The governing law
Oregon is a tax deed state that sells no tax lien certificates. Once three years have passed from the earliest delinquency, the county tax collector, with the district attorney, brings one in rem foreclosure proceeding a year in circuit court against every parcel on the foreclosure list. The court enters judgment and orders the parcels sold directly to the county, not to investors. The owner and lienholders then have two years from the judgment to redeem. Parcels still unredeemed are deeded to the county, and only then can an investor buy, when the county disposes of the property under ORS 312.520 and ORS chapter 275: former primary residences are listed with a real estate broker, and other parcels go to a public high-bid auction with a minimum bid of two-thirds of fair market value. Any surplus over the county's allowable costs goes to the former owner through the State Treasurer.
ORS Chapter 312
Read the statuteForeclosure of Property Tax Liens
ORS 312.010
Read the statuteReal property subject to foreclosure three years after earliest delinquency
ORS 312.030
Read the statuteAnnual foreclosure list
ORS 312.040
Read the statuteNotice of the foreclosure proceeding
ORS 312.050
Read the statuteInstituting the foreclosure proceeding
ORS 312.090
Read the statuteForeclosure judgment and interest
ORS 312.100
Read the statuteOrder selling the parcels directly to the county
ORS 312.120
Read the statuteTwo-year redemption period, who may redeem, penalty and fee
ORS 312.122
Read the statuteReduced redemption period for waste or abandonment
ORS 312.200
Read the statuteDeed to county; redemption rights terminate
ORS 312.270
Read the statuteTitle of the county and of the resale purchaser
ORS 312.520
Read the statuteCounty disposition of foreclosed property: broker listing, auctions, minimum bids
ORS 312.530 to 312.560
Read the statuteSurplus determination, claims, and delivery to the State Treasurer
ORS 275.110 to 275.225
Read the statuteSheriff's sale and private sale of county lands
ORS 311.505
Read the statuteDue dates and interest on late payments
ORS 311.405
Read the statuteProperty tax lien and its priority
Want the mechanics in plain English instead of statute numbers? See how to buy in Oregon, the redemption period, and the full Oregon walkthrough.
Statute citations verified Sep 25, 2026. Statutes are amended; always confirm the current text at the official link before you rely on it.
Tax Sale Atlas publishes educational information about public tax sale processes. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. Rules, dates, and fees change; confirm with the county office before you bid.