Title 25, Public Lands

As used in ORS 271.005 to 271.540: (1) “Governing body” means the board or body in which the general legislative power of a political subdivision is vested. (2) “Governmental body” means the State of Oregon, a political subdivision, the United States of America or an agency there…

(1) Whenever any person interested in any real property in an incorporated city in this state desires to vacate all or part of any street, avenue, boulevard, alley, plat, public square or other public place, such person may file a petition therefor setting forth a description of …

The petition shall be presented to the city recorder or other recording officer of the city. If found by the recorder to be sufficient, the recorder shall file it and inform at least one of the petitioners when the petition will come before the city governing body. A failure to g…

The city governing body may deny the petition after notice to the petitioners of such proposed action, but if there appears to be no reason why the petition should not be allowed in whole or in part, the governing body shall fix a time for a formal hearing upon the petition.

(1) The city recorder or other recording officer of the city shall give notice of the petition and hearing by publishing a notice in the city official newspaper once each week for two consecutive weeks prior to the hearing. If no newspaper is published in such city, written notic…

At the time fixed by the governing body for hearing the petition and any objections filed thereto or at any postponement or continuance of such matter, the governing body shall hear the petition and objections and shall determine whether the consent of the owners of the requisite…

(1) The city governing body may initiate vacation proceedings authorized by ORS 271.080 and make such vacation without a petition or consent of property owners. Notice shall be given as provided by ORS 271.110, but such vacation shall not be made before the date set for hearing, …

The title to the street or other public area vacated shall attach to the lands bordering on such area in equal portions; except that where the area has been originally dedicated by different persons and the fee title to such area has not been otherwise disposed of, original bound…

A certified copy of the ordinance vacating any street or plat area and any map, plat or other record in regard thereto which may be required or provided for by law, shall be filed for record with the county clerk. The petitioner for such vacation shall bear the recording cost and…

No street shall be vacated upon the petition of any person when it is proposed to replat or rededicate all or part of any street in lieu of the original unless such petition is accompanied by a plat showing the proposed manner of replatting or rededicating. If the proposed manner…

The provisions of ORS 271.080 to 271.160 are alternative to the provisions of the charter of any incorporated city and nothing contained in those statutes shall in anywise affect or impair the charter or other provisions of such cities for the preservation of public access to and…

To the end that adequate facilities for terminal trackage, structures and the instrumentalities of commerce and transportation may be provided in cities and towns located within or forming a part of any port district organized as a municipal corporation in this state, the governi…

No vacation of all or part of a street, alley, common or public place shall take place under ORS 271.180 unless the consent of the persons owning the property immediately adjoining that part of the street or alley to be vacated is obtained thereto in writing and filed with the au…

(1) Before any street, alley, common or public place or any part thereof is vacated, or other right granted by any city governing body under ORS 271.180 to 271.210 the applicant must petition the governing body of the city or town involved, setting forth the particular circumstan…

Hearing upon the petition shall be had by the city governing body at its next regular meeting following the expiration of 30 days from the filing of the petition. At that time objections to the granting of the whole or any part of the petition shall be duly heard and considered b…

All objections to the petition shall be filed with the clerk or auditor of the city or town within 30 days from the filing of the petition, and if not so filed shall be conclusively presumed to have been waived. The regularity, validity and correctness of the proceedings of the c…

(1) If any town or plat of any city or town is vacated by a county court or municipal authority of any city or town, the vacation order or ordinance shall be recorded in the deed records of the county. Whenever a vacation order or ordinance is so recorded, the county surveyor of …

(1) The power granted by ORS 271.300 to 271.360 is vested in each political subdivision of the State of Oregon. The power is self-operating, without the necessity of further legislation. (2) In carrying ORS 271.300 to 271.360 into effect, a political subdivision shall act through…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section and subject to subsection (3) of this section, whenever any political subdivision possesses or controls real property not needed for public use, or whenever the public interest may be furthered, a political subdivision may …

If any property owned by a political subdivision is held as an asset of any special trust fund securing the payment of bonds, it may be exchanged, under the authority granted in ORS 271.310, for other property of equal or superior value, and property so received in exchange shall…

(1) Any political subdivision is granted express power to relinquish the title to any of the political subdivision’s property not needed for public use to any governmental body, providing the property is used for not less than 20 years for a public purpose by the governmental bod…

Any political subdivision, by resolution adopted by the governing body of the political subdivision, may waive and relinquish any reversionary interest held by the political subdivision in property transferred under ORS 271.330 when the transfer occurred: (1) Not less than 20 yea…

When property is exchanged under the authority of ORS 271.310 to 271.330, the value of the real property accepted by the political subdivision in exchange for any of its property plus cash, if any, shall not be less than the value of the property relinquished. [Amended by 1981 c.…

The value of the respective properties proposed to be exchanged shall be determined by the governing body of the political subdivision. The governing body shall cause it to be appraised by one or more competent and experienced appraisers. The compensation, if any, of the appraise…

Every lease entered into pursuant to ORS 271.310 shall be authorized by ordinance or order of the body executing the same and shall provide terms and conditions as may be fixed and determined by the governing body executing the lease. The lease may provide that the lessee shall p…

