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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810 (2026)

Permit for removal of material from or fill of waters; rules

✓ current as of May 2026
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      196.810 Permit for removal of material from or fill of waters; rules. (1)(a) Except as otherwise specifically permitted under ORS 196.600 to 196.921, a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under authority of the Director of the Department of State Lands, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in the permit, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in an order approving a wetland conservation plan.

      (b) Notwithstanding the permit requirements of this section and notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 196.800 (3) and (13), if any removal or fill activity is proposed in essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat, except for those activities customarily associated with agriculture, a permit is required. “Essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat” as defined under this section shall be further defined and designated by rule by the Department of State Lands in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and in consultation with other affected parties.

      (c) A person is not required to obtain a permit under paragraph (b) of this subsection for prospecting or other nonmotorized activities resulting in the removal from or fill of less than one cubic yard of material at any one individual site and, cumulatively, not more than five cubic yards of material within a designated essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat segment in a single year. Prospecting or other nonmotorized activities may be conducted only within the bed or wet perimeter of the waterway and may not occur at any site where fish eggs are present. Removal or filling activities customarily associated with mining require a permit under paragraph (b) of this subsection.

      (d) A permit is not required under paragraph (b) of this subsection for construction or maintenance of fish passage and fish screening structures that are constructed, operated or maintained under ORS 498.306, 498.316, 498.326 or 509.600 to 509.645.

      (e)(A) Notwithstanding the permit requirements of this section and notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 196.800 (3) and (13), if any removal or fill activity is proposed in Oregon’s territorial sea that is related to an ocean renewable energy facility as defined in ORS 274.870, a permit is required.

      (B) An application for a permit related to an ocean renewable energy facility in the territorial sea must include all of the information required by that part of the Territorial Sea Plan that addresses the development of ocean renewable energy facilities in the territorial sea.

      (C) The Department of State Lands may not issue a removal or fill permit for an ocean renewable energy facility that does not comply with the criteria described in that part of the Territorial Sea Plan that addresses the development of ocean renewable energy facilities in the territorial sea.

      (f) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise changes the exemptions under ORS 196.921.

      (g) As used in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection:

      (A) “Bed” means the land within the wet perimeter and any adjacent nonvegetated dry gravel bar.

      (B) “Essential indigenous anadromous salmonid habitat” means the habitat that is necessary to prevent the depletion of indigenous anadromous salmonid species during their life history stages of spawning and rearing.

      (C) “Indigenous anadromous salmonid” means chum, sockeye, Chinook and Coho salmon, and steelhead and cutthroat trout, that are members of the family Salmonidae and are listed as sensitive, threatened or endangered by a state or federal authority.

      (D) “Prospecting” means searching or exploring for samples of gold, silver or other precious minerals, using nonmotorized methods, from among small quantities of aggregate.

      (E) “Wet perimeter” means the area of the stream that is under water or is exposed as a nonvegetated dry gravel bar island surrounded on all sides by actively moving water at the time the activity occurs.

      (2) A public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, may not issue a lease or permit contrary or in opposition to the conditions set out in the permit issued under ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to removal of material under a contract, permit or lease with any public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, entered into before September 13, 1967. However, no such contract, permit or lease may be renewed or extended on or after September 13, 1967, unless the person removing the material has obtained a permit under ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (4) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the Department of State Lands may issue, orally or in writing, an emergency authorization to a person for the removal of material from the beds or banks or filling of any waters of this state in an emergency, for the purpose of making repairs or for the purpose of preventing irreparable harm, injury or damage to persons or property. The emergency authorization issued under this subsection:

      (a) Shall contain conditions of operation that the department determines are necessary to minimize impacts to water resources or adjoining properties.

      (b) Shall be based, whenever practicable, on the recommendations contained in an on-site evaluation by an employee or representative of the department.

      (c) If issued orally, shall be confirmed in writing by the department within five days.

      (d) Does not relieve the person from payment of a fee calculated in the manner provided by rules adopted by the director under ORS 196.806. [Formerly 541.615 and then 196.680; 1993 c.765 §101; 1997 c.190 §1; 1997 c.508 §1; 2001 c.65 §1; 2001 c.923 §4; 2003 c.14 §96; 2003 c.738 §20; 2007 c.71 §63; 2007 c.625 §4; 2007 c.849 §14; 2013 c.198 §3; 2015 c.386 §10; 2023 c.403 §6]

 

      Note: Operation of the amendments to 196.810 by section 2, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, is dependent upon further approval by the Legislative Assembly. See section 11, chapter 516, Oregon Laws 2001, as amended by section 19, chapter 11, Oregon Laws 2009 (second note under 196.800). The text that is operative after that approval, including amendments by section 97, chapter 14, Oregon Laws 2003, section 64, chapter 71, Oregon Laws 2007, section 5, chapter 625, Oregon Laws 2007, section 15, chapter 849, Oregon Laws 2007, section 11, chapter 386, Oregon Laws 2015, and section 7, chapter 403, Oregon Laws 2023, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

      196.810. (1)(a) Except as otherwise specifically permitted under ORS 196.600 to 196.921, a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under authority of the Director of the Department of State Lands, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in the permit, or in a manner contrary to the conditions set out in an order approving a wetland conservation plan.

