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Property Sales Program

Through the course of developing and managing Oregon's transportation infrastructure, the Oregon Department of Transportation acquires properties that may later be deemed no longer necessary and could be made available for sale.

In accordance with associated laws and policies, ODOT ensures the greatest return to the Highway Trust Fund by selling or exchanging surplus properties, or leasing and renting properties not currently needed for ODOT operations.


Property Types

Property owned by ODOT falls into one of two categories: Project-related and non-project related.

Project-related properties are part of highway construction or improvement projects.

Information about this type of property is available through the regional right of way offices located in Salem, Portland, Roseburg, Bend and La Grande.

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Properties which are not related to project work can be split into two categories: Operating and excess properties.

Operating properties include those that make up completed highway construction or improvement projects, such as roadways or airports. Active sites, such as stockpile locations or quarries, and administrative or maintenance offices.

Excess property​, also referred to as non-operating property, includes those sites which are no longer needed by the department. ODOT must declare excess property as surplus before it can be sold.


Sale Types

Surplus property owned by ODOT is generally sold in two ways: Auction sales and direct sales.

​Most surplus property is sold through oral or sealed bid auctions.

View properties currently available for sale​.​

In certain cases, surplus property may be sold directly to a purchaser without an auction. This could include the following circumstances:

It is required by law.
Property purchased by the state after 1973 by way of "condemnation proceedings" must be used within 10 years of purchase. If not, the property must first be offered to the owner from which it was purchased. The direct purchase price will be the original purchase price plus 7 percent simple interest per year of ODOT ownership.

Priority acquisition rights through DAS Clearinghouse.
ODOT surplus property must first be offered to a list of entities in priority order as defined by ORS 270.100, prior to a public auction. 

No bids were received at an auction.
If no bids were received at an auction, the property may be sold direct. 

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Purchase Process

The minimum acceptable price of the property is based on appraisal. Property appraisals are reviewed and approved by the appraisal review unit. In some cases, properties may require a survey as well as an appraisal.
 
Property may be offered for lease or rent, based on results of a market rent study.​

The clearinghouse process is a 30-day notice issued by DAS providing notice of the sale of surplus property. In accordance with ORS 270.100, the notice provides prospective buyers within the established priority list an opportunity to express interest in purchasing, ahead of the general public. The order of priority is as follows: 
  1. Other state agencies.
  2. Any lessee of the land.
  3. Indian Tribes (for the development of income restricted housing at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI)).
  4. Political Subdivisions (for the development of income restricted housing at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI)).
  5. Nonprofit organizations or housing authorities (for the development of income restricted housing at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI)).
  6. Any person (for the development of income restricted housing at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI)).
  7. An adjacent property owner.
  8. Political Subdivisions (for other uses).
  9. Indian Tribes (for housing).
  10. Political Subdivisions (for housing).
  11. Nonprofit organizations or housing authorities (for housing).
  12. Any person (for housing).

​For those properties requiring a bid form, interested parties should review all supplemental materials included in the listing. Offers should be returned to the property age​nt identified in the listing.

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​In some cases, ODOT will opt to use a third-party agent to list a property. In these instances, interested parties should work through their agent to complete the bid offer process. ​​

Interested in a property not currently listed?

Review ownership information.
County or city GIS websites often provide ownership information for property of interest. This may also be completed by obtaining a copy of the vesting deed from a title company or local county courthouse. If the property is state-owned, the deed will show ownership by ODOT or other state agency.

Identify the property boundary.
If the property of interest is not defined by a tax lot, please mark the boundary on a map graphic, quarter-section map or aerial map. ​

Based on your property-specific research, contact the agency listed as the property owner.

The property is owned by a state agency other than ODOT.
If the vesting deed shows ownership by a state agency, other than ODOT, send an email request explaining your interest in the property, along with the corresponding map and deed to:
res.info@das.oregon.gov

The property is owned by ODOT.
If the vesting deed shows ownership by ODOT, complete the request to use or purchase real property​ . Send the completed form and corresponding map via mail or email to:

Statewide Property Management Unit
Department of Transportation
555 13th Street NE  |  Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: (503) 986-3600 
Email the Property Management Team

 

Contact the Right of Way Section

555 13th St NE
Salem, OR 97301
Fax: 503-986-3625

Property Inquiries

For all property inquiries, you may either contact the agent noted on the listing or email the Property Management Team.

Resources and Related Content

Oregon Revised Statutes

Oregon Administrative Rules