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Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 215.710 (2026)

High-value farmland description for ORS 215.705

✓ current as of May 2026
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      215.710 High-value farmland description for ORS 215.705. (1) For purposes of ORS 215.705, high-value farmland is land in a tract composed predominantly of soils that, at the time the siting of a dwelling is approved for the tract, are:

      (a) Irrigated and classified prime, unique, Class I or Class II; or

      (b) Not irrigated and classified prime, unique, Class I or Class II.

      (2) In addition to that land described in subsection (1) of this section, for purposes of ORS 215.705, high-value farmland, if outside the Willamette Valley, includes tracts growing specified perennials as demonstrated by the most recent aerial photography of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture taken prior to November 4, 1993. For purposes of this subsection, “specified perennials” means perennials grown for market or research purposes including, but not limited to, nursery stock, berries, fruits, nuts, Christmas trees or vineyards but not including seed crops, hay, pasture or alfalfa.

      (3) In addition to that land described in subsection (1) of this section, for purposes of ORS 215.705, high-value farmland, if in the Willamette Valley, includes tracts composed predominantly of the following soils in Class III or IV or composed predominantly of a combination of soils described in subsection (1) of this section and the following soils:

      (a) Subclassification IIIe, specifically, Bellpine, Bornstedt, Burlington, Briedwell, Carlton, Cascade, Chehalem, Cornelius, Cornelius Variant, Cornelius and Kinton, Helvetia, Hillsboro, Hullt, Jory, Kinton, Latourell, Laurelwood, Melbourne, Multnomah, Nekia, Powell, Price, Quatama, Salkum, Santiam, Saum, Sawtell, Silverton, Veneta, Willakenzie, Woodburn and Yamhill;

      (b) Subclassification IIIw, specifically, Concord, Conser, Cornelius Variant, Dayton (thick surface) and Sifton (occasionally flooded);

      (c) Subclassification IVe, specifically, Bellpine Silty Clay Loam, Carlton, Cornelius, Jory, Kinton, Latourell, Laurelwood, Powell, Quatama, Springwater, Willakenzie and Yamhill; and

      (d) Subclassification IVw, specifically, Awbrig, Bashaw, Courtney, Dayton, Natroy, Noti and Whiteson.

      (4) In addition to that land described in subsection (1) of this section, for purposes of ORS 215.705, high-value farmland, if west of the summit of the Coast Range and used in conjunction with a dairy operation on January 1, 1993, includes tracts composed predominantly of the following soils in Class III or IV or composed predominantly of a combination of soils described in subsection (1) of this section and the following soils:

      (a) Subclassification IIIe, specifically, Astoria, Hembre, Knappa, Meda, Quillayutte and Winema;

      (b) Subclassification IIIw, specifically, Brenner and Chitwood;

      (c) Subclassification IVe, specifically, Astoria, Hembre, Meda, Nehalan, Neskowin and Winema; and

      (d) Subclassification IVw, specifically, Coquille.

      (5) For purposes of approving a land use application under ORS 215.705, the soil class, soil rating or other soil designation of a specific lot or parcel may be changed if the property owner:

      (a) Submits a statement of agreement from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture that the soil class, soil rating or other soil designation should be adjusted based on new information; or

      (b)(A) Submits a report from a soils scientist whose credentials are acceptable to the State Department of Agriculture that the soil class, soil rating or other soil designation should be changed; and

      (B) Submits a statement from the State Department of Agriculture that the Director of Agriculture or the director’s designee has reviewed the report described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and finds the analysis in the report to be soundly and scientifically based.

      (6) Soil classes, soil ratings or other soil designations used in or made pursuant to this section are those of the Soil Conservation Service in its most recent publication for that class, rating or designation before November 4, 1993. [1993 c.792 §3; 1995 c.79 §78; 1995 c.812 §8]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1996–2016 · leading case: Lane Cnty. v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 942 P.2d 278 (Or. 1997).
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Lane Cnty. v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 942 P.2d 278 (Or. 1997). “OAR 660-33-020(8); ORS 215.710. 2 As originally adopted in 1973, ORS 197.”
Lane Cnty. v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 910 P.2d 414 (Or. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “304(1); ORS 215.710. Second, the legislature authorized LCDC to review comprehensive plans for conformance with amended goals and regulatory requirements related to high-value farmland: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, [LCDC may] review comprehensive plan and land…”
Barkers Five, LLC v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 323 P.3d 368 (Or. Ct. App. 2014). “” ORS 215.710; OAR 660-033-0020(8). As ODA summarized, “high-value farmland” is “land in a tract composed predominantly (50.”
1000 Friends of Oregon v. Land Conservation & Dev. Comm'n, 259 P.3d 1021 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). “Second priority may include resource land that is completely surrounded by exception areas unless such resource land is high-value farmland as described in ORS 215.710. “(c) If land under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection is inadequate to accommodate the amount of land…”
Residents of Rosemont v. Metro, 21 P.3d 1108 (Or. Ct. App. 2001). “Second priority may include resource land that is completely surrounded by exception areas unless such resource land is high-value farmland as described in ORS 215.710. “(c) If land under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection is inadequate to accommodate the amount of land…”
1000 Friends of Oregon v. Metro, 26 P.3d 151 (Or. Ct. App. 2001). “Second priority may include resource land that is completely surrounded by exception areas unless such resource land is high-value farmland as described in ORS 215.710. “(c) If land under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection is inadequate to accommodate the amount of land…”
Marquam Farms Corp. v. Multnomah Cnty., 936 P.2d 990 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). “304(1); ORS 215.710.” Id. We emphasized in particular in Lane County, id.”
Hunnicutt v. Myers, 155 P.3d 870 (Or. 2007). “Petitioner maintains that the word “farmland” could mean either “high-value farmland,” as that phrase is defined in ORS 215.710, “agricultural land,” as that phrase is defined in Statewide Planning Goal 3, or some other kind of land.”
Dep't of Land Conservation & Dev. v. Yamhill Cnty., 949 P.2d 1245 (Or. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “705 provides, as relevant: “(1) A governing body of a county or its designate may allow the establishment of a single-family dwelling on a lot or parcel located within a farm or forest zone as set forth in this section and ORS 215.710, 215.720, 215.740 and 215.750 after…”
Land Watch v. Lane Cnty., 388 P.3d 434 (Or. Ct. App. 2016). “Second priority may include resource land that is completely surrounded by exception areas unless such resource land is high-value farmland as described in ORS 215.710. “(c) If land under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection is inadequate to accommodate the amount of land…”
Bruggere v. Clackamas Cnty., 7 P.3d 634 (Or. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “705, the so-called “lot-of-record” statute, provides, in part: “(1) A governing body of a county or its designate may allow the establishment of a single-family dwelling on a lot or parcel located within a farm or forest zone as set forth in this section and ORS 215.710,…”
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