166.257 Return of relinquished firearm. (1) Upon receiving a request to return a firearm or ammunition relinquished to a law enforcement agency pursuant to ORS 166.256, the law enforcement agency shall:
(a) Notify the Department of Justice of the return request for the purposes of notifying the petitioner of the order; and
(b) Hold the firearm or ammunition for 72 hours after receiving the request.
(2) Prior to returning the firearm or ammunition, the law enforcement agency shall:
(a) Confirm that the person to whom the law enforcement agency will return the firearm or ammunition is the lawful owner of the firearm or ammunition, or a person with a possessory right to the firearm or ammunition; and
(b) Perform a criminal background check as defined in ORS 166.432 to confirm that the person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under state or federal law. [2019 c.201 §5]
Note: See note under 166.256.
Stored review status: 2025_edition_later_amendments_unresolved. A text match is a research starting point; applicability is not established.
Official chapter context and edition notices
Chapter 166 — Offenses Against Public Order; Firearms and Other Weapons; Racketeering
Uncodified sections printed in this chapter were amended or repealed by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session. See the table of uncodified sections amended or repealed during the 2026 regular session: 2026 A&R Tables
New sections of law were enacted by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session and pertain to or are likely to be compiled in this ORS chapter. See sections in the following 2026 Oregon Laws chapters: 2026 Session Laws 0120
2025 EDITION
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSES
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, HARASSMENT AND RELATED OFFENSES
BIAS CRIME
AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FIREARMS
POSSESSION AND USE OF WEAPONS
(Generally)
(Possession of Weapons in Public Buildings or Court Facilities)
(Destructive Devices)
(Duties of Firearm Owners and Possessors)
SALE OR TRANSFER OF FIREARMS
EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS
DISCHARGING WEAPONS
POSSESSION OF BODY ARMOR
MISCELLANEOUS
RACKETEERING
RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, HARASSMENT AND RELATED OFFENSES
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Authority boundary: official snapshot extraction not current law verified.
Stable record: oregon_criminal_law:legal_authorities:166.257 Source file: ors166.html Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: 62f41e3a9e060599777d89685dc0a9df26b20fe6cedbd6287954f5982c3477ef Retained source evidence SHA-256: dd35e0da63555ebef88cc11cd6ae4309a37c3b744978829c3b2f00d59c0c08b8
Source location: ORS 166.257 (all printed versions and notes)
Stored source content
166.257 Return of relinquished firearm. (1) Upon receiving a request to return a firearm or ammunition relinquished to a law enforcement agency pursuant to ORS 166.256, the law enforcement agency shall:
(a) Notify the Department of Justice of the return request for the purposes of notifying the petitioner of the order; and
(b) Hold the firearm or ammunition for 72 hours after receiving the request.
(2) Prior to returning the firearm or ammunition, the law enforcement agency shall:
(a) Confirm that the person to whom the law enforcement agency will return the firearm or ammunition is the lawful owner of the firearm or ammunition, or a person with a possessory right to the firearm or ammunition; and
(b) Perform a criminal background check as defined in ORS 166.432 to confirm that the person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under state or federal law. [2019 c.201 §5]
Note: See note under 166.256.
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Oregon criminal law — ORS Title 16 (2025 snapshot) · legal_authorities
166.256 Relinquishment of firearm upon person becoming subject to certain court orders. (1)(a) When a respondent becomes subject to an order described in ORS 166.255 (1)(a) prohibiting the respondent from possessing firearms or ammunition, the court shall:
(A) Indicate in the order that the respondent is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under ORS 166.250 and 166.255 while the order is in effect.
(B) Ensure that the respondent is subject to an additional order:
(i) Requiring the respondent to transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and
(ii) Requiring the respondent to file a declaration as described in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) If the respondent becomes subject to the order while the respondent is present in court, the court shall:
(A) Inform the respondent, orally and in writing, that the respondent is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition;
(B) Order in writing that the respondent transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and
(C) Order that the respondent file a declaration as described in subsection (4) of this section.
(2)(a) Within 24 hours of becoming subject to the court order under subsection (1)(a)(B) of this section or receiving the court order under subsection (1)(b)(B) of this section, the respondent shall transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession to a local law enforcement agency, to a gun dealer as defined in ORS 166.412 or to a third party who does not reside with the respondent, and shall obtain a proof of transfer under paragraph (b) of this subsection. A transfer to a third party under this subsection must be in accordance wit
166.432 Definitions for ORS 166.412 and 166.433 to 166.441. (1) As used in ORS 166.412, 166.433, 166.434, 166.435, 166.436 and 166.438, “criminal background check” or “criminal history record check” means determining the eligibility of a person to purchase or possess a firearm by reviewing state and federal databases including, but not limited to, the:
(a) Oregon computerized criminal history system;
(b) Oregon mental health data system;
(c) Law Enforcement Data System;
(d) National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and
(e) Stolen guns system.
(2) As used in ORS 166.433, 166.435, 166.436, 166.438 and 166.441:
(a) “Gun dealer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 166.412.
(b) “Gun show” means an event at which more than 25 firearms are on site and available for transfer. [2001 c.1 §3; 2015 c.50 §6; 2018 c.5 §8]
Note: 166.432, 166.433 and 166.445 were made a part of 166.432 to 166.445 by law but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 166 or any other series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.