      (b) A permit is not required under paragraph (a) of this subsection for prospecting or other nonmotorized activities resulting in the removal from or fill of less than one cubic yard of material at any one individual site and, cumulatively, not more than five cubic yards of material within a particular stream segment in a single year. Prospecting or other nonmotorized activities may be conducted only within the bed or wet perimeter of the waterway and may not occur at any site where fish eggs are present. Removal or filling activities customarily associated with mining require a permit under paragraph (a) of this subsection.

      (c) A permit is not required under paragraph (a) of this subsection for construction or maintenance of fish passage and fish screening structures associated with irrigation ditches or the maintenance of drainage ditches that are constructed, operated or maintained under ORS 498.306, 498.316, 498.326 or 509.600 to 509.645.

      (d)(A) Notwithstanding the permit requirements of this section and notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 196.800 (3) and (13), if any removal or fill activity is proposed in Oregon’s territorial sea that is related to an ocean renewable energy facility as defined in ORS 274.870, a permit is required.

      (B) An application for a permit related to an ocean renewable energy facility in the territorial sea must include all of the information required by that part of the Territorial Sea Plan that addresses the development of ocean renewable energy facilities in the territorial sea.

      (C) The Department of State Lands may not issue a removal or fill permit for an ocean renewable energy facility that does not comply with the criteria described in that part of the Territorial Sea Plan that addresses the development of ocean renewable energy facilities in the territorial sea.

      (e) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise changes the exemptions under ORS 196.921.

      (2) A public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, may not issue a lease or permit contrary or in opposition to the conditions set out in the permit issued under ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to removal of material under a contract, permit or lease with any public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, entered into before September 13, 1967. However, a contract, permit or lease may not be renewed or extended on or after September 13, 1967, unless the person removing the material has obtained a permit under ORS 196.600 to 196.921.

      (4) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the Department of State Lands may issue, orally or in writing, an emergency authorization to a person for the removal of material from the beds or banks or filling of any waters of this state in an emergency, for the purpose of making repairs or for the purpose of preventing irreparable harm, injury or damage to persons or property. The emergency authorization issued under this subsection:

      (a) Shall contain conditions of operation that the department determines are necessary to minimize impacts to water resources or adjoining properties.

      (b) Shall be based, whenever practicable, on the recommendations contained in an on-site evaluation by an employee or representative of the department.

      (c) If issued orally, shall be confirmed in writing by the department within five days.

      (d) Does not relieve the person from payment of a fee calculated in the manner provided by rules adopted by the director under ORS 196.806.

      (5) As used in this section:

      (a) “Bed” means the land within the wet perimeter and any adjacent nonvegetated dry gravel bar.

      (b) “Prospecting” means searching or exploring for samples of gold, silver or other precious minerals, using nonmotorized methods, from among small quantities of aggregate.

