Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284 (2026)

Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use; existing lots or parcels; new lots or parcels

✓ current as of May 2026
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      215.284 Dwelling not in conjunction with farm use; existing lots or parcels; new lots or parcels. (1) In the Willamette Valley, a single-unit residential dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use may be established, subject to approval of the governing body or its designee, in any area zoned for exclusive farm use upon a finding that:

      (a) The dwelling or activities associated with the dwelling will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use;

      (b) The dwelling will be sited on a lot or parcel that is predominantly composed of Class IV through Class VIII soils that would not, when irrigated, be classified as prime, unique, Class I or Class II soils;

      (c) The dwelling will be sited on a lot or parcel created before January 1, 1993;

      (d) The dwelling will not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern of the area; and

      (e) The dwelling complies with such other conditions as the governing body or its designee considers necessary.

      (2) In counties not described in subsection (1) of this section, a single-unit residential dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use may be established, subject to approval of the governing body or its designee, in any area zoned for exclusive farm use upon a finding that:

      (a) The dwelling or activities associated with the dwelling will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use;

      (b) The dwelling is situated upon a lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel that is generally unsuitable land for the production of farm crops and livestock or merchantable tree species, considering the terrain, adverse soil or land conditions, drainage and flooding, vegetation, location and size of the tract. A lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel may not be considered unsuitable solely because of size or location if it can reasonably be put to farm or forest use in conjunction with other land;

      (c) The dwelling will be sited on a lot or parcel created before January 1, 1993;

      (d) The dwelling will not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern of the area; and

      (e) The dwelling complies with such other conditions as the governing body or its designee considers necessary.

      (3) In counties in western Oregon, as defined in ORS 321.257, not described in subsection (4) of this section, a single-unit residential dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use may be established, subject to approval of the governing body or its designee, in any area zoned for exclusive farm use upon a finding that:

      (a) The dwelling or activities associated with the dwelling will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use;

      (b) The dwelling is situated upon a lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel that is generally unsuitable land for the production of farm crops and livestock or merchantable tree species, considering the terrain, adverse soil or land conditions, drainage and flooding, vegetation, location and size of the tract. A lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel may not be considered unsuitable solely because of size or location if it can reasonably be put to farm or forest use in conjunction with other land;

      (c) The dwelling will be sited on a lot or parcel created after January 1, 1993, as allowed under ORS 215.263 (4);

      (d) The dwelling will not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern of the area; and

      (e) The dwelling complies with such other conditions as the governing body or its designee considers necessary.

      (4)(a) In the Willamette Valley, a lot or parcel allowed under paragraph (b) of this subsection for a single-unit residential dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use may be established, subject to approval of the governing body or its designee, in any area zoned for exclusive farm use upon a finding that the originating lot or parcel is equal to or larger than the applicable minimum lot or parcel size and:

      (A) Is not stocked to the requirements under ORS 527.610 to 527.770;

      (B) Is composed of at least 95 percent Class VI through Class VIII soils; and

      (C) Is composed of at least 95 percent soils not capable of producing 50 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber.

      (b) Any parcel to be created for a dwelling from the originating lot or parcel described in paragraph (a) of this subsection will not be smaller than 20 acres.

      (c) The dwelling or activities associated with the dwelling allowed under this subsection will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use.

      (d) The dwelling allowed under this subsection will not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern of the area.

      (e) The dwelling allowed under this subsection complies with such other conditions as the governing body or its designee considers necessary.

      (5) No final approval of a nonfarm use under this section shall be given unless any additional taxes imposed upon the change in use have been paid.

      (6) If a single-unit dwelling is established on a lot or parcel as set forth in ORS 215.705 to 215.750, no additional dwelling may later be sited under subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of this section.

