Lincoln County Circuit Court - Small Claims

Courthouse city: Newport

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 checked 2026-09-20

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

Rent and deposits in Lincoln County

County median gross rent: $1,150 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$959
1 bedroom	$858
2 bedrooms	$1,175
3 bedrooms	$1,446
4 bedrooms	$1,851

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,175; two months is $2,350. 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 $1,175.

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 Lincoln County: 22,829.

Renter households: 6,537 (28.6% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 11%. 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 Lincoln County, $1,175 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.

Depoe Bay
Lincoln City
Newport
Siletz
Toledo
Waldport
Yachats

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

Courthouse details

Address: 225 West Olive Street, Newport, Oregon 97365

Phone: 541-265-4236

Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Mon-Fri

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

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Free help in Lincoln County

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.
Phone: (503) 224-4086

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.

Get the Oregon kit for $29

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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 Lincoln County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Oregon: 6 years.

Where do I file?

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