Bill > SB522

This bill allows counties to authorize clustered residential development on farm or forest lands with specific guidelines. The legislation enables counties to approve a concentrated development of new non-resource dwellings on a single tract of land, rather than approving individual dwellings separately. Counties can grant bonus homes under certain conditions, such as when dwellings share water or sewage systems or are located on low-value soil. The bill establishes detailed requirements for how these clustered developments can be structured, including limits on the number of additional dwellings, minimum and maximum lot sizes, and proximity restrictions between dwellings. Importantly, the remaining resource lands will be subject to strict limitations on future development, including deed restrictions that preserve the land for agricultural or forestry use. The bill aims to balance residential development needs with the preservation of agricultural and forest lands by encouraging more concentrated and efficient use of less productive land, while minimizing potential conflicts with existing farming and forestry practices.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB522