Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410 (2026)

Policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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      199.410 Policy. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:

      (a) A fragmented approach has developed to public services provided by local government. Fragmentation results in duplications in services and resistance to cooperation and is a barrier to planning implementation. Such an approach has limited the orderly development and growth of Oregon’s urban areas to the detriment of the citizens of this state.

      (b) The programs and growth of each unit of local government affect not only that particular unit but also the activities and programs of a variety of other units within each urban area.

      (c) As local programs become increasingly intergovernmental, the state has a responsibility to insure orderly determination and adjustment of local government boundaries to best meet the needs of the people.

      (d) Local comprehensive plans define local land uses but may not specify which units of local government are to provide public services when those services are required.

      (e) Urban population densities and intensive development require a broad spectrum and high level of community services and controls. When areas become urbanized and require the full range of community services, priorities are required regarding the type and levels of services that the residents need and desire. Community service priorities need to be established by weighing the total service needs against the total financial resources available for securing services. Those service priorities are required to reflect local circumstances, conditions and limited financial resources. A single governmental agency, rather than several governmental agencies is in most cases better able to assess the financial resources and therefore is the best mechanism for establishing community service priorities.

      (2) It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that each boundary commission establish policies and exercise its powers under this chapter in order to create a governmental structure that promotes efficiency and economy in providing the widest range of necessary services in a manner that encourages and provides planned, well-ordered and efficient development patterns.

      (3) The purposes of ORS 199.410 to 199.534 are to:

      (a) Provide a method for guiding the creation and growth of cities and special service districts in Oregon in order to prevent illogical extensions of local government boundaries and to encourage the reorganization of overlapping governmental agencies;

      (b) Assure adequate quality and quantity of public services and the financial integrity of each unit of local government;

      (c) Provide an impartial forum for the resolution of local government jurisdictional questions;

      (d) Provide that boundary determinations are consistent with acknowledged local comprehensive plans and are, in conformance with statewide planning goals. In making boundary determinations the commission shall first consider the acknowledged comprehensive plan for consistency of its action. Only when the acknowledged local comprehensive plan provides inadequate policy direction shall the commission consider the statewide planning goals. The commission shall consider the timing, phasing and availability of services in making a boundary determination; and

