Compliance & Regulations

COVID-19 Mandates and Restrictions
Please view ORLA's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources & Announcements and FAQ pages for the latest information.

RAY BAUM’S Act and 911 Calling
Effective January 6, 2021 - The RAY BAUM's Act adds new requirements over Kari’s Law, already in effect, that any phone system installed after this date must be configured to pass information sufficient to locate a 911 caller directly to the 911 center (PSAP). For example, the room number, floor number, building number, or similar, must appear along with the business address on the systems used by the 911 center. The law applies to all phones, including common areas, staff devices and other phones. If possible, a callback number that will ring directly to the phone that placed the call should also be included. Note, the law clearly states that phone systems installed before January 6, 2021 are not required to comply with The RAY BAUM’S Act, similar to the allowance that phone systems installed before 2020 do not have to meet the requirements of Kari’s Law. The FCC ruled that requiring compliance for all businesses with a phone system would be too heavy of a financial burden on the US industry in general. For further details, please review the HTNG document and the FCC website.

CBD and F&B
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission adopted a rules amendment Dec. 19, 2019, that will allow it to take action against licensees who make or sell products that mix CBD and alcohol. The ban applies to manufactured products, but OLCC will begin separate rulemaking to prohibit bars and restaurants from blending CBD into alcoholic drinks. The OLCC created an FAQ, a CBD guide and infographics relating to CBD and alcohol available on their website. See also:
Plastic Straws on Request / Plastic Bag Ban
In the 2019 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed a straw restriction and plastic bag ban. Read more on the statewide ordinances.
  • SB 90 – Plastic Straws on Request - Prohibits food and beverage provider or convenience store from providing single-use plastic straw to consumer unless consumer specifically requests single-use plastic straw.
  • HB 2509B – Plastic Bag Ban - Prohibits retail establishments from providing single-use checkout bags to customers, except in certain cases. The bill does allow restaurant to offer customers recycled paper checkout bags at no cost to customers or reusable plastic checkout bags at no cost to customers who use an electronic benefit transfer card issued by the Department of Human Services. Violations carry a maximum fine of $250 with one occurrence per day maximum. Definition for “single-use checkout bag” in the bill: a bag made of paper, plastic or any other material that is provided by a retail establishment to a customer at the time of checkout, and that is not a recycled paper checkout bag, a reusable fabric checkout bag or a reusable plastic checkout bag.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
ADA Standards that went in effect in 2012 included newly covered elements like mobility devices, service animals, facilities and reservation systems. Lodging and restaurant operators are urged to take the necessary steps to bring various elements into compliance and review existing elements that will be subject to stricter or different specifications. 
  • Service Animals - Under the ADA, businesses and organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. Visit the ADA website for more information.
  • Swimming Pools and Spas - As of 2013, pool and spa accessibility under the ADA implemented a pool lift requirement. Visit the ADA website for more information.
  • Restaurants - Whether you're building a new restaurant, renovating a current location, or removing existing barriers to guests with disabilities, the NRA's ADA toolkit gives you all the facts on how new ADA standards could affect your restaurant. The ADA Toolkit is free to NRA members; login is required.
  • Reservation Systems - Hotels with online reservation systems must allow a disabled guest to book accessible rooms just as non-disabled guests, including choosing a room type and time of day available to make a reservation. The new regulations for reservations are found at 28 C.F.R. 36.302 sub (e), available on the ADA website. 

Carbon Monoxide - Alarms or detection systems shall be installed in Group R Occupancies. Check Oregon Codes 908.7.2 in the Oregon Fire Code for more information. See also NCSL Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements.

​(Update Dec. 2020) The International Code Council has recently updated its list of states adopting various editions of its codes as of September 2020. Oregon is now using the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code as the basis of their state and local fire codes.The 2018 edition of the IFC changed the requirement for carbon monoxide (CO) detection in hotels from an unmonitored CO alarm to a monitored (usually via the fire alarm system) CO detector in rooms and spaces in hotels with a fuel-fired appliance, e.g., boiler rooms, pool heater rooms, laundries, kitchens, generator room and any room/space with a fireplace (propane, natural gas or wood fired). This requirement is retroactive in its application.

Employee Retirement Savings Plan - OregonSaves is a state-run retirement program for employees of businesses who do not currently offer a retirement savings plan. However, employers have an alternative with ORLA's 401K Plan if they currently do not have a plan in place. The State requires employers to either register their company with OregonSaves or certify that their company is exempt from the program. 

Food Waste: Prevention, Donation, and Composting
Metro’s educational initiative, Food Waste Stops With Me, was launched in spring of 2018 to help businesses reduce the amount of food they throw away. The campaign is part of a larger effort around food waste that may also include requiring some businesses to keep the food they toss out of the garbage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Metro Council delayed implementation of a Business Food Waste Requirement (first phase) until Sept. 30, 2020.

Menu Labeling
Official enforcement of the federal menu labeling law began May 7, 2019 according to the National Restaurant Association. The menu labeling regulations apply to restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain of 20 or more locations doing business under the same name and offering for sale substantially the same menu items. These establishments must post calorie information for many food items on their menus in a consistent manner nationwide, and make other nutrition data available in writing, upon request. For more info, visit these resources:
Oregon's Indoor Clean Air Act (ICAA) - Also known as the Smokefree Workplace Law, the ICAA prohibits smoking in the workplace and within 10 feet of all entrances, exits, accessibility ramps that lead to and from an entrance or exit, windows and air-intake vents. Visit Oregon.gov for more information.

Posting Requirements for Oregon Employers - Oregon employers are required by a number of state and federal agencies to display a variety of workplace notices and posters. Download from BOLI's website.


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