Crook County

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED BY THE FPC AND UPDATED AS OF JAN 2013

Crook County defers to state statute on its allowed uses in Farm Zones.  Below are frequently asked questions about farmland in Crook County. You can scroll down to read the FAQ’s or click on the following links to open a word document:

Questions about Dwellings
Questions about Land Divisions

Can I have a house on my farm or ranch land?

If your land meets the County’s definition of a commercial ranch or farm, a farm dwelling is allowed.  The County defines commercial agricultural as farm operations that contribute in a substantial way to the area’s existing agricultural economy.  The County will also look at such things as soil productivity, type and acreage of crops, and processing and marketing practices.

I need help on my farm.  Can I house farm workers?

You can have an farm hand or secondary resource  dwelling for farm help if your property is defined as a farm (see above), and if you can show that the accessory dwelling will be occupied by persons who are required for the farming use of the parcel.

What if my parcel doesn’t meet the commercial farm definition but I still want to live on it and farm? 

You can get a Conditional Use Permit  to put a home on farm land that doesn’t qualify as a farm because it’s too small, has limited water, or poor soils.  This is called a nonfarm dwelling.  You  need to demonstrate two main things:  (1) your dwelling won’t make it harder or more expensive for your neighbors to farm (recognizing that houses and dust, flies, and fertilizer don’t always mix); and (2) where you plan to put your house is the least productive part of the parcel because of poor soil or lack of irrigation.

Can I divide my farm land?

There are ways to partition (divide a parcel into three or fewer parcels) farm land in Crook County – however, subdivisions (divide a parcel into more than three parcels) on farm land are not allowed anywhere in Oregon.

A farm land division is subject to the minimum parcel size of the applicable farm zone (EFU-1 = 160 acres; EFU-2 = 80 acres; and EFU-3 = 160 acres).  If you have a big enough parcel, you can create up to three farm or ranch parcels.

If you want to partition off a small piece, and  if the original or parent parcel was created before July 1, 2001, one or two new nonfarm parcels may be divided off the parent parcel – as long as the parent parcel retains the minimum acreage required in the zone.  There is no minimum lot size for the new nonfarm parcel, but you will need to show that the new parcel is located on a part of the parcel that’s not suitable for farming because of slope or poor soils.

You will need to follow the standard steps for a new house on either a farm or nonfarm parcel (see FAQ – Home on Farmland).