Agricultural labor housing

Overview

Oregon OSHA’s agricultural labor housing rules apply to any place where there are living areas or other housing provided by someone who recruits workers to work on an agricultural establishment.

Agricultural labor housing for workers who produce or harvest farm crops must be registered with Oregon OSHA, except when the housing is occupied by members of the same family or by five or fewer unrelated people.

Changes to registration application process

Advisory Memo for Registration

Application for Registration for 2026

Declaration Form for 2026 Application

After housing is registered with Oregon OSHA, the operator will receive a certificate that must be displayed in a location frequented by employees. The operator of the agricultural labor housing must also provide and display a translation of the certificate in the language or languages used to communicate with the employees.

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- An overview of the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) employer requirements
  Information employers need to provide to employees when enclosed structures are within the designated exclusion zone for an outdoor pesticide application.
  English Order printed copy 08/02/2023
- Application exclusion zone information sheet: steps to take for an AEZ
  Agricultural employer requirements for securing agricultural structures that fall within the Application Exclusion Zone for outdoor crop areas.
  English Order printed copy 11/29/2022
- Application Exclusion Zone: Worker Protection Standard
  Information to help employers navigate the Application Exclusion Zone with specific Oregon requirements under the Worker Protection Standard.
  English Order printed copy 04/01/2025
- Cultivate a safe agricultural workplace
  Offers general rule-related requirements and recommendations for agricultural employers to create a safer workplace.
  English 06/06/2012
- Hoja de información sobre la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas: pasos a tomar para una AEZ
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Requisitos agrícolas para el empleador para asegurar estructuras o edificios agrícolas que están dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación para áreas de cultivo al aire libre.
  Spanish Order printed copy 12/14/2018
- Una descripción general de los requisitos del empleador de la Zona de exclusión de aplicaciones (AEZ)
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Información que los empleadores necesitan proporcionar a los empleados, cuando cualquier estructura o edificio agrícola que se puede cerrar cae dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas al aire libre.
  Order printed copy 08/03/2023
- Zona de exclusión de aplicación: Estándar para la Protección del Trabajador de Oregon OSHA
  Application Exclusion Zone: Oregon OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard
  Información para ayudar a los empleadores a navegar por la zona de exclusión de aplicación con los requisitos específicos de Oregon bajo la norma de protección para el trabajador.
  Spanish Order printed copy 03/28/2025
Cards
- Employer-Provided Housing: Rule Update
  Viviendas Proporcionadas por el Empleador: Actualizaciones de Normas
  A pocket-sized card with QR codes pointing to rule updates, retaliation resources.
  English / Spanish 02/04/2025
Checklists
- Agricultural labor housing inspection checklist
  A convenient checklist of the requirements in Subdivision 4J, 437-004-1120, agricultural labor housing and related facilities.
  English 03/10/2023
- Lista de verification para la inspección de vivienda de trabajo agrícola
  Agricultural labor housing inspection checklist
  Una lista de verificación conveniente de los requisitos en la Subdivisión 4J, 437-004-1120, viviendas de trabajo agrícola e instalaciones relacionadas.
  Spanish 11/09/2018
Fact sheets
- Cooking facilities in employer-provided housing
  This fact sheet explains the deadlines and requirements for cooking areas—including buildings, utilities, appliances, and equipment—of employer-provided labor housing found in the rules adopted in 2025.
  English 05/01/2025
- Employer-provided housing requirements with delayed effective dates: January 2026-January 2028
  This fact sheet describes the adopted rule’s key changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2026; Jan. 1, 2027; and Jan. 1, 2028.
  English 02/11/2025
- High temperatures in employer-provided housing
  This fact sheet outlines housing operators’ staggered requirement implementation dates for indoor and outdoor cooling areas during high heat to ensure that workers can recover.
  English 05/19/2025
- Instalaciones de cocina en las viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador
  Cooking facilities in employer-provided housing
  Esta hoja informativa explica los plazos y requisitos para las áreas de cocina (incluidos edificios, servicios públicos, electrodomésticos y equipos) de las viviendas laborales proporcionadas por el empleador en las normas adoptadas en 2025.
  Spanish 05/01/2025
- New Employer-provided Housing Requirements Effective March 31, 2025
  Outlines the Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) rulemaking changes that take effect March 31, 2025 relating to: housing registration, water supply, food storage, site requirements, toilets, handwashing, living areas, disease reporting, and what cannot be charged to occupants.
  English 01/22/2025
- Nuevos requisitos para viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador con entrada en vigencia el 31 de marzo de 2025
  New Employer-provided Housing Requirements Effective March 31, 2025
  Describe los cambios en las normas de Vivienda para Trabajadores Agrícolas (ALH) que entran en vigencia el 31 de marzo de 2025. Estos se relacionan con: registro de vivienda, suministro de agua, almacenamiento de alimentos, requisitos del sitio, baños, lavado de manos, áreas habitables, notificación de enfermedades y lo que no se puede cobrar a los ocupantes.
  Spanish 01/30/2025
- Protection From Wildfire Smoke Rules Key Requirements
