Portland approves relocation fee ordinance, effective immediately


The City Council spent nearly six and a half hours listening to testimony and discussing a proposed relocation fee.

Share this article!


The ordinance requires landlords to pay tenants a fee for no-cause evictions or if rents are raised more than 10%.

The bill takes effect immediately and sunsets in October along with the city’s housing emergency. Landlords will now be required to pay between $2,900 and $4,500 to tenants, depending on the size of the unit. The fee is based on rental averages city-wide and is intended to cover first and last month’s rent, as well as a security deposit.

The issue was championed by Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who noted she has been “living and breathing affordable housing rights for tenants for 2 years.”

The ordinance will impact ongoing no-cause evictions and rent hikes. Landlords will have 30 days to either rescind the eviction, lower rent increases or pay the relocation fee. (This will impact tenants of the Normandy Apartments, for example, who received notice of 100% rent increases this week).

Check out the tweets below for an overview of the discussion.