Understanding Portland's Application and Screening Regulation (commonly known as the FAIR Ordinance) is essential for any property owner operating within the city limits. Implemented to eliminate housing barriers, the ordinance strictly dictates how landlords advertise rentals, process applications, and evaluate prospective residents.
1. The 72-Hour Open Application Period
Before accepting rental applications, landlords in Portland must provide a public notice at least 72 hours in advance. This notice must state when applications will officially open, the screening criteria, and whether the unit is an Accessible Dwelling Unit. Any application received prior to the open window must be time-stamped with an 8-hour penalty delay.
2. Low-Barrier Screening Criteria vs. Individual Assessment
The FAIR Ordinance offers landlords two pathways for screening applicants: Low-Barrier Criteria, which sets baseline limits defined by the city (e.g., credit scores down to 500, income-to-rent ratios at 2–2.5× rent depending on the tier, and specific limits on criminal history lookbacks); and Self-Selected Criteria, where if a landlord chooses stricter criteria and an applicant fails to meet them, the landlord is legally required to perform an individual assessment before denying the application.
3. Security Deposit Limits and Itemization
Under the ordinance, security deposits inside Portland city limits cannot exceed one month's rent. Furthermore, move-in and move-out condition reports require detailed photo documentation to justify any deposit withholdings upon turnover.
How PMNW Group Protects You: We maintain standardized, legally reviewed screening templates that automate the 72-hour notice rule, apply compliant low-barrier criteria, and log all application processing timestamps to shield owners from technical violations.