Up to $10,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Oregon, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Circuit Court (small-claims department), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: Oregon generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $100 (About $50 (≤$2,500) or $100 ($2,500–$10,000), plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Or. Rev. Stat. § 46.405; deadlines: Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 12.080, 12.110. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Note on deadlines: Contract and property damage 6 yrs; personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Oregon: Oregon unpaid loan · Oregon property damage · Oregon unpaid rent · Oregon contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: Washington ($10,000, 6 years) · California ($12,500, 4 years) · Idaho ($5,000, 5 years) · Nevada ($10,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026