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.