ORS 215.263
Land divisions in exclusive farm use zones

criteria for approval
rules

Text
Annotations 3

(1)

Any proposed division of land included within an exclusive farm use zone resulting in the creation of one or more parcels of land shall be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the governing body or its designee of the county in which the land is situated. The governing body of a county by ordinance shall require prior review and approval for divisions of land within exclusive farm use zones established within the county.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The governing body of a county or its designee may approve a proposed division of land to create parcels for farm use as defined in ORS 215.203 (Zoning ordinances establishing exclusive farm use zones) if it finds that:

(A)

The proposed division of land is appropriate for the continuation of the existing commercial agricultural enterprise within the area;

(B)

The parcels created by the proposed division are not smaller than the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes); or

(C)

A portion of a lot or parcel has been included within an urban growth boundary and redesignated for urban uses under the applicable acknowledged comprehensive plan and the portion of the lot or parcel that remains outside the urban growth boundary and zoned for exclusive farm use is smaller than the minimum lot or parcel size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes), subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(b)

When a parcel for farm use is created in an exclusive farm use zone under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the partition must occur along the urban growth boundary and:

(A)

If the parcel contains a dwelling, the parcel must be large enough to support continued residential use.

(B)

If the parcel does not contain a dwelling, the parcel:

(i)

Is not eligible for siting a dwelling, except as may be authorized under ORS 195.120 (Rules and planning goal amendments for parks required);

(ii)

May not be considered in approving or denying an application for siting any other dwelling; and

(iii)

May not be considered in approving a redesignation or rezoning of forestlands under the acknowledged comprehensive plan and land use regulations, except for a redesignation or rezoning to allow a public park, open space or other natural resource use.

(3)

The governing body of a county or its designee may approve a proposed division of land in an exclusive farm use zone for nonfarm uses, except dwellings, set out in ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1)(c) or (2) or 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1)(c) or (2) if it finds that the parcel for the nonfarm use is not larger than the minimum size necessary for the use. The governing body may establish other criteria as it considers necessary. Land that is divided under this subsection pursuant to ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1)(c) or 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1)(c) may not later be rezoned by the county for retail, commercial, industrial or other nonresource use, except as provided under the statewide land use planning goals or under ORS 197.732 (Goal exceptions).

(4)

In western Oregon, as defined in ORS 321.257 (Definitions for ORS 321.257 to 321.390), but not in the Willamette Valley, as defined in ORS 215.010 (Definitions), the governing body of a county or its designee:

(a)

May approve a division of land in an exclusive farm use zone to create up to two new parcels smaller than the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes), each to contain a dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use if:

(A)

The nonfarm dwellings have been approved under ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (3) or 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (2) or (3);

(B)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that was lawfully created prior to July 1, 2001;

(C)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that complies with the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes);

(D)

The remainder of the original lot or parcel that does not contain the nonfarm dwellings complies with the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes); and

(E)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are generally unsuitable for the production of farm crops and livestock or merchantable tree species considering the terrain, adverse soil or land conditions, drainage or flooding, vegetation, location and size of the tract. A parcel may not be considered unsuitable based solely on size or location if the parcel can reasonably be put to farm or forest use in conjunction with other land.

(b)

May approve a division of land in an exclusive farm use zone to divide a lot or parcel into two parcels, each to contain one dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use if:

(A)

The nonfarm dwellings have been approved under ORS 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (2) or (3);

(B)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that was lawfully created prior to July 1, 2001;

(C)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that is equal to or smaller than the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes) but equal to or larger than 40 acres;

(D)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are:

(i)

Not capable of producing more than 50 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber; and

(ii)

Composed of at least 90 percent Class VI through VIII soils;

(E)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings do not have established water rights for irrigation; and

(F)

(5)

In eastern Oregon, as defined in ORS 321.805 (Definitions for ORS 321.805 to 321.855), the governing body of a county or its designee:

(a)

(A)

The nonfarm dwellings have been approved under ORS 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (7);

(B)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that was lawfully created prior to July 1, 2001;

(C)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that complies with the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes);

(D)

The remainder of the original lot or parcel that does not contain the nonfarm dwellings complies with the minimum size established under ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes); and

(E)

(b)

May approve a division of land in an exclusive farm use zone to divide a lot or parcel into two parcels, each to contain one dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use if:

(A)

The nonfarm dwellings have been approved under ORS 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (7);

(B)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are divided from a lot or parcel that was lawfully created prior to July 1, 2001;

(C)

(D)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings are:

(i)

Not capable of producing at least 20 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber; and

(ii)

Either composed of at least 90 percent Class VII and VIII soils, or composed of at least 90 percent Class VI through VIII soils and are not capable of producing adequate herbaceous forage for grazing livestock. The Land Conservation and Development Commission, in cooperation with the State Department of Agriculture and other interested persons, may establish by rule objective criteria for identifying units of land that are not capable of producing adequate herbaceous forage for grazing livestock. In developing the criteria, the commission shall use the latest information from the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service and consider costs required to utilize grazing lands that differ in acreage and productivity level;

(E)

The parcels for the nonfarm dwellings do not have established water rights for irrigation; and

(F)

(6)

This section does not apply to the creation or sale of cemetery lots, if a cemetery is within the boundaries designated for a farm use zone at the time the zone is established.

(7)

This section does not apply to divisions of land resulting from lien foreclosures or divisions of land resulting from foreclosure of recorded contracts for the sale of real property.

(8)

The governing body of a county may not approve any proposed division of a lot or parcel described in ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1)(d) or (i), 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1)(d) or (2)(L) or 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (1), or a proposed division that separates a facility for the processing of farm products, as defined in ORS 215.255 (Farm product processing facility), from the farm operation.

