ORS § 90 § 90.580
Entry to read submeter; requirement for water submeter.
Operative Text
(1) A landlord using submeter billing may install submeters to measure consumption of a utility or service. (2) After giving notice under ORS 90.725, a landlord may enter a tenant’s space to install or maintain a utility or service line or a submeter that measures the amount of a provided utility or service. The installation of a submeter may be at the connection to the space or anywhere within the space, including under the dwelling or home, if the location does not interfere with the tenant’s access to the dwelling or home. The landlord shall ensure that the submeter and the water line to which it is attached are adequately insulated or located to prevent the submeter or water line from damage from freezing or weather. (3) In addition to any other right of entry granted under ORS 90.725, a landlord or the landlord’s agent may enter a tenant’s space without consent of the tenant and without notice to the tenant for the purpose of reading a submeter. An entry made under authority of this section is subject to the following restrictions: (a) The landlord or landlord’s agent may not remain on the space for a purpose other than reading the submeter. (b) The landlord or a landlord’s agent may not enter the space more than once per month. (c) The landlord or landlord’s agent may enter the space only at reasonable times between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (4) Except as provided in ORS 90.574 (4)(a), a landlord is not required to inspect or to test submeters for accuracy. (5) A landlord shall use submeter billing for the provision of water for: (a) A manufactured dwelling park constructed after June 23, 2011. (b) Any spaces added in excess of 200 in an expansion of a manufactured dwelling park after June 23, 2011.
ORS § 90.580 governs how landlords may install, maintain, and read submeters used to measure utility or service consumption in rental spaces. Landlords are permitted to enter a tenant's space without notice or consent—but only to read a submeter, and only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., no more than once per month. For manufactured dwelling parks constructed or expanded beyond 200 spaces after June 23, 2011, submeter billing for water is mandatory rather than optional.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ORS § 90.580, operators using submeter billing must follow specific protocols when entering a tenant's space: notice is required for installation or maintenance under ORS 90.725, but no-notice entry is permitted solely for meter reading, restricted to once per month and between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Submeters and connected water lines must be adequately insulated or positioned to prevent freeze or weather damage, and their placement must not interfere with the tenant's access to the dwelling. Landlords of manufactured dwelling parks built or expanded (beyond 200 spaces) after June 23, 2011, are required by this section to use submeter billing for water service.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
ORS § 90.580 sets clear limits on when and how a landlord or their agent may enter your space in connection with a submeter: no-notice entry is only lawful for the purpose of reading the submeter, must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and may happen no more than once per month. If an entry appears to exceed these restrictions—such as occurring outside permitted hours or for a purpose beyond meter reading—tenants may have grounds to raise a violation under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Oregon can help residents understand what remedies or complaint processes may be available under ORS § 90.580 and related statutes.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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