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 want with it.
In general, land in Southern Oregon is categorized in one of the following groups based on topography, climate, soils, vegetation, and population:
Forest lands – 75% of which are owned by the public.- Agricultural Lands – Used for plant or animal farming.
- Open Space Development – 20+ acre plots of land.
- Rural Development – 5 to 10-acre plots of land.
- Suburban Development – 1 to 5 acre lots.
- Urban Development – Cities and unincorporated areas with typical lots of less than an acre and containing a mixture of residential and commercial locations.
- Industrial Development – Home to manufacturing, processing, and warehouse-type companies.
- Rural Service Centers – Remote hubs of commercial businesses to serve outlying communities.
Zoning Regulations
To further complicate matters, local zoning ordinances place particular restrictions on the types of activities allowed within each plot of land. Local county planning and development departments can provide maps of the areas with the zoning requirements for each parcel. For example, an overview of the various zoning regulations for Jackson County, Oregon can be found here: Chapter 006 Use Regulations.
Because of the way zoning regulations were initially developed and then altered over time, a neighboring plot of land can be subject to different zoning requirements than yours. So, just because a neighbor is operating an automotive repair business out of his garage doesn’t mean you can do the same.
Want to build another home on your large lot for your aging parents? Not so fast!
Landowners can also be surprised that plots of land designated for residential use may limit the number of homes constructed on the property. For example, in Jackson County, even a guest house is considered a dwelling. The parcel size must be large enough for the zone to allow two dwellings. For example, the Rural Residential (RR-5) zone requires each dwelling to be allocated 5 acres, so only properties of 10 acres or more would be allowed a second home to be built on them.
Are you confused by Zoning Regulations? We can help!
The experts at Richard Stevens & Associates can help you understand the zoning regulations applicable to your property and determine what you can do with your land. We can also help walk you through the process to request zoning changes for your location. Simply give us a call at 541-773-2646 to learn more about how we can make your land or property development process more manageable.
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