Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Oregon, landlords are prohibited from interrupting utility services to a residential tenant as a means of forcing the tenant to leave the rental unit or to punish the tenant for late or non-payment of rent or utilities. This includes essential services such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, and trash collection. The only exceptions to this rule are when the interruption is necessary for repairs, construction, or in response to an emergency situation. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful evictions and to ensure that their basic living conditions are not compromised. Oregon's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act outlines these rules and provides remedies for tenants if their landlord unlawfully interrupts services. If a landlord violates these provisions, the tenant may have the right to recover damages, seek restoration of the interrupted service, and in some cases, obtain injunctive relief to prevent further interruptions.