Oregon
Oregon licenses private investigators, as individuals, through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). Since 2023 the license fee has risen from $550 to $800, continuing education can be done remotely or by self-study, and new privacy laws created a data broker registry and banned the sale of precise location data.
At a glance
- Authority
- Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Private Investigator Program
- Statute
- ORS 703.401 to 703.995
- Rules
- OAR chapter 259, division 61
- Who is licensed
- Individuals only: private investigators, and provisional investigators who meet every requirement except the experience hours and may not employ or supervise investigators (ORS 703.430). DPSST also issues a temporary license to investigators licensed elsewhere, valid 30 days a year in total (OAR 259-061-0110), and a 120-day interim license while an application is pending (OAR 259-061-0120). There is no agency license.
- Qualifications
- At least 18 and eligible to work in the United States (ORS 703.415). At least 1,500 hours of investigative work, an approved course, or an approved combination, with education counting for up to 500 hours (OAR 259-061-0140). A DPSST exam, fingerprints and State Police checks, and three unrelated professional references.
- Renewal
- Every 2 years. Since September 1, 2026: $800 for a new license, $760 to renew, $40 late fee, plus a separate fingerprint fee (OAR 259-061-0010). A person more than 30 days late must reapply as a new applicant (ORS 703.445).
- Continuing education
- 32 hours every 2 years for private investigators and 40 for provisional investigators, each with at least 2 hours of ethics; up to 15 hours carry over (OAR 259-061-0240).
- Bond or insurance
- A surety bond, letter of credit, or other approved security of at least $5,000, or errors and omissions insurance of at least $5,000 (ORS 703.415, 703.425).
Changes, 2023 to 2026
License fee rises to $800; renewal $760
The new private or provisional investigator license fee rose from $690 to $800, which now includes the application fee previously charged separately as $29. Renewal rose from $690 to $760, the late fee from $35 to $40, and a duplicate license from $24 to $27.
For licensees: A two-year renewal costs $760.
Public bodies need an immigration attestation from data brokers
An Oregon public body may not disclose personally identifiable information to a data broker unless the broker first attests in writing that the information will not be sold or transferred to any entity that will use it to enforce federal immigration law, and the public body must reject an attestation it reasonably believes contains material misrepresentations, falsehoods, or omissions. Disclosures required by the public records law or a court order, and information available to the general public disclosed on the same terms, are not restricted.
For licensees: An investigator business that is a data broker under ORS 646A.593 must give the attestation to obtain such information from a public body outside those exceptions.
License plate reader data limited
Limits law enforcement use of automated license plate recognition data and bars agency system vendors from selling or sharing it. Captured data is conditionally exempt from public disclosure: a request must identify the approximate date and time and be tailored to material for which the public interest requires disclosure (ORS 192.345(44)).
For licensees: Law enforcement plate data is available by public records request only on those conditions, and agency vendors may not sell it.
Sale of precise location data banned
A controller covered by the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act may not sell personal data that locates a consumer, or a linked device, within 1,750 feet, or personal data of a consumer it knows, or willfully disregards, is under 16 (ORS 646A.578(2)(d)).
For licensees: Covered data vendors may not sell precise location data on Oregon consumers to anyone.
New crime of unlawful disclosure of private information
It is a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly cause another person’s personal information, such as a home address, personal phone, or a child’s school, to be disclosed, when done with intent to stalk or injure the person or damage their property, knowing or having reason to know they did not consent, and the person is then stalked or injured or the property damaged.
For licensees: The crime requires intent to stalk, injure, or damage property and resulting harm; it has no investigator exception.
Accountant exception reworded
Amends the accountant exception in ORS 703.411(18) to refer to an individual holding an active license under the revised accountancy law. It is the only amendment to ORS 703 from 2023 through October 2026.
For licensees: The accountant exception still exists; only its definition changed.
Booking photos may be released to licensed investigators
Adds ORS 133.870(2)(h), allowing a law enforcement agency to release a booking photo to an investigator licensed under ORS 703.430. Release is permitted, not required.
For licensees: An agency may, but need not, release a booking photo to a licensed investigator.
Legislature approves the $690 license fee
Approves the investigator license fee of $690 and late renewal fee of $35 that DPSST put into effect on February 1, 2025.
For licensees: The February 2025 fee levels were ratified by statute.
License fee raised from $550 to $690
Raised the private and provisional investigator license fee from $550 to $690 and the late renewal fee from $30 to $35.
For licensees: These fees were replaced on September 1, 2026.
Oregon Consumer Privacy Act takes effect
Applies to persons that control or process personal data of 100,000 or more consumers, or 25,000 or more while getting 25 percent or more of gross revenue from selling personal data (ORS 646A.572). It does not prohibit investigating, establishing, initiating, or defending legal claims, and it exempts FCRA-regulated activity. It names no investigator exemption.
For licensees: The Act reaches an investigator business only if it meets the volume thresholds.
Electronic location monitoring counts toward stalking
Adds to the stalking definition of “contact” using an electronic device or service to obtain or monitor another person’s location, communications, or activities without consent (ORS 163.730(3)(o)). A GPS-device offense under ORS 163.715 that is part of stalking, or of violating a stalking protective order, can make the crime a Class C felony (ORS 163.732, 163.750). Oregon’s stalking law has no investigator exception.
For licensees: Nonconsensual electronic location monitoring can be stalking contact, with no exception for licensed investigators.
Data broker registry
A data broker must register with the Department of Consumer and Business Services before collecting, selling, or licensing brokered personal data in Oregon. FCRA- and GLBA-regulated activity and data about a business’s own customers or employees are excluded. Penalties are up to $500 per violation or per day, capped at $10,000 a year. There is no investigator exemption.
For licensees: An investigator business that sells or licenses brokered personal data about Oregon residents must register unless an exclusion applies.
Continuing education may be remote or self-study
Allows continuing education in person, remotely, or by self-study, removes hour limits on individual sources, and clarifies carryover. The 32- and 40-hour requirements and the 15-hour carryover were already set by ORS 703.447.
For licensees: Remote and self-study courses count toward the required hours.
Legislature approves late and replacement fees
Approves a $30 late renewal fee and a $24 replacement license fee adopted by DPSST.
For licensees: The late fee was raised in 2025 ($35) and 2026 ($40); the replacement fee stayed $24 until 2026, when it rose to $27.
Last updated October 18, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & InvestigationCite as: United States Council for Law & Investigation, “Oregon private investigator licensing: Licensing Law Tracker,” uscli.org/licensing-tracker/oregon (last updated October 18, 2026). Text licensed CC BY 4.0.