Oregon HOA parking laws (2026 guide)

Oregon HOA parking enforcement is governed by the Oregon Planned Community Act, codified at ORS Chapter 94. Private-property towing is regulated separately under ORS § 98.810 et seq.. This page summarizes what every board member and property manager in Oregon needs to know before issuing fines, calling a tow truck, or rewriting parking rules.

Governing statute

The Oregon Planned Community Act (ORS Chapter 94) provides the statewide framework for Oregon homeowners' associations. The recorded declaration of covenants (CC&Rs) for each individual community provides the specific parking and enforcement rules, which must be consistent with state law. Provisions in a CC&R that conflict with the statute are generally unenforceable.

Towing in Oregon

Oregon permits private-property towing under ORS § 98.810 et seq.. Tows require 24 hours of notice in most circumstances, and compliant signage must be posted at every entrance to the community before any tow is valid. A tow that fails the signage or notice requirements is generally voidable and may expose both the HOA and the towing company to liability for the owner's return costs.

Fine limits in Oregon

ORS § 94.630 permits 'reasonable' fines after notice and hearing. The Oregon Real Estate Agency oversees HOA filings.

Oregon-specific enforcement detail

Oregon's ORS § 98.812 requires towing companies to photograph vehicles before and after towing and retain those photos for 2 years — a documentation burden that has effectively eliminated 'rogue' tows in most Portland-metro HOAs.

What this means for Oregon HOA boards

Whatever your community's covenants say, a parking enforcement action in Oregon is only as defensible as the evidence and procedure behind it. Every fine should have a written, board-adopted enforcement policy on file that members have received; documented notice of the violation (date, time, location, photo) before any escalation; an opportunity for the homeowner to be heard before the fine is imposed; a clear audit trail showing the same rule was enforced consistently against all owners (selective enforcement is the most common reason Oregon HOAs lose parking disputes in court); and for tows, photos of compliant signage at the entrance and of the violating vehicle, timestamped and retained per ORS § 98.810 et seq..

Oregon communities SmartLotIQ serves

SmartLotIQ is used by HOAs, condo associations, and gated communities across Oregon, including Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro, Bend.

Frequently asked questions

What law governs HOA parking in Oregon?

Oregon HOAs operate under the Oregon Planned Community Act, codified at ORS Chapter 94. The recorded declaration of covenants for each individual community provides the specific parking and enforcement rules, which must be consistent with state law.

Can an HOA tow a vehicle in Oregon?

Yes, Oregon permits private-property towing under ORS § 98.810 et seq., but the tow is only valid if the property has compliant signage posted at every entrance and the vehicle is in clear violation of a published parking rule.

Is there a cap on HOA parking fines in Oregon?

ORS § 94.630 permits 'reasonable' fines after notice and hearing. The Oregon Real Estate Agency oversees HOA filings.

What's the most important Oregon-specific HOA parking rule?

Oregon's ORS § 98.812 requires towing companies to photograph vehicles before and after towing and retain those photos for 2 years — a documentation burden that has effectively eliminated 'rogue' tows in most Portland-metro HOAs.

This page summarizes publicly available Oregon statutes and is for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice. Statutes are amended periodically; consult a licensed Oregon attorney before taking enforcement action.

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