  Fact sheet describing the key requirements of Oregon OSHA’s permanent rules for protection from wildfire smoke, effective July 1, 2022. In May 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency modified the calculation for AQI. The requirements based on PM2.5 concentrations in the Oregon OSHA wildfire smoke rules are not changing. For more information, please see the guidance document https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/comments/comments-and-decisions-AO4-2022-wildfire-smoke.pdf
  English Guidance document 06/06/2024
- Requisitos clave: reglas para la protección contra el humo causado por los incendios forestales
  Protection From Wildfire Smoke Rules Key Requirements
  Hoja informativa que describe los requisitos clave de las reglas permanentes de la OSHA de Oregón para la protección contra el humo de los incendios forestales, vigentes a partir del 1 de julio de 2022. En mayo de 2024, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. modificó el cálculo del AQI. Los requisitos basados en las concentraciones de PM2.5 en las normas sobre humo de incendios forestales de la OSHA de Oregón no cambian. Para obtener más información, consulte el documento de orientación https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/comments/comments-and-decisions-AO4-2022-wildfire-smoke.pdf
  Spanish Guidance document 06/10/2024
- Requisitos para las áreas de dormitorios en las viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador
  Sleeping areas for employer-provided housing
  Esta hoja informativa explica los plazos y requisitos para las áreas de descanso y almacenamiento en viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador, según las normas adoptadas en 2025.
  Spanish 03/26/2025
- Requisitos para viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador con fechas de vigencia retrasadas: Enero de 2026-enero de 2028
  Employer-provided housing requirements with delayed effective dates: January 2026-January 2028
  Esta hoja informativa describe los cambios clave de la norma adoptada que entrarán en vigor el 1 de enero de 2026, el 1 de enero de 2027 y el 1 de enero de 2028.
  Spanish 02/26/2025
- Saneamiento del campo para el trabajo manual agrícola
  Field sanitation for agricultural hand labor
  Describe los requisitos de agua potable, sanitarios e instalaciones para lavarse las manos que se deben proporcionar a los trabajadores que realizan trabajos agrícolas manuales.
  Spanish 01/29/2025
- Sleeping areas for employer-provided housing
  This fact sheet explains the deadlines and requirements for sleeping and storage areas of employer-provided labor housing found in the rules adopted in 2025.
  English 03/17/2025
- Temperaturas altas en viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador
  High temperatures in employer-provided housing
  Esta hoja informativa describe las fechas requeridas por los operadores de viviendas para áreas de enfriamiento durante períodos de calor intenso para garantizar la recuperación de los trabajadores.
  Spanish 06/05/2025
- Water temperatures referenced in Oregon OSHA's rules
  Defines the various water temperature terms and requirements that ensure employers provide workers with cold, cool, tepid, warm, or hot water for drinking, bathing, hand washing, laundering clothes, etc.
  English 08/11/2022
Forms
- Application for Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) Registration
  Fill-in form application for registering Agricultural Labor Housing
  English 01/29/2025
- Application for Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) Registration, for occupancy starting January 1, 2026
  This application form is for applying for ALH registration when occupancy starts on or after January 1, 2026.
  English 03/31/2025
- Declaration Form for Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) Registration
  Fillable form for operators of agricultural labor housing as a part of the registration process. This form can be included, if conditions are met, with the application for registration. This declaration form is for ALH registration when occupancy starts on or after January 1, 2026.
  English 03/31/2025
- Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- WPS Handler Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each pesticide handler’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
- WPS Worker Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each worker’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
Labels and stickers
- Agua no potable! No Tomar
  Bad Water! Do not drink.
  Spanish Order printed copy 05/28/2008
Other
- Does your agricultural labor housing have lead-based paint or asbestos-containing materials?
  English 10/01/2013
Posters
- Heat Risks in Housing
  Poster resource for Heat Illness Prevention in Agricultural Labor Housing
  English 08/02/2021
- Riesgos del Calor en la Viviendas
  Heat Risks in Housing
  Poster resource for Heat Illness Prevention in Agricultural Labor Housing
  Spanish 05/16/2022
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Online course
- Curso en línea sobre el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire Smoke online course
  Este curso en línea está diseñado para satisfacer 5 de los 10 requisitos de capacitación que se encuentran en las reglas de Oregon OSHA para abordar la exposición al humo causado por incendios forestales.
  Spanish Online course 06/15/2022
- Heat Illness Prevention online course
  This online course is designed to satisfy 5 of the 7 training requirements found in Oregon OSHA’s rules to address heat illness prevention
  English Online course 05/27/2022
- Prevención de Enfermedades causadas por el Calor
  Este curso en línea está diseñado para satisfacer 5 de los 7 requisitos de capacitación que se encuentran en las normas de Oregon OSHA, para abordar la prevención de enfermedades causadas por el calor (OAR 437-002-0156 y OAR 437-004-1151).
  Spanish Online course 05/27/2022
- Wildfire Smoke online course
  This online course is designed to satisfy 5 of the 10 training requirements found in Oregon OSHA’s rules to address exposure to wildfire smoke.
  English Online course 06/10/2022