      (7) In counties in eastern Oregon, as defined in ORS 321.805, a single-unit residential dwelling not provided in conjunction with farm use may be established, subject to the approval of the county governing body or its designee, in any area zoned for exclusive farm use upon a finding that:

      (a) The dwelling or activities associated with the dwelling will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use;

      (b) The dwelling will be sited on a lot or parcel created after January 1, 1993, as allowed under ORS 215.263 (5);

      (c) The dwelling will not materially alter the stability of the overall land use pattern of the area; and

      (d) The dwelling complies with such other conditions as the governing body or its designee considers necessary. [Formerly subsections (3) to (8) of 215.283; 2001 c.704 §4; 2003 c.621 §71; 2015 c.27 §24; 2025 c.38 §32]

 

      215.285 [Formerly 215.200; repealed by 1971 c.13 §1]

 

      215.288 [1983 c.826 §16; 1985 c.565 §33; 1985 c.811 §8; repealed by 1993 c.792 §55]

 

      215.290 [Repealed by 1963 c.619 §16]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1996–2022 · leading case: Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 146 P.3d 343 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 146 P.3d 343 (Or. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “1 ORS 215.284(2) is implemented in Douglas County by Douglas County Land Use and Development Ordinance 3.”
Moore v. Coos Cnty., 925 P.2d 927 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 10× “284(2)(b) was meant to apply in that literal and limited sense, because the legislature has demonstrated in other statutes pertaining to agriculture that, when it chooses to describe broader operations, it uses broader language. For example, ORS 215.”
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 15× “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
1000 Friends of Oregon v. Clackamas Cnty., 514 P.3d 553 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “ORS 215.284 restricts the establishment of single- family dwellings not provided in conjunction with farm use on land zoned EFU; the meaning of that statute is not implicated by the parties’ arguments on review before us.”
Friends of Parrett Mountain v. Nw. Nat. Gas Co., 79 P.3d 869 (Or. 2003). “283, or ORS 215.284. Expressly included within that group is the construction and modification of public roads and highways within EFU zones.”
Dorvinen v. Crook Cnty., 957 P.2d 180 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 15× “3 “Nonfarm dwellings” is a term commonly used as a synonym for the phrase “dwellings not provided in conjunction with farm use” that appears in ORS 215.284 and other statutes. We emphasize that other provisions govern the permissibility of nonfarm dwellings in other…”
Cent. Oregon LandWatch v. Deschutes Cnty., 396 P.3d 968 (Or. Ct. App. 2017). “283, and ORS 215.284 concern lands zoned for exclusive farm use and are also not applicable here.”
Gould v. Deschutes Cnty., 520 P.3d 433 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “4 See also ORS 215.284(2)(b) (providing, in part, that a nonfarm dwelling may be established on EFU land upon a finding that “[t]he dwelling is situated upon a lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel that is generally unsuitable land for the production of farm crops and…”
Cent. Or. Landwatch v. Crook Cnty., 432 P.3d 1161 (Or. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 27× “See ORS 215.284 (2)(b). 2 The county, in concluding that the property met that standard, emphasized the property's lack of historical *765 agricultural use, the present lack of irrigation rights and infrastructure needed to irrigate, and the absence of non-irrigated agriculture…”
Cent. Oregon LandWatch v. Deschutes Cnty., 514 P.3d 1201 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 26× “050(G)(1)(a)(6) and ORS 215.284 (2)(c). In decisions dated August 10, 2021, the hearings offi- cer rejected petitioner’s arguments and approved the con- ditional use permit applications.”
Carlson v. Benton Cnty., 961 P.2d 248 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). “The other statute, ORS 215.284(4), regulates “nonfarm dwellings” in agricultural zones and makes their permissibility contingent, inter alia, on the lot or parcel being comprised “of at least 95 percent soils not capable of producing 50 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber.”
Dep't of Land Conservation & Dev. v. Yamhill Cnty., 53 P.3d 462 (Or. Ct. App. 2002). “ORS 215.284; OAR 660-033-0130(4). The possibility that the subject property might satisfy those standards is speculative.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(1) — 1 case
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(1)(e) — 1 case