The counties of the state are authorized to sell, convey, lease or exchange any or all county-owned lands chiefly suitable for grazing, to or with the state or each other and with the United States of America for other lands either of equal acreage or of equal value. All powers g…

Any political subdivision occupying a street or public property of another political subdivision by any structure above, on or under the surface, may provide a contract of indemnity to protect the other political subdivision against loss or damage resulting from that occupancy. […

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Council of governments” means a council of governments or other similar entity created prior to the enactment of ORS 190.010 (5) on September 29, 1991. (b) “Public body” has the meaning given that term in ORS 287A.001. (c) “Real or personal prope…

Notwithstanding any other law, the governing body of a political subdivision may convey, by a proper deed of conveyance executed by the proper governing body, to the State of Oregon, by and through any state agency, for carrying out the purposes of that agency, any lands or right…

Whenever any property or rights therein required by any county in carrying out public purposes is owned by an incorporated city or town within such county, the city or town may, if in the judgment of the governing body of the city or town the public may be benefited thereby, conv…

Any municipal corporation having the right to possession of real property within or without its corporate limits may rent, lease or otherwise give possession of such real property for the purpose of conducting such rodeos, baseball games, football games, racing and exhibitions ge…

By ordinance duly passed by its governing body, any incorporated city or town may authorize the acceptance of its general obligation bonds or interest coupons, or both, in payment of the purchase price of any lands acquired and for sale by such city or town.

Any political subdivision holding the easement or fee title to a street or highway may lease the space above or below that street or highway for private purposes for such period as the governing body determines the space will not be needed for public purposes, and upon other term…

Any political subdivision, owning or controlling any real property or rights therein, may enter into agreements with the United States or any agency thereof, relative to the conditions for and places where electrical and other transmission lines may be placed and maintained acros…

(1) It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that the state inform city and county governments of applications for the installation of fiber-optic lines on public land and in public rights of way that have been submitted to state agencies. (2) The Governor shall direct the De…

As used in ORS 271.510 to 271.540, “industrial facility” means any land, any building or other improvement, and all real and personal properties, including, but not limited to, machinery and equipment deemed necessary in connection therewith, whether or not now in existence, whic…

It is hereby declared that there is a need for the continued development of industrial, commercial, manufacturing, research and development and warehouse facilities to insure the growth and prosperity of the state, and of the counties and cities within the state. It is the purpos…

In addition to any other powers which they may now have, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each county and city shall have the following powers: (1) To acquire by gift, grant or donation one or more industrial facilities, which shall be located within the state, and wh…

A county or city shall not operate an industrial facility as a business enterprise or in any manner except as a lessor. [1965 c.553 §4] MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Indian tribe” has the meaning given that term in ORS 97.740. (b) “Public body” has the meaning given that term in ORS 174.109. (c) “Public property” has the meaning given that term in ORS 131.705. (2) A public body may not use the term “squaw” in…

As used in ORS 271.715 to 271.795, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Conservation easement” means a nonpossessory interest of a holder in real property imposing limitations or affirmative obligations the purposes of which include retaining or protecting natural, scenic …

(1) The state, any county, metropolitan service district, soil and water conservation district, city or park and recreation district or a county service district established under ORS 451.410 to 451.610 to construct, maintain and operate service facilities in Washington or Clacka…

(1) An owner of real property considering whether to convey a conservation easement or a highway scenic preservation easement to a holder may apply to the county assessor for a report on the effect of the conveyance of the easement on the assessed value of the property upon which…

(1) Before the acquisition of a conservation easement or highway scenic preservation easement, the state agency, county, metropolitan service district, soil and water conservation district, city, park and recreation district or county service district established under ORS 451.41…

A conservation easement or highway scenic preservation easement is valid even though: (1) It is not appurtenant to an interest in real property; (2) It can be or has been assigned to another holder; (3) It is not of a character that has been recognized traditionally at common law…

(1) An action affecting a conservation easement or highway scenic preservation easement may be brought by: (a) An owner of an interest in real property burdened by the easement; (b) A holder of the easement; (c) A person having a third-party right of enforcement; or (d) A person …

(1) ORS 271.715 to 271.795 apply to any interest created after October 15, 1983, that complies with ORS 271.715 to 271.795, whether designated as a conservation easement or highway scenic preservation easement, or as a covenant, equitable servitude, restriction, easement, or othe…

The board or officer administering a state agency or the governing body of any county, metropolitan service district, soil and water conservation district, city or park and recreation district or of a county service district established under ORS 451.410 to 451.610 to construct, …

For the purpose of taxation, real property that is subject to a highway scenic preservation easement shall be assessed on the basis of the real market value of the property less any reduction in value caused by the highway scenic preservation easement. Such an easement shall be e…

ORS 271.715 to 271.795 shall be applied and construed to effectuate the general purpose to make uniform the laws with respect to the subject of ORS 271.715 to 271.795 among states enacting it. [1983 c.642 §6; 1997 c.249 §82] _______________