Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 696.020 (2026)

License required for individuals engaged in professional real estate activities; exception; rules

✓ current as of May 2026
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      696.020 License required for individuals engaged in professional real estate activities; exception; rules. (1) The Real Estate Agency may issue a real estate license only to an individual.

      (2) An individual may not engage in, carry on, advertise or purport to engage in or carry on professional real estate activity, or act in the capacity of a real estate licensee, within this state unless the individual holds an active license as provided for in this chapter.

      (3) Real estate brokers, managing principal brokers and principal real estate brokers are bound by and subject to the requirements of ORS 696.010 to 696.495, 696.600 to 696.785, 696.800 to 696.870, 696.990 and 696.995 while:

      (a) Engaging in professional real estate activity; or

      (b) Acting on the licensee’s own behalf in the sale, exchange, lease option or purchase of real estate or in the offer or negotiations for the sale, exchange, lease option or purchase of real estate.

      (4) A real estate broker, managing principal broker, principal real estate broker or licensed real estate property manager is bound by and subject to the requirements of ORS 696.010 to 696.495, 696.600 to 696.785, 696.890, 696.990 and 696.995 while engaging in the management of rental real estate.

      (5) A timeshare sales agent is bound by and subject to the requirements of ORS 696.010 to 696.495, 696.600 to 696.785, 696.800 to 696.870, 696.990 and 696.995 while selling or offering to sell timeshares.

      (6) The agency by rule may establish provisions for a nonlicensed individual whose license is inactive or suspended and who acts on the licensee’s own behalf in the sale, exchange, lease option or purchase of real estate or in the offer or negotiations for the sale, exchange, lease option or purchase of real estate. [Amended by 1969 c.674 §1; 1975 c.746 §1a; 1977 c.649 §10; 1981 c.617 §2a; 2007 c.319 §4; 2013 c.145 §5; 2025 c.39 §3; 2025 c.389 §3a]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases, 1971–2019 · leading case: State Ex Rel. Dep't of Transp. v. Montgomery Ward Dev. Corp., 719 P.2d 507 (Or. Ct. App. 1986).
State Ex Rel. Dep't of Transp. v. Montgomery Ward Dev. Corp., 719 P.2d 507 (Or. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “010(10)(m), we do not think that ORS 696.020 prevents Egan’s testifying. It prohibits an unlicensed person from receiving compensation for real estate activity.”
Moody v. Hurricane Creek Lumber Co., 625 P.2d 1306 (Or. 1981). · cites it 2× “ORS 696.020 provides that a person must have a license to engage in professional real estate activity.”
Blank v. Black, 512 P.2d 1016 (Or. Ct. App. 1973). · cites it 2× “The effect of this statutory change was to raise the standard of business conduct of realtors when engaged in selling their own property to the same high standard applicable when they are functioning in transactions between private parties.”
Jolma v. Steinbock, 596 P.2d 980 (Or. Ct. App. 1979). “Finally, ORS 696.020 provided: "(1) No person shall engage in or carry on or advertise or hold himself out as engaging in or carrying on the business, or act in the capacity of, a real estate broker or a real estate salesman within this state without first obtaining a license as…”
Lane v. Floyd, 159 P.3d 1240 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). “” ORS 696.020 (1999). We infer from the record that the company was licensed as a “real estate organization” under former ORS 696.”
Sawyer v. Real Est. Agency, 342 P.3d 104 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “ve status of the license or voluntary surrender of the license by the real estate licensee, does not deprive the commissioner of jurisdiction to: “(1) Proceed with an investigation of the licensee; “(2) Conduct disciplinary proceedings relating to the licensee', “(3) Take action…”
Ferris v. Meeker Fertilizer Co., 482 P.2d 523 (Or. 1971). “① ORS 696.020 provides that no person shall engage in or carry on or advertise or hold himself out as engaging in or *386 carrying on the business, or act in the capacity of, a real estate broker or a real estate salesman within this state without first obtaining a license as…”
Gergen v. Bartzat, 611 P.2d 352 (Or. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 2× “Former ORS 696.020. That term was defined in former ORS 696.”
Fields v. Macnab, 688 P.2d 409 (Or. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 3× “The summary judgment in this appeal is based on ORS 696.020 and 696.710. The trial court interpreted these provisions to preclude plaintiffs use of the Oregon *157 courts to recover compensation for any real estate activity, because he was not licensed as a broker in this state.”
Smith v. Real Est. Agency, 939 P.2d 77 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “ORS 696.020(1) provides: “No person shall engage in, carry on, advertise or purport to engage in or carry on professional real estate activity, or act in the capacity of, a real estate licensee within this state without first obtaining a license as provided for in this chapter.”
MacDonald v. Dormaier, 535 P.2d 527 (Or. 1975). · cites it 2× “ORS 696.020(2) (b). The effect of this statutory change was to raise the standard of business conduct of realtors when engaged in selling their own property to the same high standard applicable when they are functioning in transactions between private parties.”
Atwood v. Real Est. Comm'r, 775 P.2d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 12× “He also does not assert here that, if ORS 696.020 does cover the contract’s performance, his failure to maintain the override account for Atka throughout the contract term was not conduct constituting “improper dealings” under ORS 696.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 696.020(1) — 3 cases
State Ex Rel. Dep't of Transp. v. Montgomery Ward Dev. Corp., 719 P.2d 507 (Or. Ct. App. 1986). “010(10)(m), we do not think that ORS 696.020 prevents Egan’s testifying. It prohibits an unlicensed person from receiving compensation for real estate activity.”
Smith v. Real Est. Agency, 939 P.2d 77 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “ORS 696.020(1) provides: “No person shall engage in, carry on, advertise or purport to engage in or carry on professional real estate activity, or act in the capacity of, a real estate licensee within this state without first obtaining a license as provided for in this chapter.”
Moody v. Hurricane Creek Lumber Co., 616 P.2d 514 (Or. Ct. App. 1980).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 696.020(2) — 4 cases
Sawyer v. Real Est. Agency, 342 P.3d 104 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “ve status of the license or voluntary surrender of the license by the real estate licensee, does not deprive the commissioner of jurisdiction to: “(1) Proceed with an investigation of the licensee; “(2) Conduct disciplinary proceedings relating to the licensee', “(3) Take action…”
MacDonald v. Dormaier, 535 P.2d 527 (Or. 1975). “ORS 696.020(2) (b). The effect of this statutory change was to raise the standard of business conduct of realtors when engaged in selling their own property to the same high standard applicable when they are functioning in transactions between private parties.”
Atwood v. Real Est. Comm'r, 775 P.2d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 1989). “He also does not assert here that, if ORS 696.020 does cover the contract’s performance, his failure to maintain the override account for Atka throughout the contract term was not conduct constituting “improper dealings” under ORS 696.”
Berrey v. Real Est. Agency, 457 P.3d 306 (Or. Ct. App. 2019).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 696.020(2)(b) — 2 cases
Blank v. Black, 512 P.2d 1016 (Or. Ct. App. 1973). “The effect of this statutory change was to raise the standard of business conduct of realtors when engaged in selling their own property to the same high standard applicable when they are functioning in transactions between private parties.”
Todd v. Real Est. Div., 552 P.2d 1328 (Or. Ct. App. 1976).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 696.020(3)(a) — 1 case
Berrey v. Real Est. Agency, 457 P.3d 306 (Or. Ct. App. 2019).
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