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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.243 (2026)

Agricultural land use policy

✓ current as of May 2026
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      215.243 Agricultural land use policy. The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that:

      (1) Open land used for agricultural use is an efficient means of conserving natural resources that constitute an important physical, social, aesthetic and economic asset to all of the people of this state, whether living in rural, urban or metropolitan areas of the state.

      (2) The preservation of a maximum amount of the limited supply of agricultural land is necessary to the conservation of the state’s economic resources and the preservation of such land in large blocks is necessary in maintaining the agricultural economy of the state and for the assurance of adequate, healthful and nutritious food for the people of this state and nation.

      (3) Expansion of urban development into rural areas is a matter of public concern because of the unnecessary increases in costs of community services, conflicts between farm and urban activities and the loss of open space and natural beauty around urban centers occurring as the result of such expansion.

      (4) Exclusive farm use zoning as provided by law, substantially limits alternatives to the use of rural land and, with the importance of rural lands to the public, justifies incentives and privileges offered to encourage owners of rural lands to hold such lands in exclusive farm use zones. [1973 c.503 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 46 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: Clark v. Jackson Cnty., 836 P.2d 710 (Or. 1994).
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Clark v. Jackson Cnty., 836 P.2d 710 (Or. 1994). · cites it 6× “203 and is consistent with the intent and purposes set forth in ORS 215.243, as specified in Section 218.”
Stop the Dump Coal. v. Yamhill Cnty., 435 P.3d 698 (Or. 2019). · cites it 7× “The legislature's primary statement of agricultural land use policy is contained in ORS 215.243, which has **442 remained unchanged since its enactment as part of Oregon's statewide land use planning system in 1973: "The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: "(1) Open…”
Meeker v. Bd. of Com'rs of Clatsop Cty., 601 P.2d 804 (Or. 1979). · cites it 14× “Although there were conflicts in the evidence before the Board, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Board's findings. * * *" The Court of Appeals then addressed petitioners' contention that the Board misconstrued the term "commercial" in the Goal 3…”
Newcomer v. Clackamas Cnty., 758 P.2d 369 (Or. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 12× “ORS 215.243 declares that agricultural land is to be preserved, and that the supply of agricultural land is limited.”
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 160 P.3d 614 (Or. 2007). · cites it 4× “ORS 215.243. That statute provides: “The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: “(1) Open land used for agricultural use is an efficient means of conserving natural resources that constitute an important physical, social, aesthetic and economic asset to all of the people…”
Utsey v. Coos Cnty., 32 P.3d 933 (Or. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “It is true that, as LUBA noted, neither Goal 3—pertaining to agricultural lands—nor the agricultural lands statutes contain an express limitation on recreational uses to those that are "appropriate" to the surrounding land.”
Brentmar v. Jackson Cnty., 900 P.2d 1030 (Or. 1995). · cites it 3× “020 [providing that applications for conditional use permits must comply with the Oregon Agricultural Land Use Policy, ORS 215.243], 218.060 [providing standards required of all conditional uses], and other pertinent sections of this ordinance: “1) Commercial activities that are…”
Meyer v. Lord, 586 P.2d 367 (Or. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 2× “ORS 215.243 provides: *70 "The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: "(1) Open land used for agricultural use is an efficient means of conserving natural resources that constitute an important physical, social, aesthetic and economic asset to all of the people of this…”
Stop Dump Coalition v. Yamhill Cnty., 391 P.3d 932 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 3× “283 in light of the “contextual guide” provided by ORS 215.243, which states the agricultural land use policies for the state.”
Smith v. Clackamas Cnty., 836 P.2d 716 (Or. 1992). · cites it 6× “The county considered that applying the agricultural suitability criterion to the entire 54-acre tract was consistent with the intent and purpose of ORS 215.243. 2 Looking at the agricultural suitability of the entire commonly owned parcel, the county denied petitioner’s…”
Byrd v. Stringer, 666 P.2d 1332 (Or. 1983). · cites it 2× “These goals reflect the state agricultural land use policies set forth in ORS 215.243. Goal 3 provides in relevant part: “To preserve and maintain agricultural lands.”
Valente v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 461 A.2d 716 (Me. 1983). · cites it 2× “19___); Or.Rev.Stat. § 215.243 (19___); see generally Myers, The Legal Aspects of Agricultural Districting, 55 Ind.”
Show all 46 citing cases →
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.243(1) — 1 case
Newcomer v. Clackamas Cnty., 758 P.2d 369 (Or. Ct. App. 1988). “ORS 215.243 declares that agricultural land is to be preserved, and that the supply of agricultural land is limited.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.243(2) — 10 cases
Stop the Dump Coal. v. Yamhill Cnty., 435 P.3d 698 (Or. 2019). “The legislature's primary statement of agricultural land use policy is contained in ORS 215.243, which has **442 remained unchanged since its enactment as part of Oregon's statewide land use planning system in 1973: "The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that: "(1) Open…”
Meeker v. Bd. of Com'rs of Clatsop Cty., 601 P.2d 804 (Or. 1979). “Although there were conflicts in the evidence before the Board, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Board's findings. * * *" The Court of Appeals then addressed petitioners' contention that the Board misconstrued the term "commercial" in the Goal 3…”
Brentmar v. Jackson Cnty., 900 P.2d 1030 (Or. 1995). “020 [providing that applications for conditional use permits must comply with the Oregon Agricultural Land Use Policy, ORS 215.243], 218.060 [providing standards required of all conditional uses], and other pertinent sections of this ordinance: “1) Commercial activities that are…”
Warburton v. Harney Cnty., 25 P.3d 978 (Or. Ct. App. 2001).
Newcomer v. Clackamas Cnty., 758 P.2d 369 (Or. Ct. App. 1988). “ORS 215.243 declares that agricultural land is to be preserved, and that the supply of agricultural land is limited.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.243(3) — 1 case
Meeker v. Bd. of Com'rs of Clatsop Cty., 601 P.2d 804 (Or. 1979). “Although there were conflicts in the evidence before the Board, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Board's findings. * * *" The Court of Appeals then addressed petitioners' contention that the Board misconstrued the term "commercial" in the Goal 3…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.243(4) — 3 cases
State Hous. Council v. City of Lake Oswego, 617 P.2d 655 (Or. Ct. App. 1980).
Winningham v. Dep't of Revenue, 7 Or. Tax 350 (Or. T.C. 1978).
Dep't of Land Conservation & Dev. v. Yamhill Cnty., 53 P.3d 462 (Or. Ct. App. 2002).
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