Before the 1960s, there was little statewide coordination of land use provisions in place. The State was growing in population quickly as families continued to move west. Additionally, Oregon and Washington became homes to families beginning to move out of Southern Californian neighborhoods that were quickly becoming densely populated. As a result, during the 1960s […]
Jackson County
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Aggregate Permit in Jackson County, Oregon
Obtaining An Aggregate Permit Aggregate permits are often the most complex and, unfortunately, expensive permits to obtain in Jackson County. All mining, whether for aggregate resources or precious metals, must be reviewed and permitted not only by Jackson County, but by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) as well. Deciding Which Aggregate […]
Proving Legal Access To Build A Home
Are you planning to build a home on your land? If you want to build a home, one of the many requirements you will have to meet is proving you have legal access to that home. If your property is outside city limits, your access may be via a road owned by BLM, USFS, or a […]
Introduction of House Bill 3615 for Jackson County, Josephine County, and Douglas County
Jackson County Residents: Rural Jackson County residents keep your hopes up. There is a chance that House Bill 3615 will be re-introduced with the Oregon legislature this February, 2012. How Jackson County Will Be Affected: If this bill passes, it will give Jackson County, Josephine County, and Douglas County the ability to petition LCDC (Land […]