2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 06 - Local Government, Public Employees, Elections
Chapter 215 - County Planning; Zoning; Housing Codes
Section 215.461 - Guest ranch; conditions; permissible uses; reporting.

(a) "Guest lodging unit" means a guest room in a lodge, bunkhouse, cottage or cabin used only for transient overnight lodging and not for a permanent residence.

(b) "Guest ranch" means a facility for guest lodging units, passive recreational activities described in subsection (6) of this section and food services described in subsection (7) of this section that are incidental and accessory to an existing and continuing livestock operation that qualifies as a farm use.

(c) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, horses and bison.

(2) Subject to the provisions of ORS 215.296 (1) and (2) and other approval or siting standards of a county, a guest ranch under ORS 215.283 (2)(cc) may be established in an area of eastern Oregon, as defined in ORS 321.805, that is zoned for exclusive farm use unless the proposed site of the guest ranch is within the boundaries of or surrounded by:

(a) A federally designated wilderness area or a wilderness study area;

(b) A federally designated wildlife refuge;

(c) A federally designated area of critical environmental concern; or

(d) An area established by an Act of Congress for the protection of scenic or ecological resources.

(3) The guest ranch must be located on a lawfully established unit of land that:

(a) Is at least 160 acres;

(b) Contains the dwelling of the individual conducting the livestock operation; and

(c) Is not high-value farmland, as described in ORS 215.710.

(4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the guest lodging units of the guest ranch cumulatively must:

(a) Include not fewer than four nor more than 10 overnight guest lodging units; and

(b) Not exceed a total of 12,000 square feet in floor area, not counting the floor area of a lodge that is dedicated to kitchen area, rest rooms, storage or other shared or common indoor space.

(5) For every increment of 160 acres that the lawfully established unit of land on which the guest ranch is located exceeds the minimum 160-acre requirement described in subsection (3) of this section, up to five additional overnight guest lodging units not exceeding a total of 6,000 square feet of floor area may be included in the guest ranch for a total of not more than 25 guest lodging units and 30,000 square feet of floor area.

(6) A guest ranch may provide passive recreational activities that can be provided in conjunction with the livestock operation’s natural setting including, but not limited to, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping and swimming. A guest ranch may not provide intensively developed recreational facilities, including golf courses as identified in ORS 215.283.

(7) A guest ranch may provide food services only for guests of the guest ranch, individuals accompanying the guests and individuals attending a special event at the guest ranch. The cost of meals, if any, may be included in the fee to visit or stay at the guest ranch. A guest ranch may not sell individual meals to an individual who is not a guest of the guest ranch, an individual accompanying a guest or an individual attending a special event at the guest ranch.

(8) A guest ranch that is authorized by a county under this section on or after January 1, 2020, shall annually report to the county. Counties shall make available to the public, upon request, reports collected from guest ranches under this subsection. The report must contain:

(a) The size of the guest ranch’s livestock operation;

(b) The income that the guest ranch obtained from:

(A) Livestock operations; and

(B) Guest ranch activities; and

(c) Other information the county may require to ensure ongoing compliance with this section or any condition of approval required by the county. [2018 c.15 §2; 2019 c.270 §2]