property
Urban Growth Boundary (Oregon)
Under Oregon's statewide land use planning system, every city is surrounded by an urban growth boundary (UGB) required by Statewide Planning Goal 14 (Urbanization). Land inside is planned for urban development and services; land outside is generally kept for farm, forest, and rural uses. Local plans must comply with 19 statewide goals approved by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC), and appeals go to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). In the Portland area, Metro manages the UGB.
- Exam tip
- Know Goal 14 = UGBs, Goal 3 = farm land, Goal 4 = forest land, LCDC approves plans, and LUBA hears appeals.
- Example
- A buyer eyes cheap acreage just outside Salem's UGB zoned Exclusive Farm Use; the broker advises checking with county planning because urban-density building is generally not allowed there.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23