Oregon has strong consumer protection: no expiration on most gift certificates, mandatory cash refund for balances under $5, and restricted service fees.
Federal context
Under the federal Credit CARD Act of 2009 and its implementing Regulation E (12 CFR 1005.20), gift certificates and most general-use and store gift cards sold in the United States must remain valid for at least five years from the date of issuance or last load. Federal law also restricts dormancy, inactivity, and service fees: a fee can generally be charged only if the card has been inactive for at least 12 months, the fee is disclosed, and no more than one fee is charged per month. State laws may add stronger consumer protections on top of this federal floor.
For a deeper federal explainer, see our CARD Act overview.
Expiration rules in Oregon
Oregon Revised Statutes §646A.272 prohibits expiration dates on gift certificates with limited exceptions for promotional certificates.
Dormancy and service fees in Oregon
Oregon prohibits service and dormancy fees on gift certificates.
Cash redemption for small balances
Oregon law requires cash refund of any gift certificate balance under $5 upon request.
Disclosure requirements
Federal Regulation E disclosures apply, plus state-specific no-expiration and cash refund disclosures.
Unclaimed property and escheatment
Single-merchant gift certificate balances generally do not escheat because they do not expire.
Enforcement and penalties
The Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Section enforces state rules.
Recent updates
Oregon's framework has been substantively stable.
Last reviewed: May 24, 2026. Statutes change. Verify the current text of the cited statute before acting on this summary.
Oregon compliance checklist
A short operational checklist for selling gift certificates in Oregon. Adapt with counsel before publishing your final policy.
- Configure certificates to never expire.
- Do not charge service or dormancy fees.
- Train staff and POS for under-$5 cash refund.
- Maintain perpetual redemption records.
Frequently asked questions about Oregon gift card law
What's Oregon's cash refund threshold?
Under $5. Train your POS to handle this automatically when balances fall below $5.
Related legal basics
- Do Gift Certificates Expire? — A practical overview of federal and state rules on gift certificate expiration, written in plain English.
- Can You Charge Fees on Gift Certificates? — Federal and state rules on inactivity, dormancy, and service fees for gift cards.