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Group

Agriculture labor housing

Adopted Rules
- Notice of Adopted Comprehensive Amendments to Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Rules
  Administrative Order 1-2025 Text of changes
Advisory Memo
- Alternative Option for Agriculture Labor Housing Registration
  The purpose of this policy is to facilitate the timely processing of Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) registration applications, while also ensuring the requirements of the ALH rule are met.
  03/31/2025
- Cambios a los requisitos del lugar de trabajo de COVID-19 para todos los lugares de trabajo y requisitos para viviendas laborales proporcionadas por el empleador a partir del 3 de abril de 2023
  Effective April 3, 2023 the COVID-19 rules were withdrawn and all other Advisory Memos in relation to COVID-19 are no longer in effect 03/29/2023
- Changes to COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for All Workplaces and Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing effective April 3, 2023
  Effective April 3, 2023 the COVID-19 rules were withdrawn and all other Advisory Memos in relation to COVID-19 are no longer in effect 03/29/2023
Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision J, General Environmental Controls
  Administrative Order 1-2025 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision J, 437-004-1120, Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities
  Administrative Order 3-2022
- Division 4, Subdivision J, Work Environment
  Administrative Order 1-2025 Word version
Interpretations
- Agricultural labor housing interpretations (Q&A)
  Questions and answers relating to rules and standards for ag labor housing.
  02/23/2024
- Hot water requirements
  12/12/2000
- Hotels and motels used in employer-provided housing- Policy Guidance
  Policy Guidance: Oregon OSHA policy on the use of hotels/motels in employer-provided housing in response to increased demand for seasonal farmworkers coupled with reduced housing availability, in large part due to significant damage to available housing as a result of wildfires and other pressures to affordable housing in communities across the state.
  04/12/2022
- Labor camp inspection meeting with U. S. Department of Labor
  08/02/1996
- Labor camps, emergency situations (revised April 11, 2003)
  04/11/2003
- Windows in agricultural housing units
  01/06/1999
Program Directives
- Guidelines for Scheduling and Conducting Inspections of Agriculture Labor Housing
  Purpose: To establish and implement procedures and guidelines for inspecting agricultural labor housing by Oregon OSHA personnel.
  A-222 05/12/2025
- Inspection Criteria: Scheduling Lists for Safety and Health Inspections
  Purpose: This Program Directive explains how the safety and health scheduling lists will be created and the criteria and ranking factors that will be used to identify the places of employment the Director believes to be the most unsafe in the state of Oregon.
  A-244 01/24/2025
- Workplace Water Quality Standards
  Purpose: This directive establishes field procedures for Oregon OSHA staff who will evaluate the adequacy of potable water from drinking water sources such as public or private water systems, wells or springs.
  A-237 04/15/2019
Summary of comments and decisions

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  This video explains Oregon OSHA's application exclusion zone in the worker protection standard
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
- Wildfire smoke protection
  Videos from Wildfire Smoke online course
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
Spanish
- Protección contra el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire smoke protection videos
  Videos del curso en línea Wildfire Smoke Protection de Oregon OSHA.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 minutes
- Zona de Exclusión de aplicación (AEZ) Explicado
  Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  Este video explica la zona de exclusión de aplicación de Oregon OSHA en el estándar de protección del trabajador.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 minutos

Additional Resources

Agricultural Labor Housing Registry

Application for registering agricultural labor housing

Field Inspection Reference Manual (FIRM)

H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program
see the Oregon Employment Department website
or the U.S. Department of Labor website