(9)

The governing body of a county may approve a proposed division of land in an exclusive farm use zone to create a parcel with an existing dwelling to be used:

(a)

As a residential home as described in ORS 197.660 (Definitions) (2) only if the dwelling has been approved under ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (3) or 215.284 (Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use) (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7); and

(b)

For historic property that meets the requirements of ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1)(n) and 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1)(L).

(10)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Notwithstanding ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes), the governing body of a county or its designee may approve a proposed division of land provided:

(A)

The land division is for the purpose of allowing a provider of public parks or open space, or a not-for-profit land conservation organization, to purchase at least one of the resulting parcels; and

(B)

A parcel created by the land division that contains a dwelling is large enough to support continued residential use of the parcel.

(b)

A parcel created pursuant to this subsection that does not contain a dwelling:

(A)

Is not eligible for siting a dwelling, except as may be authorized under ORS 195.120 (Rules and planning goal amendments for parks required);

(B)

May not be considered in approving or denying an application for siting any other dwelling;

(C)

May not be considered in approving a redesignation or rezoning of forestlands except for a redesignation or rezoning to allow a public park, open space or other natural resource use; and

(D)

May not be smaller than 25 acres unless the purpose of the land division is:

(i)

To facilitate the creation of a wildlife or pedestrian corridor or the implementation of a wildlife habitat protection plan; or

(ii)

To allow a transaction in which at least one party is a public park or open space provider, or a not-for-profit land conservation organization, that has cumulative ownership of at least 2,000 acres of open space or park property.

(11)

The governing body of a county or its designee may approve a division of land smaller than the minimum lot or parcel size described in ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes) (1) and (2) in an exclusive farm use zone provided:

(a)

The division is for the purpose of establishing a church, including cemeteries in conjunction with the church;

(b)

The church has been approved under ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1) or 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1);

(c)

The newly created lot or parcel is not larger than five acres; and

(d)

The remaining lot or parcel, not including the church, meets the minimum lot or parcel size described in ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes) (1) and (2) either by itself or after it is consolidated with another lot or parcel.

(12)

Notwithstanding the minimum lot or parcel size described in ORS 215.780 (Minimum lot or parcel sizes) (1) or (2), the governing body of a county or its designee may approve a proposed division of land in an exclusive farm use zone for the nonfarm uses set out in ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) (1)(v) or 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) (1)(s) if it finds that the parcel for the nonfarm use is not larger than the minimum size necessary for the use. The governing body may establish other criteria as it considers necessary.

(13)

The governing body of a county may not approve a division of land for nonfarm use under subsection (3), (4), (5), (9), (10), (11) or (12) of this section unless any additional tax imposed for the change in use has been paid.

(14)

Parcels used or to be used for training or stabling facilities may not be considered appropriate to maintain the existing commercial agricultural enterprise in an area where other types of agriculture occur. [1973 c.503 §9; 1977 c.766 §9; 1979 c.46 §2; 1981 c.748 §48; 1983 c.826 §7; 1985 c.544 §4; 1987 c.729 §5b; 1989 c.224 §26; 1989 c.564 §8; 1989 c.861 §3; 1991 c.459 §347; 1993 c.704 §7; 1993 c.792 §12; 1997 c.318 §2; 1997 c.550 §2; 1997 c.862 §4; 1999 c.321 §1; 1999 c.349 §1; 2001 c.544 §4; 2001 c.613 §19; 2001 c.704 §3; 2003 c.621 §70; 2009 c.850 §8; 2011 c.135 §1; 2015 c.104 §1; 2019 c.262 §1; 2019 c.410 §4]

Source: Section 215.263 — Land divisions in exclusive farm use zones; criteria for approval; rules, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors215.html.

Notes of Decisions

Where substantial evidence supported county commissioners’ finding that proposed subdivision of parcel of agricultural land would promote more intensive farming and greater overall agricultural production than single parcel, state wide planning goal 3 did not require that agricultural lands be used for full-time farming where such farms were not economically viable and where smaller, part-time farms were consistent with existing agricultural enterprise in area. Meeker v. Board of Commissioners, 36 Or App 699, 585 P2d 1138 (1978), aff’d 287 Or 665, 601 P2d 804 (1979)

County may not approve partition of exclusive farm use land for purpose of placing nonfarm dwelling on parcel unless county has first determined that dwelling would meet criteria for nonfarm dwelling in EFU zone. Cherry Lane, Inc. v. Board of County Comm., 84 Or App 196, 733 P2d 488 (1987), Sup Ct review denied

Minimum parcel size requirements of ORS 215.780 are applicable to exclusive farm use lot division made for purpose of allowing nonfarm dwelling. Dorvinen v. Crook County, 153 Or App 391, 957 P2d 180 (1998), Sup Ct review denied

California:	Codes
Colorado:	C.R.S.
Nevada:	NRS
New York:	Laws
Oregon:	OAR, ORS
Texas:	Statutes
World:	Rome Statute, International Dictionary

ORS 215.263 Land divisions in exclusive farm use zones

(1)

(2)

(a)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(b)

(A)

(B)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(3)

(4)

(a)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(b)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(i)

(ii)

(E)

(F)

(5)

(a)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(b)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(i)

(ii)

(E)

(F)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(a)

(b)

(10)

(a)

(A)

(B)

(b)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(i)

(ii)

(11)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(12)

(13)

(14)

Notes of Decisions

ORS 215.263
Land divisions in exclusive farm use zones