Zone Codes, Comprehensive Plan and Other Regulations
Marion County's primary zoning and land use regulations are covered in the Rural Zone Code, Urban Zone Code and Comprehensive Plan.The Rural Zone Code provides regulations governing the development and use of lands in the portions of Marion County outside acknowledged urban growth boundaries - the rural areas of the County. The primary intent of these regulations is to conserve farm and forest lands for the production of crops, livestock, and timber products. The Rural Zone Code contains chapters covering each rural zone type (Exclusive Farm Use, Acreage Residential, Farm/Timber, etc.); uses allowed within each zone; development restrictions specific to each zone; and specific topics such as signs, floodplain regulations, nonconforming buildings, etc.The Urban Zone Code provides regulations governing the development and use of lands in the unincorporated areas of Marion County located within urban growth boundaries. The primary intent of these regulations is to coordinate, retain and protect development of these lands for eventual urban use. Tjhe Urban Zone Code contains chapters covering each zone type for our urban areas such as Single Family Residential, Urban Transition, and Commercial Retail. These chapters include information on allowed uses and development restrictions specific to each zone. The Urban Zone Code also has chapters covering specific topcis such as signs, off-street parking and loading, landscaping, etc.As the use of acronyms is very prevalent in our zone codes, we've created Zoning Acronyms that provides the acronym and definition. The Marion County Comprehensive Plan was developed for the purpose of providing a guide to development and conservation of Marion County's land resources. It is a generalized long-range policy guide and land use map that provides the basis for decisions on the physical, social, and economic development of Marion County. These policies and statements are based on inventories, developmental limitations, projected needs, public attitudes, countywide urban growth management project framework and implementation strategy, and the State Land Conservation and Development Commission Goals and Guidelines. The Plan also coordinates the various factors which influence community development such as sewer and water, transportation, housing, commerce, industry, schools, land use, recreation and natural resources. It establishes goals and policies which recognize and plan for the interrelationships and interactions of these factors.
Marion County's Sensitive Groundwater Overlay ProgramInformation on the County's program implementing groundwater-related goals and policies and Marion County Code 17.181 (Rural Zone Code, Sensitive Groundwater Overlay Zone Chapter). Marion County's Geologically Hazardous Overlay ZoneInformation on the County's program to evaluate the level of hazard risk for a development, based on surface and subsurface conditions of a site.
Marion County Background & Inventory Report. This report was prepared as part of the Marion County Comprehensive Plan. Its function is to serve as a factual data source for the development of Marion County land use goals and policies. The Background and Inventory Report is intended to separate factual data from the conclusionary directives stated in the County Goals and Policies Report. This report is primarily a statement of existing conditions, trends, needs and projections that lead to statements of problems or conflicts, therefore, the need to establish and implement policy decisions to deal with the planning issues.
Ordinance #1272 - Use of off-road vehicles (repeals Ordinance #1142)Ordinance #1273 - County Noise Ordinance (repeals Ordinance #1190)Ordinance #1204 - Home Occupations and Mobile Food VendorsOrdinance #1230 - Outdoor Mass Gathering EventsOrdinance #1279 - Backyard BurningUnincorporated Rural Community PlansIn 1994 the Land Conservation and Development established planning and zoning requirements for unincorporated communities. Each county was required to establish rural community plans. For Marion County, these include Brooks, Marion, Mehama, Shaw, etc. Click on the link for more information.