Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441 (2026)

Use of real property for religious activities

✓ current as of May 2026
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      215.441 Use of real property for religious activities. (1) If a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, chapel, meeting house or other nonresidential place of worship is allowed on real property under state law and rules and local zoning ordinances and regulations, a county shall allow the reasonable use of the real property for activities customarily associated with the practices of the religious activity, including:

      (a) Worship services.

      (b) Religion classes.

      (c) Weddings.

      (d) Funerals.

      (e) Meal programs.

      (f) Child care or any preschool or prekindergarten education, but not private or parochial education for kindergarten through grade 12 or higher education.

      (2) A county may:

      (a) Subject real property described in subsection (1) of this section to reasonable regulations, including site review or design review, concerning the physical characteristics of the uses authorized under subsection (1) of this section; or

      (b) Prohibit or restrict the use of real property by a place of worship described in subsection (1) of this section if the county finds that the level of service of public facilities, including transportation, water supply, sewer and storm drain systems is not adequate to serve the place of worship described in subsection (1) of this section.

      (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a county may allow a private or parochial school for kindergarten through grade 12 or higher education to be sited under applicable state law and rules and local zoning ordinances and regulations. [2001 c.886 §2; 2017 c.745 §7; 2019 c.640 §19; 2021 c.385 §4; 2021 c.446 §4; 2025 c.267 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2010–2021 · leading case: Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020).
Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 37× “441 did not preclude Multnomah County from requiring intervenors to show that their proposed mosque conformed to county compatibility standards, but that intervenors had nevertheless made that show- ing. On review, petitioners contend in four assignments of error that interve-…”
Friends of Yamhill Cnty., Inc. v. Bd. of Commissioners, 238 P.3d 1016 (Or. Ct. App. 2010). “, “operations for the exploration for minerals” and “creation, restoration or enhancement of wetlands”)); ORS 215.441 and ORS 227.500 (regulating “use of * * * real property for activities customarily associated with” places of worship).”
Moore v. City of Eugene, 482 P.3d 190 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). “, “operations for the exploration for minerals” and “creation, restoration or enhancement of wetlands”)); ORS 215.441 and ORS 227.500 (regulat- ing “use of * * * real property for activities customar- ily associated with” places of worship).”
Friends of Yamhill Cnty. v. Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners of Yamhill Cnty., 446 P.3d 548 (Or. Ct. App. 2019). “283 (listing of 'uses' allowed in exclusive farm use zones as including certain types of structures ( e.g., 'public or private schools,' 'churches,' and 'dwellings') and 'operations' or activities on land ( e.”
Coles Valley Church v. Oregon Land Use Bd. of Appeals (D. Or. 2020). · cites it 2× “See also ORS § 215.441(1)(g). Plaintiffs responded that the RLUIPA required local governments to allow churches to use their own land for the free exercise of religion “to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of” the United States Constitution and RLUIPA and therefore the…”
Coles Valley Church v. Oregon Land Use Bd. of Appeals (D. Or. 2021). · cites it 2× “¶ 20 (emphasis added); see also ORS § 215.441(1)(g). Plaintiffs responded that the RLUIPA required local governments to allow churches to use their own land for the free exercise of religion “to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of” the United States Constitution and…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441(1) — 1 case
Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). “441 did not preclude Multnomah County from requiring intervenors to show that their proposed mosque conformed to county compatibility standards, but that intervenors had nevertheless made that show- ing. On review, petitioners contend in four assignments of error that interve-…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441(1)(g) — 2 cases
Coles Valley Church v. Oregon Land Use Bd. of Appeals (D. Or. 2020). “See also ORS § 215.441(1)(g). Plaintiffs responded that the RLUIPA required local governments to allow churches to use their own land for the free exercise of religion “to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of” the United States Constitution and RLUIPA and therefore the…”
Coles Valley Church v. Oregon Land Use Bd. of Appeals (D. Or. 2021). “¶ 20 (emphasis added); see also ORS § 215.441(1)(g). Plaintiffs responded that the RLUIPA required local governments to allow churches to use their own land for the free exercise of religion “to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of” the United States Constitution and…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441(2) — 1 case
Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). “441 did not preclude Multnomah County from requiring intervenors to show that their proposed mosque conformed to county compatibility standards, but that intervenors had nevertheless made that show- ing. On review, petitioners contend in four assignments of error that interve-…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441(2)(b) — 1 case
Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). “441 did not preclude Multnomah County from requiring intervenors to show that their proposed mosque conformed to county compatibility standards, but that intervenors had nevertheless made that show- ing. On review, petitioners contend in four assignments of error that interve-…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.441(3) — 1 case
Tarr v. Multnomah Cnty., 473 P.3d 603 (Or. Ct. App. 2020). “441 did not preclude Multnomah County from requiring intervenors to show that their proposed mosque conformed to county compatibility standards, but that intervenors had nevertheless made that show- ing. On review, petitioners contend in four assignments of error that interve-…”
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