Do this today
- Keep the paper. Photograph every page.
- Write the date, time, and how it arrived.
- Look for Multnomah County Circuit Court, a case number, or an appearance date.
- If a court is named, call legal aid the same day. Do not guess the deadline.
What were you handed?
| The paper | What it usually is | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord notice | A step before a court case. Not a judgment, and not a lockout. | Date it. Keep the original. Write down how it arrived. Check whether it offers a chance to fix the problem. |
| Court papers | A case has been filed. A court name, case number, or appearance date is running. | Call legal aid the same day. Do not ignore it. Bring the papers and a timeline of how you received them. |
| Lockout or shutoff | Locks changed, belongings moved, or utilities cut on an occupied unit. | Call 211 and legal aid today. In most states a landlord may not do this personally. Police non-emergency can document it. |
Is a notice in Portland the same as being evicted?
No. A written landlord notice is a step. Multnomah County Circuit Court is where a possession case is heard. Papers that name a court, a case number, or an appearance date mean a case has been filed — that is same-day legal-aid work. Oregon’s Chapter 90 is the statewide book. Portland’s Rental Services Office is the local desk. Coverage of any Portland-only screening or relocation rule is an address-and-ordinance question.
What should I be careful not to do?
Do not ignore court papers. Do not assume a lockout is lawful because a notice looks official. Do not sign a move-out or cash-for-keys paper you have not read with an advocate. Portland Rental Services Office is not a substitute for legal aid once a case is filed.
What does Portland’s Rental Services Office actually do?
It publishes local rules, screens some notices, and answers coverage questions for City ordinances. It is not a court and it is not legal aid. Multnomah County Circuit Court hears possession cases. Oregon’s landlord-tenant chapter is still the floor.
Is a Portland landlord notice the same as being evicted?
No. A written notice is a step. An FED filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court is a case. If the paper names the court, call legal aid the same day. Rental Services can explain local notice rules; it cannot appear for you.
Oregon CAT, oregonrentersrights.org, or 211info — which one?
Community Alliance of Tenants (oregoncat.org) is a tenants union — education and organizing. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help handbook hub and a pointer to the Eviction Defense Project. 211info.org is regional 211 for rent, shelter, food, and utilities. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. Portland Rental Services is the City office. They are not interchangeable.
The Portland layer
Oregon’s Chapter 90 is the statewide book. Portland’s Rental Services Office is the local desk. Coverage of any Portland-only screening or relocation rule is an address-and-ordinance question.
Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.100 to 90.875) is the Oregon floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Portland questions
Can my landlord in Portland evict me without going to court?
No. Changing locks or shutting off utilities is not how possession is completed. Multnomah County Circuit Court is the court. If the paper names it, call legal aid the same day.
How long does an eviction notice last in Portland?
That number is in Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and it can depend on the reason, the housing type, and any local ordinance. This site does not reprint it. Open the chapter or call legal aid with the paper in your hand.
What does Portland’s Rental Services Office actually do?
It publishes local rules, screens some notices, and answers coverage questions for City ordinances. It is not a court and it is not legal aid. Multnomah County Circuit Court hears possession cases. Oregon’s landlord-tenant chapter is still the floor.
Is a Portland landlord notice the same as being evicted?
No. A written notice is a step. An FED filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court is a case. If the paper names the court, call legal aid the same day. Rental Services can explain local notice rules; it cannot appear for you.
Oregon CAT, oregonrentersrights.org, or 211info — which one?
Community Alliance of Tenants (oregoncat.org) is a tenants union — education and organizing. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help handbook hub and a pointer to the Eviction Defense Project. 211info.org is regional 211 for rent, shelter, food, and utilities. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. Portland Rental Services is the City office. They are not interchangeable.
What number should I call in Portland?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Portland Rental Services Office does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org