Employment & Worker Protection · Oregon
Oregon Non-Compete Law
ORS 653.295 - enacted in Oregon.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2021
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- Oregon strictness
The bottom line
Oregon Non-Compete Law is an enacted law in Oregon, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2022-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- Oregon strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Oregon legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Oregon Non-Compete Law
Oregon Non-Compete Law (ORS 653.295) is an enacted law in Oregon under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2021-01-11 and becomes effective on 2022-01-01. Oregon currently reports 8 tracked regulations with 8 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Oregon within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in ORS 653.295 itself.
Applicability under Oregon Non-Compete Law: Exempt salaried employees over income threshold. Penalty exposure is documented as: Non-compliant agreements void. Notable exemptions: Sale of business. IP protection (non-disclosure)..
Summary
Oregon limits non-competes: 12-month maximum. Only for exempt salaried workers earning over median income ($100,533 in 2024). Garden leave required.
Key Requirements
Max 12 months. Only for highly compensated exempt employees. Garden leave (salary continuation) OR void. 2-week advance notice required.
Penalties
Non-compliant agreements void.
Applicability
Exempt salaried employees over income threshold.
Exemptions
Sale of business. IP protection (non-disclosure).
Official Source
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors653.htmlHow Oregon compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Oregon ranks #8 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon (this state) | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Oregon is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Oregon Non-Compete Law enacted?
Oregon Non-Compete Law was enacted on 2021-01-11 and became effective on 2022-01-01. It was introduced as ORS 653.295.
What are the penalties for violating Oregon Non-Compete Law?
Non-compliant agreements void. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Oregon Non-Compete Law apply to small businesses?
Exempt salaried employees over income threshold. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Oregon compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Oregon has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 8 enacted regulations out of 8 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Oregon Non-Compete Law?
The official text of Oregon Non-Compete Law (ORS 653.295) is available from the Oregon legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Oregon Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Oregon Non-Compete Law is enacted in Oregon, effective 2022-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Oregon ranks #8 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Oregon tracks across all five policy areas. Oregon profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Oregon source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.