Does Oregon’s planning program allow new dwellings on agricultural land?
Yes. Oregon’s laws on EFU zoning provide for several types of new dwellings. The main types are replacement dwellings for dwellings that are removed, “nonfarm dwellings” on less productive parts of farms and ranches and “farm dwellings” for owners and operators of commercial farms and ranches. There are now seven different ways for dwellings to be approved in EFU zones: • As a primary dwelling for the farm operator • As an accessory dwelling for a relative of the farmer who will live on the farm and help operate it. • As an accessory dwelling for farm help not related to the operator. • As a ‘nonfarm dwelling.’ • On ‘lots-of-record’ owned before 1985 . • Temporarily, during a medical hardship of a family member. • To replace an existing dwelling. Every two years, the department prepares and releases a Farm Report that documents the numbers and locations of approved new farm and nonfarm uses and land divisions in EFU zones across the state. What threats are there to farmland? A vibrant