      (c) “Wet perimeter” means the area of the stream that is under water or is exposed as a nonvegetated dry gravel bar island surrounded on all sides by actively moving water at the time the activity occurs.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1993–2024 · leading case: Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).
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Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 24× “We proceed by first determining the reach of the permitting statute, ORS 196.810. 10 1. The operation of the permitting statute, ORS 196.”
Joshua Bohmker v. State of Oregon, 903 F.3d 1029 (9th Cir. 2018). · cites it 3× “” Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810 (1)(g)(B). The plaintiffs filed this action in October 2015, three months before the moratorium was to take effect.”
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. Oregon State Land Bd., 309 P.3d 1103 (Or. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 8× “After analyzing the permitting statute, ORS 196.810, and reviewing its legislative history, Bridgeview, 211 Or App at 261-67 , we held that, “under ORS 196.”
Gienger v. Dep't of State Lands, 214 P.3d 75 (Or. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 6× “We conclude that the department correctly determined that Golf Course Creek is a “water of the state” and not exempt from the requirements of ORS 196.”
Owen v. Div. of State Lands, 76 P.3d 158 (Or. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “On review, petitioners renew their arguments that the proposed roadwork is exempt from the permit requirement of ORS 196.810 under the exemptions provided in ORS 196.”
Stevens v. City of Cannon Beach, 854 P.2d 449 (Or. 1993). “Department’s findings of fact state: that plaintiffs had not demonstrated erosion in the area that required a new seawall; that they had not demonstrated the need for new motel units in the city; that they had failed to obtain the permit required by ORS 196.810 for fill removal;…”
Benjamin v. Douglas Ridge Rifle Club, 673 F. Supp. 2d 1210 (D. Or. 2009). “Finally, plaintiff asserts that defendant violated ORS 196.810(l)(a) by filling waters of the State of Oregon without a permit to do so.”
Bohmker v. Oregon, 172 F. Supp. 3d 1155 (D. Or. 2016). · cites it 3× “005, and 100 yards upland perpendicular to the line of ordinary high water that is located above the lowest extent of the spawning habitat in any river and tributary thereof in this state containing essential indigenous anadromous salmon habitat, as defined in ORS 196.810, or…”
Examilotis v. Dep't of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “1 At that time, ORS 196.810(l)(a) generally prohibited the removal of material from beds and banks of state waters and the filling of state waters without a permit.”
Examilotis v. Dept. of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “[1] At that time, ORS 196.810(1)(a) generally prohibited the removal of material from beds and banks of state waters and the filling of state waters without a permit.”
Jack Scott Farms, Inc. v. Dept. of State Lands, 336 Or. App. 139 (Or. Ct. App. 2024). “As rele- vant here, under ORS 196.810(1)(a) (2015), amended by Or Laws 2023, ch 403, §§ 6, 7, “a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under the authority of the Director of…”
Coos Waterkeeper v. Port of Coos Bay Oregon, 395 P.3d 14 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “” ORS 196.810(1)(a). The term “waters of this state” is statutorily defined to mean “all natural waterways, tidal and nontidal bays, intermittent streams, constantly flowing streams, lakes, wetlands, that portion of the Pacific Ocean that is in the boundaries of this state, all…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(1) — 1 case
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. Oregon State Land Bd., 309 P.3d 1103 (Or. Ct. App. 2013). “After analyzing the permitting statute, ORS 196.810, and reviewing its legislative history, Bridgeview, 211 Or App at 261-67 , we held that, “under ORS 196.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(1)(a) — 4 cases
Examilotis v. Dept. of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “[1] At that time, ORS 196.810(1)(a) generally prohibited the removal of material from beds and banks of state waters and the filling of state waters without a permit.”
Jack Scott Farms, Inc. v. Dept. of State Lands, 336 Or. App. 139 (Or. Ct. App. 2024). “As rele- vant here, under ORS 196.810(1)(a) (2015), amended by Or Laws 2023, ch 403, §§ 6, 7, “a person may not remove any material from the beds or banks of any waters of this state or fill any waters of this state without a permit issued under the authority of the Director of…”
Coos Waterkeeper v. Port of Coos Bay Oregon, 395 P.3d 14 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “” ORS 196.810(1)(a). The term “waters of this state” is statutorily defined to mean “all natural waterways, tidal and nontidal bays, intermittent streams, constantly flowing streams, lakes, wetlands, that portion of the Pacific Ocean that is in the boundaries of this state, all…”
Jack Scott Farms, Inc. v. Dept. of State Lands, 336 Or. App. 139 (Or. Ct. App. 2024).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(4) — 1 case
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). “We proceed by first determining the reach of the permitting statute, ORS 196.810. 10 1. The operation of the permitting statute, ORS 196.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(l)(a) — 4 cases
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). “We proceed by first determining the reach of the permitting statute, ORS 196.810. 10 1. The operation of the permitting statute, ORS 196.”
Benjamin v. Douglas Ridge Rifle Club, 673 F. Supp. 2d 1210 (D. Or. 2009). “Finally, plaintiff asserts that defendant violated ORS 196.810(l)(a) by filling waters of the State of Oregon without a permit to do so.”
Owen v. Div. of State Lands, 76 P.3d 158 (Or. Ct. App. 2003). “On review, petitioners renew their arguments that the proposed roadwork is exempt from the permit requirement of ORS 196.810 under the exemptions provided in ORS 196.”
Examilotis v. Dep't of State Lands, 244 P.3d 880 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “1 At that time, ORS 196.810(l)(a) generally prohibited the removal of material from beds and banks of state waters and the filling of state waters without a permit.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(l)(b) — 2 cases
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). “We proceed by first determining the reach of the permitting statute, ORS 196.810. 10 1. The operation of the permitting statute, ORS 196.”
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. Oregon State Land Bd., 309 P.3d 1103 (Or. Ct. App. 2013). “After analyzing the permitting statute, ORS 196.810, and reviewing its legislative history, Bridgeview, 211 Or App at 261-67 , we held that, “under ORS 196.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(l)(e) — 1 case
Bridgeview Vineyards, Inc. v. State Land Bd., 154 P.3d 734 (Or. Ct. App. 2007). “We proceed by first determining the reach of the permitting statute, ORS 196.810. 10 1. The operation of the permitting statute, ORS 196.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 196.810(l)(g)(B) — 1 case
Bohmker v. Oregon, 172 F. Supp. 3d 1155 (D. Or. 2016). “005, and 100 yards upland perpendicular to the line of ordinary high water that is located above the lowest extent of the spawning habitat in any river and tributary thereof in this state containing essential indigenous anadromous salmon habitat, as defined in ORS 196.810, or…”
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