Lane County, OR Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Lane Code § LC 16.212(4)(k)
- Zone
- Exclusive Farm Use (EFU-RCP)
- County review level
- Type II land use decision
- State permit required first
- DEQ license under ORS 454.695, 459.205, 468B.050-055
- Septage treatment limit
- Portable, truck-trailer-transportable facilities only
- Cross-referenced statute
- ORS 215.246 to 215.251
Summary
In Lane County's Exclusive Farm Use zone, land-applying reclaimed water, industrial process water, biosolids or septage for farming, horticulture, silviculture or irrigation requires a license or permit from the Oregon DEQ before the use begins, plus Type II land use approval under Lane Code § LC 16.212(4)(k). No county approval issues without the DEQ authorization already in hand.
Land application of reclaimed water, agricultural process or industrial process water or bio solids, or the onsite treatment of septage prior to the land application of bio solids, for agricultural, horticultural or silvicultural production, or for irrigation in connection with a use allowed in the EFU zone is subject to the issuance of a license, permit or other approval by the Department of Environmental Quality under ORS 454.695, 459.205, 468B.050, 468B.053 or 468B.055, or in compliance with rules adopted under 468B.095, and with the requirements of ORS 215.246 to 215.251. For the purposes of this paragraph, onsite treatment of septage prior to the land application of bio solids is limited to treatment using treatment facilities that are portable, temporary and transportable by truck trailer, as defined in ORS 801.580, during a period of time within which land applicable of bio solids is authorized under the license, permit or other approval.
Full Breakdown
212(4)(k) governs any land application of reclaimed water, agricultural or industrial process water, biosolids, or the onsite treatment of septage before it is land-applied, when the activity serves agricultural, horticultural or silvicultural production or irrigation for a use already allowed in the county's Exclusive Farm Use (EFU-RCP) zone. 251, the state's farm-use land division and use standards. 2) classifies the activity as an accessory use subject to Type II land use review, a director-level decision track, for both high-value and non-high-value farmland alike. 580, and only for the period the DEQ license or permit authorizes the land application.
Because the site sits in the EFU zone, the county reviews the use for compatibility with the Rural Comprehensive Plan alongside the DEQ paperwork, and an application missing the DEQ authorization cannot be approved. 212(3) and (4) together before filing with Lane County Land Management.
Violations & Fines
Applying reclaimed water, process water, biosolids or septage on EFU land without first securing the required DEQ license, permit or approval, or without the Lane County Type II land use decision required by LC 16.212(4)(k), makes the activity an unpermitted use. Lane County Land Management can require the operator to stop, and any subsequent application still must show the DEQ authorization on file before Type II review can proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to spread reclaimed water on my EFU land in Lane County?
Can I treat septage onsite before spreading it as biosolids?
Is the rule different for high-value farmland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lane County
Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon water use rules overview
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