Oregon Appeals Court Upholds Ruling in Support of Portland’s Relocation Ordinance

The
Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a 2017 decision that allows the city of Portland
to charge relocation fees when landlords raise rent by 10% or more. The Court ruled that the
relocation ordinance does not run afoul of the state’s ban on local rent
control policies, and referred the case back to the lower court. Attorney John
DiLorenzo, who represents the two landlords who initially brought the suit, plans
to file a petition with the state Supreme Court before the case is brought back
to Multnomah County. Appeals
Judge Darleen Ortega does not believe the state law prohibits any regulation
that could impact rents. Rather, she argues that the state constitution bans
rules that directly regulate how much a landlord can charge. Once a petition is
filed with the Supreme Court, the lower court cannot begin proceedings until
the Supreme Court decides whether to hear the case. Read more.