In Oregon, naturally found water is owned by the public–whether in a river, lake, or flowing underground. That means there are regulatory hoops to jump through to use water flowing near your property or to dig a well for pumping underground water to the surface. Oregon’s water rights are granted and managed by the Water […]
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Zoning Regulations: What Can I Do With My Property?
Congratulations! You’ve either purchased or are aspiring to buy land in Southern Oregon. With beautiful views of mountain vistas or riverfront access and recreational opportunities, the land in Southern Oregon is some of the most desired ground in all of America. Yet, buyer beware–owning property does not come with the right to do anything you […]
What Happens If My Lot is in a Flood Plain?
In Jackson County, Oregon, the Planning Department relies on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels to determine which properties reside within flood plains. This is a very typical process for most local planning departments. Flood plains are simply areas that are at risk for natural flooding from a nearby waterway. FEMA develops and updates […]
Another RPS Update for Jackson County
RPS Tentative Public Hearing Now is the time for anyone that wants to comment on RPS (Regional Problem Solving) to LCDC (Land Conservation and Development Commission). LCDC is tentatively scheduled to have their public hearing on RPS from November 14-16 in Newberg. What if RPS is Approved? If the LCDC approves the RPS plan, there […]
The Importance of Lot Legality
If you own property, and you have a land use goal you would like to pursue through Jackson County, you will go through a lot legality review. It is not uncommon for a property owner to apply for a County land use permit, such as a homesite approval, only to find that their property was […]
Resource Districts
In our last blog, we focused on Jackson County zoning districts, and why they exist. Some of the zoning districts in Jackson County are resource districts, which are a little different from all other zoning districts in the County. Resource Districts & Jackson County Zoning Jackson County has many zoning districts for many different types […]
Jackson County Zoning Districts
Zoning districts are a vital part of land planning. If there were no zoning districts, there would be no rules to determine what types of residential uses and businesses can exist in specified areas throughout the County. In other words, it would be possible for something like a mobile home park to be surrounded by […]
RPS and the Medford UGB
RPS and the Medford UGB Amendment On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, the City of Medford will be holding an open house to discuss an amendment to the current Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). The purpose of the UGB amendment is to include more commercial and residential land to prepare for Medford’s growth over the next 20 […]
Nonconforming and Pre-existing Uses in Jackson County
Code Enforcement and Nonconforming Uses If you have recently been contacted by Jackson County Code Enforcement, you may find that the use of your property is nonconforming with the current standards. This may mean that the use was established prior to adoption of a zoning regulation that would now prevent that use. However, if you can […]
Land Use In Jackson County, Oregon
Responsible Land Use Planning promotes responsible use of land-based resources. The Jackson County Planning Division coordinates long-range planning through adherence to Jackson County’s Comprehensive Plan and applies the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) in the review of specific land use proposals. Have Your Land Use Goals Reviewed Review by the Jackson County Planning Division is the first […]