      (e) Reduce the fragmented approach to service delivery by encouraging single agency service delivery over service delivery by several agencies. [1969 c.494 §1; 1981 c.265 §1; 1989 c.92 §8; 1997 c.541 §347]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases, 1972–2019 · leading case: Rivergate Residents Ass'n v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 689 P.2d 326 (Or. Ct. App. 1984).
Rivergate Residents Ass'n v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 689 P.2d 326 (Or. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 2× “462(1) provides that in order to carry out the purposes described by ORS 199.410, 6 the Commission shall: “* * * consider economic, demographic and sociological trends and projections pertinent to the proposal, past and prospective physical development of land that would…”
Norvell v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 604 P.2d 896 (Or. Ct. App. 1979). “462(1) provides: "In order to carry out the purposes described by ORS 199.410 when reviewing a petition for a boundary change, a boundary commission shall consider economic, demographic and sociological trends and projections pertinent to the proposal, and past and prospective…”
McGowan v. Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 795 P.2d 560 (Or. Ct. App. 1990). “464, a boundary commission shall consider local comprehensive planning for the area, economic, demographic and sociological trends and projections pertinent to the proposal, past and prospective physical development of land that would directly or indirectly be affected by the…”
Marion Cnty. Fire Dist. 1 v. Marion-Polk Cnty. Boundary Comm'n, 526 P.2d 1031 (Or. Ct. App. 1974). · cites it 5× “Authority and procedure for the Commission are provided in ORS 199.410 through 199.514. Appeal from the Commission’s orders within 30 days of final order is provided for in ORS 199.”
River Road Water Dist. v. City of Eugene, 492 P.2d 812 (Or. Ct. App. 1972). · cites it 2× “⑦ The 1971 amendments (Oregon Laws 1971, ch 462, Section 19, p 731) provide: “All boundary changes initiated and purported to be effected in accordance with ORS 199.410 to 199.540 prior to the effective date of this Act are hereby ratified and declared to be valid…”
Redland Water Dist. v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 665 P.2d 1241 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 6× “715(2) provides: “Except as otherwise provided by ORS 199.410 to 199.519 [proceedings before a boundary commission for the formation or change of organization of special districts], all district formation and change of organization proceedings shall be initiated, conducted and…”
Donaldson v. Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 761 P.2d 1349 (Or. Ct. App. 1988). “416 provides, in part: “As used in ORS 199.410 to 199.519, unless the context requires otherwise: «* * * * * “(6) ‘City’ includes proposed city.”
City of Wood Vill. v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 616 P.2d 528 (Or. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 2× “ORS 199.410(2) sets forth the function and purpose of local Boundary Commissions.”
McKnight v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 704 P.2d 1153 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “See ORS 199.410 et seq. Although susceptible to petitioners’ reading, we are satisfied that, read as a whole, the rule effectively assigns responsibility to the boundary commissions under the circumstances petitioners describe and that it does not require counties and cities to…”
Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n v. City of Eugene, 578 P.2d 473 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). “Among the stated purposes of ORS ch 199 is the prevention of "illogical extensions of local government boundaries” and the assurance of "adequate quality and quantity of public services * * ORS 199.410(2). If that policy was not offended by the situation as it existed prior to…”
Citizens Against Annexation v. Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 226 P.3d 711 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 8× “) The referenced exhibit details how the annexation will meet the policy considerations and “purposes” outlined in ORS 199.410. Finally, the exhibit lists “reasons” for the annexation, including that the “proposal was supported by the City of Florence and the owners of the…”
Multnomah Cnty. Rural Fire Prot. Dist. No. 10 v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 868 P.2d 783 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 12× “The district makes numerous arguments, but three recurring themes run through most of them: that the commission did not make adequate findings to support its decision, that its findings are not supported by substantial evidence and that the stated reasons for its decisions are…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(1)(e) — 1 case
Multnomah Cnty. Rural Fire Prot. Dist. No. 10 v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 868 P.2d 783 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “The district makes numerous arguments, but three recurring themes run through most of them: that the commission did not make adequate findings to support its decision, that its findings are not supported by substantial evidence and that the stated reasons for its decisions are…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(2) — 6 cases
City of Wood Vill. v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 616 P.2d 528 (Or. Ct. App. 1980). “ORS 199.410(2) sets forth the function and purpose of local Boundary Commissions.”
Redland Water Dist. v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 665 P.2d 1241 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). “715(2) provides: “Except as otherwise provided by ORS 199.410 to 199.519 [proceedings before a boundary commission for the formation or change of organization of special districts], all district formation and change of organization proceedings shall be initiated, conducted and…”
Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n v. City of Eugene, 578 P.2d 473 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). “Among the stated purposes of ORS ch 199 is the prevention of "illogical extensions of local government boundaries” and the assurance of "adequate quality and quantity of public services * * ORS 199.410(2). If that policy was not offended by the situation as it existed prior to…”
Donaldson v. Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 782 P.2d 449 (Or. Ct. App. 1989).
Brown v. City of Eugene, 279 P.3d 298 (Or. Ct. App. 2012).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(2)(b) — 1 case
Redland Water Dist. v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 665 P.2d 1241 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). “715(2) provides: “Except as otherwise provided by ORS 199.410 to 199.519 [proceedings before a boundary commission for the formation or change of organization of special districts], all district formation and change of organization proceedings shall be initiated, conducted and…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(2)(d) — 1 case
Rivergate Residents Ass'n v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 689 P.2d 326 (Or. Ct. App. 1984). “462(1) provides that in order to carry out the purposes described by ORS 199.410, 6 the Commission shall: “* * * consider economic, demographic and sociological trends and projections pertinent to the proposal, past and prospective physical development of land that would…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(3)(d) — 1 case
Citizens Against Annexation v. Lane Cnty. Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 226 P.3d 711 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “) The referenced exhibit details how the annexation will meet the policy considerations and “purposes” outlined in ORS 199.410. Finally, the exhibit lists “reasons” for the annexation, including that the “proposal was supported by the City of Florence and the owners of the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 199.410(3)(e) — 1 case
Multnomah Cnty. Rural Fire Prot. Dist. No. 10 v. Portland Metro. Area Local Gov't Boundary Comm'n, 868 P.2d 783 (Or. Ct. App. 1994). “The district makes numerous arguments, but three recurring themes run through most of them: that the commission did not make adequate findings to support its decision, that its findings are not supported by substantial evidence and that the stated reasons for its decisions are…”
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