Non-Resource Land

If rural land does not satisfy the definitions of farm or forest land contained in Statewide Planning Goal 3: Agricultural Lands or Statewide Planning Goal 4: Forest Lands counties may designate the land as "non-resource land." Other applicable land use goals continue to apply. The land may have resource values that are not agricultural or for commercial forestry, which are protected as “resource lands. ”Non-resource land receives this designation as a result of physical properties of the soil and climate. Land made unsuitable for farming or forestry by surrounding development can be designated as an "exception area" by the county instead. 

When a county designates non-resource land, it must be consistent with the following planning goals.

• Goal 5 - Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces: requires that a county continue to protect fish and wildlife habitat, cultural resources, and other natural resources. 
• Goal 6 - Air, Water and Land Resources Quality: requires that non-resource land designations consider the carrying capacity of the air, water, and land.
• Goal 7 - Areas Subject to Natural Hazards: requires counties to address risks to life and property from natural disasters and hazards.
• Goal 14 - Urbanization: requires that non-resource land be maintained as rural in character, that allowed uses not interfere with orderly and efficient development of nearby urban areas, and that uses will not conflict with commercial farming or forestry activities.

Zoning Non-Resource Land 

When applying zoning to non-resource land a county must consider a range of factors including infrastructure and serviceability when determining what allowable uses should be permitted. This includes things like the availability of water, impacts of potential traffic, and fire protection, law enforcement and emergency response services. 

Several counties in the state have adopted non-resource land zoning that permits housing, creating rural residential zones.