Rental Units Must Register with City to Avoid Fee

Property owners with income-generating residential rental units are required to register those units with the City of Corvallis to avoid a new penalty fee set to take effect on July 1.

Registration of residential rental units has been mandatory since the Rental Housing Program launched in 1999, but a newly passed ordinance clarifies property owners’ responsibilities and establishes a penalty for those who do not register their residential rental properties with the City.

“Most large property owners and management firms in Corvallis have already registered their units,” said Tracy Oulman, the City's Housing and Neighborhoods Coordinator. “Property owners with just one or two units often misunderstand or overlook the rental housing registration program. Our goal is to encourage those property owners to register their units as soon as possible to avoid the penalty.”

Under the current program, property owners must provide basic contact information for each residential rental unit and pay a $14 fee per unit. Registration of rental units must be completed within 30 days of closing on the purchase of the property.

Registration can be completed online at www.corvallisoregon.gov/RHPupdate. The online form can also be used to add, remove or update existing registration information.

Failure to register a rental unit can result in a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000.

For more information on the Rental Housing Program, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/rentalhousing.