Last verified: March 2026

Home Cultivation Is Legal — With Important Limits

Oregon adults 21 and older may grow up to 4 cannabis plants per household under Measure 91 (ORS 475C). Unlike states that set limits per person, Oregon's 4-plant cap is per household — whether one adult or six adults live there. Medical patients have significantly higher limits.

A person twenty-one years of age or older may grow up to four marijuana plants at the person's household.

ORS 475C.337 — Lawful Possession

Visibility and Security Requirements

Oregon law sets clear rules about how and where you can grow:

Not Visible to the Public

Cannabis plants must not be visible from a public place without the use of optical aids (binoculars, telescopes, etc.). This means:

• Indoor grows are always compliant for visibility
• Outdoor grows must be enclosed by fencing, walls, or other barriers that prevent casual observation from streets, sidewalks, or neighboring properties
• Greenhouses with opaque or frosted panels satisfy this requirement

Outdoor Fencing Requirement

If growing outdoors, Oregon requires a physical fence or barrier sufficient to prevent public view and unauthorized access. The fence does not need to be a specific height, but it must reasonably prevent:

• Casual visibility from any public area
• Access by minors or unauthorized persons

All Drying Must Be Indoors

While plants can grow outdoors (with proper fencing), all drying and curing must take place indoors. You cannot hang cannabis to dry on a porch, patio, or outdoor structure, even behind a fence.

The School Zone Felony

Under Oregon law, cultivating cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school is a Class A felony carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. This applies regardless of whether the plants are indoors or outdoors, and regardless of the number of plants. The 1,000-foot measurement is from the property line of the school to the location of the plants.

The Solvent Extraction Ban

Oregon strictly prohibits home-based solvent extraction. Making cannabis concentrates using butane, propane, hexane, or other flammable solvents is a Class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

This ban exists because solvent-based extraction has caused numerous explosions and fires in residential settings nationwide. Legal alternatives for home processing include:

• Rosin pressing — Using heat and pressure, no solvents
• Ice water hash — Using ice, water, and filter bags
• Dry sift — Using screens to separate trichomes
• Cooking edibles — Decarboxylation and infusion into butter or oil

Commercial processors with OLCC licenses can perform solvent extraction under regulated safety conditions.

What You Can and Cannot Do With Home-Grown Cannabis

Gifting Home-Grown Cannabis

Oregon allows gifting cannabis to other adults:

• You may gift up to 1 ounce of usable flower to another adult 21+
• The gift must be without any compensation — no money, barter, trade, or "donations"
• You may also gift seeds and immature plants within possession limits
• Any exchange involving value constitutes an illegal sale

Oregon's Growing Climate

Oregon's diverse climate offers excellent conditions for cannabis cultivation:

• Willamette Valley: Mild maritime climate with warm, dry summers ideal for outdoor growing. Many craft cannabis producers operate here.
• Southern Oregon (Rogue Valley): Warmer temperatures, longer growing season, and a historic center of cannabis cultivation.
• Central Oregon (Bend area): High desert with intense sun and low humidity — excellent for outdoor grows but watch for early frost.
• Coast: Cooler temperatures and high humidity make indoor growing preferable to avoid mold and mildew.
• Eastern Oregon: Hot summers and cold winters; outdoor growing is viable but the season is shorter than western Oregon.

Landlord and HOA Rules

Oregon landlords have the right to prohibit cannabis growing, smoking, and vaping on their properties. However, they cannot prohibit simple possession of legal amounts. If your lease prohibits growing, violating that provision can be grounds for eviction. Homeowner associations (HOAs) may also restrict outdoor growing through CC&Rs. Always check your lease or HOA rules before starting a grow.

For information about consumption rules at rental properties, see Where You Can Consume.

Interested in the science of growing? Cannabis 101 on TryCannabis.org covers the basics of the plant, cannabinoids, and terpenes.

Official Sources

• OLCC — Cannabis Home Growing Rules
• ORS 475C.337 — Lawful Possession and Home Growing