Coos County Zoning and Land Development Ordinances

Coos County Zoning and Land Development Ordinance is broke down in section. 

Chapter 1 -Explains how the ordinances and all the elements apply to land uses outside of the cities incorporated boundaries.  This Chapter provides the title, authority, purpose, enforcement, interpretation, context, exclusions, Planning Commission Composition, Citizen Advisory Composition, general information for maps, special development Considerations and Overlays and Split Zoned Properties.

Chapter 2 - Provides the definitions of certain terms of use the ordinance and plan as well as a description of how they apply.

Chapter 3 - This Chapter contains all the regulation for Estuary Zoning. Locate the subject site on the zone map, then find the section that pertains to that specific designation.  The subject property or area may be contained within an aquatic management unit, shoreland unit or both.  The numbers are abbreviated unit designations (i.e., “UD”, “UW”, “CA”, etc.) for applicable management units. Find the management unit (zoning designation) and it will list purpose, provisions and policies that apply to each activity of use within that management unit.  If policies apply, there are found in the policy section.  The use or activity will explain the type of application that is required to be submitted.

Chapter 4 -This chapter contains all zoning districts outside of the Coos Bay and Coquille Estuary under the county jurisdiction. This chapter also includes Special Development Consideration and Overlays that apply.   The first step is to locate the property on the zone map then review the applicable tables to determine if uses and activities are allowed. 

• Urban Residential (UR) There are three Urban Residential (UR) zoning districts: Urban Residential-1 (UR-1); Urban Residential-2 (UR-2); and Urban Residential – Multi Family (UR-M). The intent of the Urban Residential Districts is to include conventional, urban density housing (single family/multi-family) plus cluster housing and planned unit developments.
• Rural Residential (RR) There are two RR zonings: Rural Residential-5 (RR-5) and Rural Residential-2 (RR-2). The intent of the Rural Residential Districts includes justified sites plus "committed" areas. The County's plan prescribes and allocates a finite number of rural dwelling/units/acreage.
• Controlled Development (CD) The intent of the Controlled Development is to reserve areas that are experiencing or are projected to experience limited conversion of residential areas to commercial uses.
• Rural Center (RC) The intent of the Rural Center Designation "committed" rural nodes is to provide residential, commercial, and public/semi-public uses.
• Commercial (C-1) The intent of the Commercial designation is primarily for urban growth areas, but it is also appropriate for application in rural areas where commercial uses are already established (i.e., "committed" to commercial development).
• Industrial (IND) The intent of the Industrial designation applies to sites potentially needed for industrial development. Use of the designation is not restricted to urban growth areas.
• Airport Operations (AO) The purpose and intent of the Airport Operation “AO” district is to recognize those areas devoted to or most suitable for immediate operational facilities necessary for commercial and non-commercial aviation.
• Recreation (REC) The intent of the Recreation District is to designated recreation areas. The purpose of the “REC” district is to accommodate recreational uses of areas with high recreational or open space value.
• South Slough (SS) The purpose of the “SS” district is to complement the primary management objectives and the primary scientific objectives of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (SNERR).
• Minor Estuary and Shorelands (MES) The purpose of the “MES” district is to regulate uses within the inventoried minor estuaries and adjacent shorelands within unincorporated Coos County. The estuaries within the district are treated as “natural management units” per LCDC Goal 16.
• Forest (F) The intent of the Forest District is to include all inventoried "forestlands" not otherwise found to be needed (excepted) for other uses. The purpose of the Forest zone is to conserve and protect forest land for forest uses. Some of the areas covered by the “F” zone are exclusive forest lands, while other areas include a combination of mixed farm and forest uses.
• Forest Mixed Use (FMU) The purpose of the Forest Mixed Farm-Forest Areas (“MU” areas) is to include land which is currently or potentially in farm-forest use. Typically such lands are those with soil, aspect, topographic features and present ground cover that are best suited to a combination of forest and grazing uses.
• Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) These include all inventoried "agricultural lands" not otherwise found to be needed (excepted) for other uses. The purpose of the EFU district is to preserve the integrity and encourage the conservation of agricultural lands within Coos County and thereby comply with the provisions of ORS 215 and OAR 660. Division 33 to minimize conflicts between agricultural practices and non-farm uses by limiting any development to uses distinguished as dependent upon or accessory to supporting agricultural or forestry production and which qualify such farmlands for special tax relief pursuant to the provisions of Oregon Revised Statutes.

Chapter 5 - This chapter contains all land use application administrative processes and review procedures. 

Chapter 6 - This chapter contains regulations for creation of Lawfully Created Units of Land, Property Line Adjustments and Land Divisions.  

Chapter 7 - This chapter contains the regulator elements of the Transportation System Plan including regulations for Driveway, Road, Sidewalks, and Parking. 

Chapter 8 - This chapter covers all surveying standards.