OAR 660-006-0055
New Land Division Requirements in Agriculture/Forest Zones


(1)

A governing body shall apply the standards of OAR 660-006-0026 (New Land Division Requirements in Forest Zones) and 660-033-0100 (Minimum Parcel Size Requirements) to determine the proper minimum lot or parcel size for a mixed agriculture/forest zone. These standards are designed: To make new land divisions compatible with forest operations; to maintain the opportunity for economically efficient forest and agriculture practices; and to conserve values found on forest lands.

(2)

New land divisions less than the parcel size established according to the requirements in section (1) of this rule may be approved for any of the following circumstances:

(a)

For the uses listed in OAR 660-006-0025 (Uses Authorized in Forest Zones)(3)(m) through (o) and (4)(a) through (o) provided that such uses have been approved pursuant to OAR 660-060-0025(5) and the land division created is the minimum size necessary for the use.

(b)

For the establishment of a parcel for a dwelling that has existed since before June 1, 1995, subject to the following requirements:

(A)

The parcel established may not be larger than five acres, except as necessary to recognize physical factors such as roads or streams, in which case the parcel shall not be larger than 10 acres; and

(B)

The parcel that does not contain the dwelling is not entitled to a dwelling unless subsequently authorized by law or goal and the parcel either:
(i)
Meets the minimum land divisions standards of the zone; or
(ii)
Is consolidated with another parcel, and together the parcels meet the minimum land division standards of the zone;

(C)

The minimum tract eligible under subsection (b) of this section is 40 acres;

(D)

The tract shall be predominantly in forest use and that portion in forest use qualified for special assessment under a program under ORS chapter 321; and

(E)

The remainder of the tract does not qualify for any uses allowed under ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993) and 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties) that are not allowed on forestland.

(c)

To allow a division of forestland to facilitate a forest practice as defined in ORS 527.620 (Definitions for ORS 527.610 to 527.770) that results in a parcel that does not meet the minimum area requirements of section (1). Parcels created pursuant to this subsection:

(A)

Are not eligible for siting of a new dwelling;

(B)

May not serve as the justification for the siting of a future dwelling on other lots or parcels;

(C)

May not, as a result of the land division, be used to justify redesignation or rezoning of resource land; and

(D)

May not result in a parcel of less than 35 acres, unless the purpose of the land division is to:
(i)
Facilitate an exchange of lands involving a governmental agency; or
(ii)
Allow transactions in which at least one participant is a person with a cumulative ownership of at least 2,000 acres of forestland.

(d)

To allow a division of a lot or parcel zoned for mixed farm and forest use if:

(A)

At least two dwellings lawfully existed on the lot or parcel prior to November 4, 1993;

(B)

Each dwelling complies with the criteria for a replacement dwelling under ORS 215.213 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in counties that adopted marginal lands system prior to 1993)(1) or 215.283 (Uses permitted in exclusive farm use zones in nonmarginal lands counties)(1);

(C)

Except for one lot or parcel, each lot or parcel created under this section is between two and five acres in size;

(D)

At least one dwelling is located on each lot or parcel created under this section; and

(E)

The landowner of a lot or parcel created under this section provides evidence that a restriction prohibiting the landowner and the land owner’s successors in interest from further dividing the lot or parcel has been recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the lot or parcel is located. A restriction imposed under this section shall be irrevocable unless a statement of release is signed by the county planning director of the county in which the lot or parcel is located indicating that the comprehensive plan or land use regulations applicable to the lot or parcel have been changed so that the lot or parcel is no longer subject to statewide goal 4 (Forest Lands) or unless the land division is subsequently authorized by law or by a change in statewide goal 4 (Forest Land);

(e)

To allow a proposed division of land as provided in ORS 215.783 (Land division to preserve open space or park).

(3)

A county planning director shall maintain a record of lots and parcels that do not qualify for division under the restrictions imposed by OAR 660-006-0055 (New Land Division Requirements in Agriculture/Forest Zones)(2)(d) and (4). The record shall be readily available to the public.

(4)

A lot or parcel may not be divided under OAR 660-006-0055 (New Land Division Requirements in Agriculture/Forest Zones)(2)(d) if an existing dwelling on the lot or parcel was approved under:

(a)

A statute, an administrative rule or a land use regulation as defined in ORS 197.015 (Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and ORS 197A.300 to 197A.325) that required removal of the dwelling or that prohibited subsequent division of the lot or parcel; or

(b)

A farm use zone provision that allowed both farm and forest uses in a mixed farm and forest use zone under statewide goal 4 (Forest Lands).

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

An applicant for the creation of a parcel pursuant to subsection (2)(b) of this rule shall provide evidence that a restriction on the remaining parcel, not containing the dwelling, has been recorded with the county clerk of the county where the property is located. The restriction shall allow no dwellings unless authorized by law or goal on land zoned for forest use except as permitted under section (2) of this rule.

(b)

A restriction imposed under this section shall be irrevocable unless a statement of release is signed by the county planning director of the county where the property is located indicating that the comprehensive plan or land use regulations applicable to the property have been changed in such a manner that the parcel is no longer subject to statewide planning goals pertaining to agricultural land or forestland.

(c)

The county planning director shall maintain a record of parcels that do not qualify for the siting of a new dwelling under restrictions imposed by this section. The record shall be readily available to the public.

(6)

A landowner allowed a land division under section (2) of this rule shall sign a statement that shall be recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, declaring that the landowner and the landowner’s successors in interest will not in the future complain about accepted farming or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use.

Source: Rule 660-006-0055 — New Land Division Requirements in Agriculture/Forest Zones, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=660-006-0055.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 660-006-0055’s source at or​.us