The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is the state agency charged with upholding and updating Oregon’s land use planning system. We work in partnership with local governments, and state and federal agencies, to address the land use needs of the public, communities, regions, and the state. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) provides policy direction for the land use planning program.
DLCD and LCDC were created by Senate Bill 100. This landmark legislation established a framework to manage urban growth; conserve farm and forest lands, coastal areas, and natural resources; and provide for safe, affordable and livable communities informed through public participation.
Under the statewide land use planning program, each city and county is called upon to adopt and maintain a comprehensive plan and an implementing zoning code consistent with 19 statewide planning goals. Recognizing that each city and county has unique values and aspirations, our job is to provide planning guidance and technical assistance to help communities plan for their future while considering the needs of the region and the state.
The Department of Land Conservation and Development' s mission is to help communities plan for, protect, and improve the built and natural systems that provide a high quality of life. In partnership with Oregonians and local governments, we foster sustainable and vibrant communities and protect our natural resources legacy.
The DLCD workforce strives to represent the diversity of the communities we serve by fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture for employees, the public, and the local governments we serve. The DLCD DEI Committee works to integrate best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion into agency policies and programs. The Committee provides research, recommendations, event support, and policy guidance to DLCD leadership as requested and as outlined in their annual work plan.
Strategic Plan
Focus Area 1: Ensure Equitable Planning and Engagement
Promote racial equity and anti-discrimination strategies in Oregon's land-use planning program to acknowledge and counteract past discrimination practices, prevent future injustices, and provide more equitable outcomes. Ensuring equitable engagement is a cross-cutting thread that runs throughout each of the subsequent focus areas.
Focus Area 2: Invest in Robust Operations
Invest in people, tools, and information to help the state and its partners succeed in its mission. Ensure all department employees know how to access resources and support to accomplish their work.
Focus Area 3: Build Community Resilience
Strengthen social, natural, and built systems to withstand and adapt to a dynamic future in ways that support a high quality of life for current and future generations. Center Oregon's socially vulnerable and underserved communities in building community resilience.
Focus Area 4: Promote Healthy and Equitable Communities
Improve the quality of life for current and future Oregonians by providing more options and clear pathways for housing, jobs, services, and transportation in ways that increase equitable outcomes and improve our natural environment and climate future.
Focus Area 5: Conserve Farm and Forest Lands, Coastal and Natural Areas
Conserve Oregon's natural and working lands – farm and forest lands, coastal, scenic, unique, and other natural resources.
For more information, see the
DLCD 2023-2031 Strategic Plan.
Agencywide Reports