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(2) — 5 cases
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 146 P.3d 343 (Or. Ct. App. 2006). “1 ORS 215.284(2) is implemented in Douglas County by Douglas County Land Use and Development Ordinance 3.”
Moore v. Coos Cnty., 925 P.2d 927 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). “284(2)(b) was meant to apply in that literal and limited sense, because the legislature has demonstrated in other statutes pertaining to agriculture that, when it chooses to describe broader operations, it uses broader language. For example, ORS 215.”
Cent. Oregon LandWatch v. Deschutes Cnty., 514 P.3d 1201 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “050(G)(1)(a)(6) and ORS 215.284 (2)(c). In decisions dated August 10, 2021, the hearings offi- cer rejected petitioner’s arguments and approved the con- ditional use permit applications.”
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 203 P.3d 300 (Or. Ct. App. 2009).
Cent. Or. Landwatch v. Crook Cnty., 432 P.3d 1161 (Or. Ct. App. 2018). “See ORS 215.284 (2)(b). 2 The county, in concluding that the property met that standard, emphasized the property's lack of historical *765 agricultural use, the present lack of irrigation rights and infrastructure needed to irrigate, and the absence of non-irrigated agriculture…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(2)(b) — 5 cases
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 146 P.3d 343 (Or. Ct. App. 2006). “1 ORS 215.284(2) is implemented in Douglas County by Douglas County Land Use and Development Ordinance 3.”
Gould v. Deschutes Cnty., 520 P.3d 433 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “4 See also ORS 215.284(2)(b) (providing, in part, that a nonfarm dwelling may be established on EFU land upon a finding that “[t]he dwelling is situated upon a lot or parcel or portion of a lot or parcel that is generally unsuitable land for the production of farm crops and…”
Cent. Or. Landwatch v. Crook Cnty., 432 P.3d 1161 (Or. Ct. App. 2018). “See ORS 215.284 (2)(b). 2 The county, in concluding that the property met that standard, emphasized the property's lack of historical *765 agricultural use, the present lack of irrigation rights and infrastructure needed to irrigate, and the absence of non-irrigated agriculture…”
Moore v. Coos Cnty., 925 P.2d 927 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). “284(2)(b) was meant to apply in that literal and limited sense, because the legislature has demonstrated in other statutes pertaining to agriculture that, when it chooses to describe broader operations, it uses broader language. For example, ORS 215.”
Wetherell v. Douglas Cnty., 203 P.3d 300 (Or. Ct. App. 2009).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(2)(c) — 2 cases
Cent. Oregon LandWatch v. Deschutes Cnty., 514 P.3d 1201 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “050(G)(1)(a)(6) and ORS 215.284 (2)(c). In decisions dated August 10, 2021, the hearings offi- cer rejected petitioner’s arguments and approved the con- ditional use permit applications.”
Dorvinen v. Crook Cnty., 957 P.2d 180 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). “3 “Nonfarm dwellings” is a term commonly used as a synonym for the phrase “dwellings not provided in conjunction with farm use” that appears in ORS 215.284 and other statutes. We emphasize that other provisions govern the permissibility of nonfarm dwellings in other…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(3) — 1 case
Dorvinen v. Crook Cnty., 957 P.2d 180 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). “3 “Nonfarm dwellings” is a term commonly used as a synonym for the phrase “dwellings not provided in conjunction with farm use” that appears in ORS 215.284 and other statutes. We emphasize that other provisions govern the permissibility of nonfarm dwellings in other…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(4) — 1 case
Carlson v. Benton Cnty., 961 P.2d 248 (Or. Ct. App. 1998). “The other statute, ORS 215.284(4), regulates “nonfarm dwellings” in agricultural zones and makes their permissibility contingent, inter alia, on the lot or parcel being comprised “of at least 95 percent soils not capable of producing 50 cubic feet per acre per year of wood fiber.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(l)(a) — 1 case
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(l)(b) — 1 case
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.284(l)(e) — 1 case
Lindquist v. Clackamas Cnty., 932 P.2d 1190 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “In the aftermath, the amended provisions were recodified at ORS 215.284. The 1993 amendments deleted ORS 215.”
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