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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020 (2026)

Ownership and operation of utilities by city within and without city limits

✓ current as of May 2026
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      225.020 Ownership and operation of utilities by city within and without city limits. (1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and without its boundaries for the benefit and use of its inhabitants and for profit. To that end it may:

      (a) Acquire water systems and use, sell and dispose of its water for domestic, recreational, industrial, and public use and for irrigation and other purposes within and without its boundaries.

      (b) Build, acquire, own and operate railways operated by steam, electric or other power within and without its boundaries and running from such city to other towns, cities and points without its boundaries.

      (c) Acquire right of way, easements or real property within and without its boundaries for any such purpose.

      (2) In exercising such powers, any city may bring actions for the condemnation or taking of private property for public use in the same manner as private corporations are now authorized or permitted by law to do. [Amended by 1967 c.306 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1959–2011 · leading case: Bell v. City of Corvallis, 551 P.2d 125 (Or. Ct. App. 1976).
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Bell v. City of Corvallis, 551 P.2d 125 (Or. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 5× “175 "because such service is not necessary for the protection of the public health * * * is not in the public interest, and is not necessary or desirable for the proper disposal of sewage * * * within the corporate limits of the city or adjacent thereto”; (4) the action violates…”
Pacificorp v. City of Ashland, 744 P.2d 257 (Or. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 7× “” ORS 225.020 provides: “(1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and without its…”
City of Eugene v. Nalven, 955 P.2d 263 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “[2] ORS 225.020 provides, in part: "(1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and…”
City of Bend v. Juniper Util. Co., 252 P.3d 341 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). “See ORS 225.020(l)(a) (authorizing a city to bring an action for condemnation to [a]cquire water systems and use, sell and dispose of its water for domestic, recreational, industrial, and public use and for irrigation and other purposes within and without its boundaries”).”
Kliks v. Dalles City, 335 P.2d 366 (Or. 1959). “It is further contended by the plaintiffs “that the city cannot * * * fix the rates * * * on the profit that a private party may make * * ORS 225.020 authorizes a city to operate a waterworks “for profit.”
Kassel v. City of Salem, 579 P.2d 875 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 4× “2 Together, ORS 225.020 and the *742 charter explicitly authorize the City to purchase a water company whose facilities are outside the present city limits.”
City of Bend v. Juniper Util. Co., 252 P.3d 341 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). “See ORS 225.020(1)(a) (authorizing a city to bring an action for condemnation to "[a]cquire water systems and use, sell and dispose of its water for domestic, recreational, industrial, and public use and for irrigation and other purposes within and without its boundaries").”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020(1) — 1 case
Pacificorp v. City of Ashland, 744 P.2d 257 (Or. Ct. App. 1987). “” ORS 225.020 provides: “(1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and without its…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020(1)(a) — 1 case
City of Bend v. Juniper Util. Co., 252 P.3d 341 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). “See ORS 225.020(1)(a) (authorizing a city to bring an action for condemnation to "[a]cquire water systems and use, sell and dispose of its water for domestic, recreational, industrial, and public use and for irrigation and other purposes within and without its boundaries").”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020(1)(c) — 1 case
Pacificorp v. City of Ashland, 744 P.2d 257 (Or. Ct. App. 1987). “” ORS 225.020 provides: “(1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and without its…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020(2) — 1 case
Pacificorp v. City of Ashland, 744 P.2d 257 (Or. Ct. App. 1987). “” ORS 225.020 provides: “(1) When the power to do so is conferred by or contained in its charter or act of incorporation, any city may build, own, operate and maintain waterworks, water systems, railways and railroads, electric light and power plants, within and without its…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 225.020(l)(a) — 2 cases
City of Bend v. Juniper Util. Co., 252 P.3d 341 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). “See ORS 225.020(l)(a) (authorizing a city to bring an action for condemnation to [a]cquire water systems and use, sell and dispose of its water for domestic, recreational, industrial, and public use and for irrigation and other purposes within and without its boundaries”).”
Kassel v. City of Salem, 579 P.2d 875 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). “2 Together, ORS 225.020 and the *742 charter explicitly authorize the City to purchase a water company whose facilities are outside the present city limits.”
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