Controlling Local Growth:

Repeal the 20-year land supply rule

One of the main forces driving local growth is Oregon's "20-year land supply rule", ORS 197.296.  The law requires cities, counties, and metropolitan service districts to maintain a sufficient supply of buildable lands to accommodate estimated housing needs for 20 years.

Often called the "mandatory growth rule", this law often results in cities growing faster than they might otherwise.  When a small town experiences a sudden surge in population, (for example, due to completion of a significant housing development), the short-term but high rate of growth is often used as the basis for projecting artificially high growth rates well into the future.

The resulting large expansion of the city's UGB paves the way for even more development, and the growth cycle continues.

OCVA believes that allowing a state land supply rule to dictate local growth is contrary to the ability of local citizens to have a voice in how much their town grows, or if it should grow at all.  We will be working in the 2003 Legislative session to repeal ORS 197.296.

In the meantime, to build momentum for this effort, we are asking OCVA member cities to submit non-binding resolutions calling for the repeal of ORS 197.296 to their city councils, and request that the council pass the resolution.  A sample resolution is provided for your use.

If you are successful in passing such a resolution, please contact us.

See a list of cities that have passed this resolution.

See our resolutions page containing other draft resolutions you may find useful.

See our resources section for links, documents, articles, and other resources you can use to make your case.

This page last modified on 2005-09-19 09:00.