Goal 2 requires each local government in Oregon to have and follow a comprehensive land use plan and implementing regulations. Cities and counties must build their comprehensive plans on a factual base, and follow their plan when making decisions on appropriate zoning. City and county plans must be consistent with one another. Special district and state agency plans and programs must be coordinated with comprehensive plans.
Comprehensive plans must comply with the requirements of each applicable statewide planning goal. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) reviewed each city and county comprehensive plan for compliance with the goals, and when LCDC found that the plan, as a whole, was consistent with the goals, the commission "acknowledged," or approved, the plan. Once a plan is acknowledged, it replaces the statewide planning goals for the purposes of local land use decision-making.
Except for federal and tribal lands, every inch of Oregon is planned and zoned. The comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances are the guiding documents for local government land use decisions. They help create predictable outcomes for the people that live and operate businesses in the community for development of homes, stores, and industries. Comprehensive plans also guide public development – streets, municipal water, sewer, and parks – and conservation of natural resources.
Part II of Goal 2 provides a process a local government can follow when taking an "exception" to one of the land use goals. A local government can take an exception to a goal when it finds that unique circumstances warrant a local override of the statewide goal to create a better outcome.
Changes to comprehensive plans must also comply with the statewide planning goals. See the post-acknowledgement plan amendments page for more information.
Original Adoption: 12/27/74; Effective: 1/25/75
Amended: 12/16/83; Effective: 12/30/83
Amended: 2/17/88; Effective: 3/31/88
Read full text version of Goal 2
Administrative Rules that implement Goal 2:
OAR 660-004 – Interpretation of Goal 2 Exception Process
OAR 660-014-0030 – Rural Lands Irrevocably Committed to Urban Levels of Development
OAR 660-014-0040 – Establishment of New Urban Development on Undeveloped Rural Lands
OAR 660-018 – Post-Acknowledgement Plan Amendments
OAR 660-025 – Periodic Review
OAR 660-030 – Review and Approval of State Agency Coordination Programs
OAR 660-031 – State Permit Compliance and Compatibility
OAR 660-032 – Population Forecasts
Related:
Urban Growth Boundaries
Post Acknowledgement Plan Amendments
Periodic Review
Land Use Board of Appeals