Oregon has some of the most productive soil in the world. Soil mapping done by the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the most common tool used for identifying the types of soils in an area. The NRCS provides a rating for each soil type that indicates how suited the soil is for agriculture. Oregon’s land use laws help conserve the best soils for agricultural use. Soils that are less productive have more opportunities for development than higher quality soils.
NRCS does not have the ability to map each parcel of land, so it looks at larger areas. This means that the map may miss a pocket of different soils. DLCD has a process landowners can use to challenge NRCS soils information on a specific property. Owners who believe soil on their property has been incorrectly mapped may retain a "professional soil classifier…certified by and in good standing with the Soil Science Society of America" (ORS 215.211) through a process administered by DLCD. This soils professional can conduct an assessment that may be used as evidence by a County to support certain permit or amendment requests.
A soils assessment is usually part of an application to the county for a land use permit or zone change. Local governments do not have to agree with the results of a DLCD-approved soils assessment, and it is the applicant's responsibility to address local government requirements during the land use proceeding.
Soil productivity is a factor in the development capacity of a parcel when the parcel is zoned for exclusive farm use or mixed farm and forest use. The rules can be found at
OAR 660-033-0045.
DLCD maintains a list of qualified soils professionals. A property owner must select a professional from the list below in order to use non-NRCS soils data in a land use application. The soils professional conducts a site investigation and prepares a soils assessment for review by DLCD.
DLCD will review the completed soils assessment application with a $625 fee. Occasionally, soils assessments are audited by a DLCD soils consultant who may need to go to the property to investigate. The owner's soils professional is given an opportunity to correct any issues identified by DLCD. DLCD does not submit a soils assessment to a local government without applicant consent and a completed Soils Assessment Release Form.
Soils Professionals
Landowners who desire to use non-NRCS agricultural soil capability data in a land use application must retain a certified professional from the table below. This listing is not an endorsement, and those requesting a soil assessment should get references and bids from more than one person.