ORS 670.600: Independent contractor defined.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
(1) As used in this section: (a) “Individual” means a natural person. (b) “Person” has the meaning given that term in ORS 174.100. (c) “Services” means labor or services. (2) As used in ORS chapters 316, 656, 657, 671 and 701, “independent contractor” means a person who provides services for remuneration and who, in the provision of the services: (a) Is free from direction and control over the means and manner of providing the services, subject only to the right of the person for whom the services are provided to specify the desired results; (b) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, is customarily engaged in an independently established business; (c) Is licensed under ORS chapter 671 or 701 if the person provides services for which a license is required under ORS chapter 671 or 701; and (d) Is responsible for obtaining other licenses or certificates necessary to provide the services. (3) For purposes of subsection (2)(b) of this section, a person is considered to be customarily engaged in an independently established business if any three of the following requirements are met: (a) The person maintains a business location: (A) That is separate from the business or work location of the person for whom the services are provided; or (B) That is in a portion of the person’s residence and that portion is used primarily for the business. (b) The person bears the risk of loss related to the business or the provision of services as shown by factors such as: (A) The person enters into fixed-price contracts; (B) The person is required to correct defective work; (C) The person warrants the services provided; or (D) The person negotiates indemnification agreements or purchases liability insurance, performance bonds or errors and omissions insurance. (c) The person provides contracted services for two or more different persons within a 12-month period, or the person routinely engages in business advertising, solicitation or other marketing efforts reasonably calculated to obtain new contracts to provide similar services. (d) The person makes a significant investment in the business, through means such as: (A) Purchasing tools or equipment necessary to provide the services; (B) Paying for the premises or facilities where the services are provided; or (C) Paying for licenses, certificates or specialized training required to provide the services. (e) The person has the authority to hire other persons to provide or to assist in providing the services and has the authority to fire those persons. (4) Subsection (2)(b) of this section does not apply if the person files a Schedule F as part of an income tax return and the person provides farm labor or farm services that are reportable on Schedule C of an income tax return. (5) For purposes of determining whether an individual provides services as an independent contractor: (a) The creation or use of a business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company, by an individual for the purpose of providing services does not, by itself, establish that the individual provides services as an independent contractor. (b) When the individual provides services through a business entity, such as a corporation or a limited liability company, the provisions in subsection (2), (3) or (4) of this section may be satisfied by the individual or the business entity. [Formerly 701.025; 1997 c.398 §2; 1999 c.402 §9; 2003 c.704 §5; 2005 c.533 §§1,2]
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 150-316-0241: Independent Contractor Definition — implements
- OAR 150-670-0010: Independent Contractor — implements
- OAR 413-330-1100: Purpose — implements
- OAR 413-330-1105: Definitions — implements
- OAR 413-330-1110: Scope — implements
- OAR 413-330-1115: Services — implements
- OAR 413-330-1120: Contractor Requirements and Restrictions — implements
- OAR 413-330-1125: Insurance — implements
- OAR 413-330-1130: Dispute Resolution — implements
- OAR 413-330-1135: Fitness Determination for FOCUS Short-Form Contractors — implements
- OAR 413-330-1140: Unauthorized Services — implements
- OAR 413-330-1145: Delegation of FOCUS Short-Form Contract Approval Authority — implements
- OAR 413-330-1150: Responsibilities of Department Program Managers with Delegated Authority — implements
- OAR 808-003-0260: Independent Contractor — implements
- OAR 808-003-0260: Independent Contractor — authority
- OAR 812-002-0380: Insurance — implements
- OAR 812-003-0240: Independent Contractor — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 174.100 — resolved
- ORS chapter 671 — target_record_not_published
Cited by
- ORS 18.618: Property not subject to garnishment.
- ORS 310.800: Property tax work-off programs.
- ORS 314.015: Soccer referees considered independent contractors.
- ORS 316.162: Definitions for ORS 316.162 to 316.221.
- ORS 571.426: Authority to contract; limitations on contractors; required review of contracts; rules.
- ORS 576.306: Independent contractors performing services for commission; rentals and acquisitions; rules.
- ORS 652.197: Joint and several liability for unpaid wages owed to unrepresented employees performing labor under a construction contract.
- ORS 656.005: Definitions.
- ORS 656.128: Sole proprietors, limited liability company members, partners, independent contractors may elect coverage by insurer; cancellation.
- ORS 657.040: Employment; when service for pay excluded; independent contractors.
- ORS 670.605: Rules for application of definition of independent contractor.
- ORS 670.610: Referees in recreational soccer matches considered independent contractors.
- ORS 671.525: Applicant for landscape contracting business license required to be independent contractor; classes of licensees.
- ORS 671.565: Landscape contracting business license application process and information requirements.
- ORS 671.575: License required to obtain judicial or administrative remedy; exception.
- ORS 690.005: Definitions for ORS 690.005 to 690.225.
- ORS 701.035: Applicant required to be independent contractor to be eligible for license; classes of licenses.
- ORS 701.046: License application.
- ORS 701.106: Sanction for violation or failure to comply with certain laws.
- ORS 701.131: License required to perfect lien or obtain judicial or administrative remedy; exception.
- OAR 125-246-0333: Independent Contractors
- OAR 150-316-0241: Independent Contractor Definition
- OAR 150-317-1220: Employee Compensation: Labor Cost Subtraction
- OAR 150-670-0010: Independent Contractor
- OAR 413-330-0910: Definitions
- OAR 413-330-1105: Definitions
- OAR 436-170-0002: Purpose of Rule
- OAR 436-170-0100: Statutory Context
- OAR 436-170-0200: Direction and Control Test
- OAR 471-031-0181: Independent Contractor
- OAR 471-031-0220: Franchisee
- OAR 584-001-0020: Personal Service Contracts
- OAR 808-002-0360: Employee
- OAR 808-003-0260: Independent Contractor
- OAR 812-003-0240: Independent Contractor
- OAR 817-007-0225: Independent Contractor
- OAR 943-060-0040: Independent Contractors
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors670.html