Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
404.095“Search and rescue” not to include urban search and rescue 404.100Search and Rescue Coordinator; appointment; duties 404.105Program for air search and rescue 404.110Search and rescue activities; responsibilities of sheriff; delegation of sheriff’s duties 404.115Restriction of access to search and rescue area 404.120County sheriff to adopt search and rescue plan; contents; annual review 404.125Critique of search and rescue incident; filing amended search and rescue plan with Oregon Department of Emergency Management 404.130Search and rescue incident number 404.135Investigative subpoena 404.200Definitions for ORS 404.200 to 404.215 404.205Application 404.210Coverage under Oregon Tort Claims Act 404.215Workers’ compensation coverage 404.250Leave of absence from employment for search and rescue volunteer 404.255Definitions 404.257Required disclosures by private search parties 404.260Required notification to county sheriff 404.265Imposition of civil penalties by county 404.270Reimbursement of public body for search and rescue by benefited persons; amount; exceptions 404.300Definitions for ORS 404.300 to 404.315 404.305Assumption of risk of wilderness travel or mountain climbing; use and effect of electronic signaling devices 404.310Required equipment when guiding children above timberline 404.315Exemption from liability for electronic signaling device; exceptions 404.325Posting of emergency contact telephone number 404.350Rescue of companion animal 404.400Agreement for outdoor recreation search and rescue card program 404.410Requirements of program; search and rescue grants; reporting

Chapter 404 — Search and Rescue

ORS 404.260 Required notification to county sheriff

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, at least 72 hours before engaging in efforts to locate a missing person, a private search party shall notify the sheriff of the county in which the efforts will take place.

(2)

A notification under this section must include the following information:

(a)

The name, residence address and contact information for the private search party;

(b)

The date of birth of the private search party;

(c)

Whether the private search party holds certifications related to search and rescue, emergency operations or medicine;

(d)

The identity of the missing person;

(e)

Whether the private search party intends to use dogs in the search effort;

(f)

The anticipated time frame for the search efforts; and

(g)

Which of the notifications described in ORS 404.257 (2) the private search party is required to make, if any, and whether the private search party has made such notifications.

(3)

Notifications to sheriffs under this section must be made by telephone, in writing or through any Internet-based portal created for the purpose of making such notifications.

(4)

The law enforcement agency of any public body may authorize private search parties to begin search efforts before the 72-hour period described in subsection (1) of this section has elapsed.

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Provenance

Version history

Prior statutory text is not available in the ingested published editions. Consult an earlier official ORS edition or the cited Oregon Laws chapter.