Columbia County, OR tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •Tax-foreclosed land is resold by the Board of Commissioners Office after the county takes title, usually in October or November. Parcels over $15,000 or buildable go to an in-person Sheriff's sale; smaller unbuildable parcels and Sheriff's sale leftovers may be sold by private sale.
• •The county's policy sets private-sale asking prices from the Assessor's real market value, with leftovers from a Sheriff's sale offered first come, first served at a set share of the Sheriff's sale minimum bid.
• •The delinquent foreclosure list is published each August in the local newspaper. That list is notice of the foreclosure, not an investor sale.
• •Columbia County Tax Office: 230 Strand St, St. Helens, OR 97051, (503) 397-2240. Sheriff's Office: 901 Port Avenue, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-366-4652.

Oregon rules

Redemption

Redemption in Oregon runs before the public ever buys. After judgment the parcels are held by the county for two years from the date of the judgment of foreclosure, unless redeemed sooner, and the former owner keeps possession during that period unless waste is committed. At least one year before the period ends the tax collector mails a notice of expiration of redemption, and 10 to 30 days before it ends the tax collector publishes a general notice. Unredeemed parcels are then deeded to the county, and all rights of redemption terminate when the deed to the county is executed. A buyer at the county's later sale therefore takes property that is no longer subject to any redemption right. ORS 275.180 separately lets the county governing body sell a parcel back to the record owner or contract purchaser of record at any time, without notice, for the taxes and interest charged when the county acquired it plus six percent a year; that is a discretionary repurchase, not a redemption right.ORS 312.120 - two-year redemption period from the judgment; who may redeem; five percent penalty and feeORS 312.120Verified Sep 25, 2026

Deed deposit

No statewide deposit amount. ORS 275.110 leaves the conditions and terms of sale to the county governing body's order, and the notice of sale states them. Deposits, bidder registration, and accepted forms of payment therefore vary by county; read the county's notice of sale before the auction.ORS 312.520 (2025 c.475) - broker listing for former primary residences, high-bid auction at two-thirds of fair market value, second auction at taxes and costsORS 312.520Verified Sep 25, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Oregon now returns equity to the former owner. Under ORS 312.530 the surplus is the value of the property, which is the sale price at a broker or auction sale, less the county's allowable costs: the judgment and post-judgment interest, taxes that would have accrued through the sale, county maintenance and title costs, local improvement liens filed with the county, nuisance abatement costs, and reasonable foreclosure and disposition fees including legal, appraisal, commission, and auction fees. The county holds the gross proceeds in a separate interest-bearing account, determines the surplus within 60 days, gives the former owner an itemized accounting, and delivers the surplus to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property within 30 days of determining it. The former owner, or heirs and certain successors, claim it from the State Treasurer; a creditor with a valid lien or debt may also claim against it. These rules apply to claims where the owner received the ORS 312.125 notice on or after May 25, 2023.ORS 312.530 (2025 c.475) - surplus is the property value less allowable county costsORS 312.530Verified Sep 25, 2026

Governing statute

ORS Chapter 312ORS Chapter 312 - Foreclosure of Property Tax Liens (2025 edition, chapter page)ORS Chapter 312Verified Sep 25, 2026

A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.

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