Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 197 § 197.015 — Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and 197A
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 197 ·
Oregon Code § 197.015·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and 197A.
As used in ORS chapters 195, 196,
197 and 197A, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) Acknowledgment
means a commission order that certifies that a comprehensive plan and land use
regulations, land use regulation or plan or regulation amendment complies with
the goals or certifies that Metro land use planning goals and objectives, Metro
regional framework plan, amendments to Metro planning goals and objectives or
amendments to the Metro regional framework plan comply with the goals.
(2) Board means
the Land Use Board of Appeals.
(3) Carport
means a stationary structure consisting of a roof with its supports and not
more than one wall, or storage cabinet substituting for a wall, and used for
sheltering a motor vehicle.
(4) Commission
means the Land Conservation and Development Commission.
(5) Comprehensive
plan means a generalized, coordinated land use map and policy statement of the
governing body of a local government that interrelates all functional and
natural systems and activities relating to the use of lands, including but not
limited to sewer and water systems, transportation systems, educational
facilities, recreational facilities, and natural resources and air and water
quality management programs. Comprehensive means all-inclusive, both in terms
of the geographic area covered and functional and natural activities and
systems occurring in the area covered by the plan. General nature means a
summary of policies and proposals in broad categories and does not necessarily
indicate specific locations of any area, activity or use. A plan is coordinated
when the needs of all levels of governments, semipublic and private agencies
and the citizens of Oregon have been considered and accommodated as much as
possible. Land includes water, both surface and subsurface, and the air.
(6) Department
means the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
(7) Director
means the Director of the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
(8) Goals means
the mandatory statewide land use planning standards adopted by the commission
pursuant to ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and 197A.
(9) Guidelines
means suggested approaches designed to aid cities and counties in preparation,
adoption and implementation of comprehensive plans in compliance with goals and
to aid state agencies and special districts in the preparation, adoption and
implementation of plans, programs and regulations in compliance with goals.
Guidelines are advisory and do not limit state agencies, cities, counties and
special districts to a single approach.
(10) Land use
decision:
(a) Includes:
(A) A final
decision or determination made by a local government or special district that
concerns the adoption, amendment or application of:
(i) The goals;
(ii) A
comprehensive plan provision;
(iii) A land use
regulation; or
(iv) A new land
use regulation;
(B) A final
decision or determination of a state agency other than the commission with
respect to which the agency is required to apply the goals;
(C) A decision of
a county planning commission made under ORS 433.763; or
(D) An expedited
land division under ORS 197A.140;
(b) Does not
include a decision of a local government:
(A) That is made
under land use standards that do not require interpretation or the exercise of
policy or legal judgment;
(B) That approves
or denies a building permit issued under clear and objective land use
standards;
(C) That is a
limited land use decision;
(D) That
determines final engineering design, construction, operation, maintenance,
repair or preservation of a transportation facility that is otherwise
authorized by and consistent with the comprehensive plan and land use
regulations;
(E) That
approves, pursuant to ORS 480.450 (7), the siting, installation, maintenance or
removal of a liquefied petroleum gas container or receptacle regulated
exclusively by the State Fire Marshal under ORS 480.410 to 480.460;
(F) That approves
or denies approval of a final subdivision or partition plat or that determines
whether a final subdivision or partition plat substantially conforms to the
tentative subdivision or partition plan; or
(G) That a
proposed state agency action subject to ORS 197.180 (1) is compatible with the
acknowledged comprehensive plan and land use regulations implementing the plan,
if:
(i) The local
government has already made a land use decision authorizing a use or activity
that encompasses the proposed state agency action;
(ii) The use or
activity that would be authorized, funded or undertaken by the proposed state
agency action is allowed without review under the acknowledged comprehensive
plan and land use regulations implementing the plan; or
(iii) The use or
activity that would be authorized, funded or undertaken by the proposed state
agency action requires a future land use review under the acknowledged
comprehe
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and 197A. AI-powered analysis coming soon.
Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 197.015
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
This section of Oregon law addresses Definitions for ORS chapters 195, 196, 197 and 197A. Read the full statute text above for details.
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