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Small claims · checked October 20, 2026

Small claims limit in Oregon: $10,000

Oregon caps small claims at $10,000, set by ORS 46.405(3). It ranks 13th of 51 verified jurisdictions.

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  1. 1Limit$10,000
  2. 2CourtCircuit court small claims department
  3. 3FeeSet by clerk
  4. 4RuleORS 46.405(3)

The rule in Oregon

The small claims limit in Oregon is $10,000. The rule is ORS 46.405(3); the Oregon State Legislature, ORS chapter 46 puts it this way: “may be commenced and prosecuted in the small claims department if the amount or value claimed in the action does not exceed $10,000”. The court that hears these cases: Circuit court small claims department.

Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Oregon ranks 13th from the top. That is exactly the median of $10,000. It is 4 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 40% of the $25,000 top figure. 15 other verified jurisdictions use the same $10,000 figure, including Alaska, District of Columbia, Illinois and Indiana.

Next door, California allows $12,500, Idaho allows $15,000, Nevada allows $10,000 and Washington allows $10,000. Idaho goes $5,000 further, so a dispute worth $15,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Oregon.

Worked check against the $10,000 figure: a $5,000 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $5,000 of room; a claim of exactly $10,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $10,001 is $1 over.

The source checked for Oregon does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.

Under ORS 46.405(2), a claim of $750 or less must be filed in the small claims department.

Oregon is one of the few states that also sets a floor: below $750 the small claims department is the required court, not an option.

Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Oregon sets no cap on deposits (deposit rules), so a deposit larger than $10,000 could not be claimed in full in small claims; the landlord's return deadline there is 31 days.

Idaho$15,000California$12,500Oregon$10,000Nevada$10,000Washington$10,000Median, verified$10,000
Small claims limits, Oregon against neighbouring or nearest states. Bar lengths are to scale.

Source: Oregon State Legislature, ORS chapter 46 · ORS 46.405(3) · last checked October 20, 2026.

Where the case goes

A claim within the limit is filed with the Circuit court small claims department. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.

Questions

What is the small claims limit in Oregon?

$10,000, under ORS 46.405(3). Checked October 20, 2026.

Do interest and costs count toward the Oregon limit?

The wording quoted from the source (“may be commenced and prosecuted in the small claims department if the amount or value claimed in the action does not exceed $10,000”) does not address it; the court clerk can say how the court counts them.

How much does it cost to file a small claim in Oregon?

The source checked does not publish a statewide fee; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts it.

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