Lane County, OR Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone name
- Exclusive Farm Use (EFU-RCP), Lane Code § 16.212
- Minimum parcel size
- 25, 30, 40 or 60 acres by sub-zone
- Horticulture exception
- division down to 20 acres allowed
- Conditional use test
- no significant change to neighboring farm practices
- Land division process
- Lane Code Chapter 13 tentative plan and plat
- Enforcement
- LC 5.025.030 civil penalties, appeal LC 5.025.035
Summary
Lane County's Exclusive Farm Use (EFU-RCP) zone, Lane Code § 16.212, protects commercial agriculture on land the Rural Comprehensive Plan designates Agriculture. New parcels must meet minimum sizes of 25, 30, 40 or 60 acres by sub-zone, and any conditional use must not force a significant change in, or raise the cost of, accepted farming practices on neighboring farmland.
The purpose of the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) Zone is to protect and maintain agricultural lands for farm use, consistent with existing and future needs for agricultural products. The EFU zone is also intended to allow other uses that are compatible with agricultural activities, to protect forests, scenic resources and fish and wildlife habitat, and to maintain and improve the quality of air, water and land resources of the county. It is also the purpose of the EFU zone to qualify farms for farm use valuation under the provisions of ORS Chapter 308.
Full Breakdown
The EFU zone under Lane Code § 16.212(1) exists to protect and maintain agricultural lands for farm use, consistent with existing and future needs for agricultural products, while also allowing compatible uses that protect forests, scenic resources, and fish and wildlife habitat. The zone applies only to land the Rural Comprehensive Plan designates Agriculture, and its standards implement ORS Chapter 215 and OAR 660-033, the state's farmland preservation rules, and qualify farms for farm-use tax valuation under ORS Chapter 308.
Land divisions inside the EFU zone are capped by sub-zone under § 16.212(14): E-25 requires 25 acres, E-30 requires 30 acres, E-40 requires 40 acres and E-60 requires 60 acres, with new parcels and plats processed under Lane Code Chapter 13. The Director may approve a division down to 20 acres only for horticultural specialties, berries or grapes, and only after the applicant submits a farm management plan covering land preparation, fencing, surveying, irrigation, chemical application, machinery, livestock and labor, plus a target date for implementation.
Any conditional use listed in Table 16.212-1, such as a forest-products processing facility or a winery, must clear the review criteria at § 16.212(5): the applicant must show the use will not force a significant change in accepted farm or forest practices on surrounding lands devoted to farm or forest use, and will not significantly increase the cost of those practices. That standard is Lane County's practical right-to-farm backstop, blocking new development that would burden an existing farm operation.
Uses outside Table 16.212-1, dwellings without an approved farm-use or nonfarm finding, or land divisions below the acreage minimums are code violations handled under Lane County's Administrative Enforcement chapter, with daily civil penalties accruing until the violation is corrected.
Violations & Fines
Building or dividing land in the EFU zone outside the approved use table or below the 25/30/40/60-acre minimums triggers a Notice of Failure to Comply under LC 5.025. Civil penalties accrue daily from the date in that notice, based on factors like duration, frequency, seriousness and community impact, until the violation is corrected. Responsible parties can appeal under LC 5.025.035 before penalties are collected as a lien under LC 5.025.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum lot size to divide land in Lane County's EFU zone?
Can a new use force an existing farm to change how it operates?
What happens if I build or divide land outside these EFU rules?
Does the EFU zone allow farm-related businesses like wineries or agri-tourism?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lane County
Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon right to farm overview
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