Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 197 § 197.022 — was enacted into law by
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 197 ·
Oregon Code § 197.022·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
was enacted into law by
the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 197
or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised
Statutes for further explanation.
Note:
Sections 1, 2 and 5, chapter 217,
Oregon Laws 2021, provide:
Sec. 1.
Section 2 of this 2021 Act is
added to and made a part of ORS chapter 197 [series became ORS chapters 197 and
197A]. [2021 c.217 §1]
Sec. 2.
Restoration of uses destroyed by 2020 wildfires.
(1) This section applies only to
owners of properties on which structures or uses were destroyed or interrupted
by a wildfire that was identified in an executive order issued by the Governor
in accordance with the Emergency Conflagration Act under ORS 476.510 to 476.610
between August 1 and September 30, 2020. The local government may alter,
restore or replace such a use as provided in this section in lieu of another
process.
(2) Except as
provided in subsection (4) of this section, a property owner may alter, restore
or replace a nonresidential use without further application with the local
government if:
(a) The use was
allowed outright as an accessory use, without regard to whether the primary use
was destroyed or was or will be restored;
(b)(A) The use
was subject to a land use process; and
(B) A permit,
including a conditional permit, was issued for the use notwithstanding any
expiration of the permit or any subsequent changes to the law or process; or
(c)(A) The use
was established before a requirement that the use be subject to a land use
process; and
(B) The replacement
use conforms as nearly as practicable to records of the use with the county
assessor, building permit information or other reliable records.
(3) The local
government shall approve an application to alter, restore or replace a dwelling
if the local government determines that the evidence in the record establishes
that:
(a) The former
dwelling:
(A) Had intact
exterior walls and roof structure;
(B) Had indoor
plumbing consisting of a kitchen sink, toilet and bathing facilities connected
to a sanitary waste disposal system;
(C) Had interior
wiring for interior lights;
(D) Had a heating
system; and
(E)(i) Was
authorized by building permits or other regulatory approval process by the
appropriate authority; or
(ii) Was assessed
as a residential dwelling for purposes of ad valorem taxation for the tax year
beginning July 1, 2001, and is not subject to unresolved enforcement
proceedings questioning the lawfulness of the dwelling; and
(b) The proposed
dwelling will:
(A) Not exceed
the floor area of the destroyed dwelling by more than 10 percent;
(B) Be adequately
served by water, sanitation and roads;
(C) Be located
wholly or partially within the footprint of the destroyed dwelling unless the
applicant chooses a different location within the same lot or parcel to comply
with local flood regulations or to avoid a natural hazard area; and
(D) Comply with
applicable building codes that were in effect on the later of:
(i) January 1,
2008; or
(ii) The date of
the former dwellings construction.
(4) A local
government may not add conditions to the approval or siting of a dwelling under
subsection (3) of this section except as necessary to maintain participation in
the National Flood Insurance Program under 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. A local
government may require that the property owner submit an application for a
permit for the approval or siting of a nonresidential use only for the purpose
of establishing such conditions that are necessary to maintain participation in
the National Flood Insurance Program.
(5) A local
government may delegate the approval of an application under subsection (3) of
this section to:
(a) A hearings
officer, as defined in ORS 215.402 or 227.160;
(b) A planning
commission, as described in ORS 215.020; or
(c) A building
official, as defined in ORS 455.715.
(6) The findings
of the local government or its designee in approving an application under
subsection (3) of this section is not a land use decision. The local government
may not require an applicant give notice to any nonparty. The findings and
conclusions of the local government are entitled to deference if there is any
evidence to support the findings and are subject to review only under ORS
34.010 to 34.100.
(7) If a local
government determines based on the evidence in the record that the use legally
existed, the local government may, through a land use decision, approve an
application to alter, restore or replace a use for which a land use
application, building permit or other regulatory approval was required but
record of the approval is unavailable for:
(a) A dwelling
built after January 1, 2001, that complies with subsection (3)(a)(A) to (D) and
(b) of this section; or
(b) A
nonresidential use or structure.
(8) An
application under this section must be filed on or before September 30, 2025.
(9) For
applications described in
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses was enacted into law by
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 197.022
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
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