Corvallis, OR Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Chapter 3.30 of the Land Development Code establishes the AG-OS Zone to implement the Open Space-Agriculture Comprehensive Plan designation, reserving land in the City of Corvallis for Agricultural Research Use and compatible Horticultural Research Use Types under LDC § 3.30.10. Residential uses are only Accessory to farming, and Table 3.30-2 permits Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture, Community Garden, Garden, Horticulture, Market Garden, Row and Field Crops and Tree Crops outright ("P"), while Animal Sales and Services uses such as Horse Stables, Kennels, Stockyards and Veterinary services, plus Campgrounds (Willamette Park only), require Conditional Development ("CD") review under LDC Chapter 2.3.

LDC § 3.30.40 requires every use, activity, or operation in the zone to comply with local nuisance and animal control ordinances and state and federal standards. Dimensional standards under LDC § 3.30.50 set a minimum 25-foot setback along any AG-OS boundary abutting a residential zone, and street setbacks of 100 feet from arterial streets, 70 feet from collector streets and 25 feet from all other streets. Where residential development already existed on December 31, 2006 next to Actively Farmed OS-AG Land, LDC § 3.30.60 layers on special buffering: a 50-foot continuous plant or plant/berm buffer plus a 100-foot building setback from the older homes' property lines.

A street may cross that 100-foot setback only if the required 50-foot buffer still separates the street from the farmed land. Property owners seeking relief from these standards must apply for a Development Standards Adjustment under Chapter 2.12 or a Planned Development under Chapter 2.5; the base provisions of Articles I and II are not eligible for variation. Community Development administers the AG-OS Zone as part of Building Permit review under LDC § 1.3.20.