Rainwater laws / Oregon
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Oregon?
Checked at Oregon's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed
Yes. Collecting rain from a roof or other hard surface and using it needs no water right permit in Oregon.
What the rules say
- ORS 537.141(1)(h): no permit is needed for "the collection of precipitation water from an artificial impervious surface and the use of such water."
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
Where the numbers come from
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