Overview
The Department of Forestry has rulemaking authority over Chapter 629 of the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). This page provides an overview of rulemaking activity, including proposed rules and recently adopted rules. Resources on this page include current, published rules, contact information for Department rules coordinators, a calendar of anticipated rulemaking activity and a link to subscribe to the Department's rulemaking newsletter.
Rulemaking planning calendar
- Board of Forestry decision regarding proposed post-disturbance harvest rules no later than Nov. 30, 2025.
- There is the potential for a September 2025 or 2026 Board of Forestry agenda item regarding future rulemaking concerning tethered logging. More information, including how the public can engage, will be posted as available.
Proposed rules
The following rules are under consideration for adoption, amendment, repeal or suspension. Information on how the public can engage in this process is listed under each rule, including the public comment period, Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings, hearings and other key dates.
Overview
The proposed rules Oregon Administrative Rule 629-041-0515 and 629-041-0550, which adjusts the boundary between the Central Oregon and Northeast Oregon District.
The proposed rules establish the Central Oregon Forest Protection District Boundary to exclude approximately 122,321 acres in Morrow County, Oregon through a transfer to the Northeast Oregon Forest Protection District.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
ODF held a public comment period from April 7 to April 30, 2025, and held public hearings on April 17 and April 18, 2025. View the public comment submission.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on March 25, 2025.
- The Board of Forestry will consider this rule at the June 4-5, 2025 meeting.
Overview
The post-disturbance harvest rulemaking directed by Senate Bill 1501 (2022) proposes changes to two rules making only minor technical changes to Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 629-643-0000 and more substantial changes to OAR 629-643-0300. 629-643-0300 is the alternative vegetation retention prescription that can be applied in lieu of the standard practice or small forestland owner minimum option when applicable conditions are met. The proposed changes replace the existing rule text with new provisions that establish the conditions of when and how the alternative prescriptions can be applied after catastrophic events.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking which includes a statement of need and fiscal impact.
Public comment
ODF held a public comment period on the proposed rules from April 1 to May 1, 2024, and held a rules hearing on April 22, 2024.
View a summary of the public comments received and ODF's response.
Additional public engagement: On Feb. 23, 2024, the board made required determinations and directed ODF to take specific actions related to post-disturbance harvest rulemaking. The public had the opportunity to provide written comments and/or live testimony at this board meeting. You can learn more by viewing the board meeting and related materials. Additionally, at the direction of the board, and per the requirements of ORS 527.714 (8), ODF prepared an Analysis of the Estimated Economic Impact of Proposed OAR 629-643-0300. ODF solicited public input and received 344 responses which informed the analysis.
Key dates
- On Jan. 4, 2023, the board directed ODF to start rulemaking on post-disturbance harvest activities. You can learn more by viewing the board materials.
- On Feb. 23, 2024, the board made required determinations and directed ODF to file a notice of proposed rulemaking. The notice of proposed rulemaking was filed with the Secretary of State's Office on March 27, 2024, and appeared in the April 2024 Oregon Buletin.
- From April 1 to May 1, 2024, ODF held a public comment period on the rules and a rules hearing was held on April 22, 2024.
- The board is required to complete the rulemaking by Nov. 30, 2025.
NOTICE: All public comments received in response to a rulemaking notice are considered public records and will be publicly available on our website. Public comments will include the first and last name of the submitter, submission contact information (email address or mailing address), and affiliation (if listed). By submitting a public comment, you agree to have the information you submit posted publicly.
Follow the public comment submission instructions for the rulemaking you are interested in commenting on.
Recently adopted rules
View the full list of rules that have been adopted and filed with the Secretary of State within the
Oregon Administrative Rules Database (OARD). Rulemaking materials from rules adopted within the last year can be found below. For older rulemaking activity see the annual agency rulemaking reports located on the
ODF Legislative Reports page.
Overview
The proposed revisions clarify existing language and include recommendations made to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) by Macias Gini & O'Connell LLP (MGO), an independent third-party contractor, that reviewed ODF's financial practices. The proposed amended administrative rules ensure the true costs of wildland suppression costs are accurately accounted for, tracked, reported, and paid for at the statewide level.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
The Emergency Fire Cost Committee public hearing was held on Oct. 22, 2024. No comments were provided during the hearing. The written comment period closed on Oct. 31, 2024. No public comments received.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on Sept. 23, 2024.
- The rules were adopted by the Emergency Fire Cost Committee on Nov. 6, 2024.
- The effective date for the rules was Jan. 1, 2025.
Other support document
Eligibility of Firefighting Costs for the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund
Overview
The Certified Burn Manager (CBM) rules created under the direction of SB762 in 2022 are being updated to provide clarification and language changes. The proposed updates provide clarification and language changes and reflect lessons learned from the initial CBM implementation. The changes do not substantially alter the program's purpose, intent, or implementation.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
The written comment period closed on Aug. 15, 2024. No public comments received.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on June 28, 2024.
- The rules were adopted by the Board of Forestry on Sept. 4, 2024.
- The effective date for the rules was Oct. 1, 2024.
Overview
Senate Bill 80 of the 2023 Legislative session and House Bill 4016 of the 2024 Legislative session directed the development of the Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program. The proposed rules establish the purpose, definitions, and general requirements for implementing the pilot program.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
The written comment period closed on Aug. 15, 2024. No public comments received.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on June 28, 2024.
- The rules were adopted by the Board of Forestry on Sept. 4, 2024.
- The effective date for the rules was Oct. 1, 2024.
Overview
The Board of Forestry approved the public hearing process for the proposed rule package, Oregon Administrative Rules 629-001-0001 to 0057 and 629-044-1000 to 1041, during their June 5, 2024, meeting. The department consulted a Rulemaking Advisory Committee representing a wide variety of stakeholder interests while drafting the proposed rules.
The rules will be used by Oregon State University to address irrigated agriculture as a mitigating factor to assessing wildfire hazard in the statewide wildfire hazard map, which includes assigning one of three hazard zones to individual properties. The rules also establish the process to appeal assignment of a hazard zone or classification.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
The written comment period closed on Aug. 15, 2024. Public comments received were provided to the Board of Forestry during the Sept. 4-5, 2024, Board of Forestry public meeting.
View the public comment submissions.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on June 27, 2024.
- The rules were adopted by the Board of Forestry on Sept. 4, 2024.
- The effective date for the rules was Oct. 1, 2024.
Overview
The prevention rules align fire prevention, equipment requirements for fire suppression and use of fireworks on public lands to increase wildfire prevention efforts.
View the notice of proposed rulemaking.
Public comment
The written comment period closed on Aug. 1, 2024. No public comments received.
Key dates
- The filing was submitted to the Secretary of State on June 28, 2024.
- The rules were adopted by the Board of Forestry on Sept. 4, 2024.
- The effective date for the rules was Jan. 1, 2025.