Adding Agritourism

Photo Credits: Rainshine Farm and Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Melissa Fery

OSU Small Farms Program

Melissa.Fery@oregonstate.edu
(541) 766-3553

Why is starting into agritourism

so daunting?
There are several good reasons:
Oregons protective land use system
Traffic and safety
Impact livability in rural areas
Negative effects on farmland and other farms

Changes in Oregon Agriculture

Farms dont look the same as they did 30 years ago:
More farms are struggling to turn a profit
Next generation returning to the farm
Oregons land use laws didnt consider viable
small-scale farms
Trends have led to smaller farms and community
supported agriculture
Connecting people with the food they eat
Educating urbanites about rural Oregon

Zoning...Zoning...Zoning
Rural Residential vs. Natural Resource Districts
Natural Resource Districts
EFU, Timber (Forest), Mixed Use Zones (Ag/F)

Rural Residential Districts

Residential Districts (1- 10 acre districts)

Not all uses are treated the same

County differences / Local policy

The Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) Zone

From 1963
Uses expressly limited by State law
Restrictive Only uses listed are allowed (ORS 215)
Local governments can be more restrictive than State
law
ORS 215 Full Text Website Link

Straight Forward Opportunities

On Exclusive Farm Use or Farm (F1) Zones
Wineries
Farm stands, fee-based
Bed & Breakfasts as home occupations or room and board
U-pick
CSA, on-farm pick-up
Agritourism under ORS 215.283(4) from Senate Bill 960 in
2011.

ORS 215.283(4)
These events must be related to and supportive of
agriculture and incidental and subordinate to
existing farm use on the tract
Permits are required, submit plan to your County
(4)(a) - 1 event/year with up to 500 people
(4) (b) - 1 event/year with up to 100 people, 1 day,
at least 10 acres = Expedited
(4) (c) - 6 events/year
(4) (d)- Up to 18 additional events/year, minimum lot
size
Various approval periods
Approval is non-transferrable

Agritourism Approval Standards

Attendance and # of vehicles
Duration and hours of operation
Limitations on amplified music
Acreage requirements
Types of structures (more than 10 people, must be
deemed structurally sound)
Compatibility with accepted farm and forest
practices
General health, safety, fire and life standards

Working with the County

Getting to Yes- Many planners are not experienced
with agritourism opportunities
Be prepared
Research other businesses like yours
Have a plan, a business plan is best
Realize that you will have permit fees. Fees are one
cost of doing business and should be part of your
business plan.

North Coast Contacts

Tim Murphy (Tillamook)
Associate Planner
Department of Community Development
503-842-3408 x 3314
tmurphy@co.tillamook.or.us
Heather Hansen (Clatsop)
800 Exchange St., Room 100
Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 325-8611
comdev@co.clatsop.or.us

Navigating through the process

Land Use Permits, Building Permits, Electrical,
Plumbing, Parking, ADA, Fire Department, Access,
Traffic Safety, Sewage Disposal, Health
Department, ODA, County Health, Drinking Water,
OLCC, Business License OH MY!
Im lost in this
maze called
agritourism
planning!

The Basics
Inviting the public the to your farm creates some risk.
All agritourism businesses should have:
Insurance coverage
Marketing plan
Safety plan
Hospitality training
Good neighbor relations
Signageyou are wanting to people to find you!
Roadside appeal

Oregon Agritourism Working Group

Travel Oregon, farmers, ranchers, advocates,
regulators and organizations involved
Five year Goals (2019)
Regulatory framework for agritourism is clear and
improved
Businesses are well-networked with each other
Oregon has a strategic agritourism marketing plan
Locals and visitors can connect with agritourism
products and services
Young people have a close and knowledgeable
connection with agriculture
Agritourism tangibly contributes to vitality of Oregon
agriculture and communities

Events
Photo Credits: Farm to Fork Event Company

Whos Involved
Agritourism, County conditional use permit
Example, 6 per year under ORS 215.283(4)

County Health Department

Temporary restaurant license, drinking water

OLCC if alcohol is served

Fire Department, County Sheriff
Parking, bathrooms, hand washing, signage
What about weddings?
Farm connection?

Farm Stands

What is a farm stand?

Oregon statute defines a farm stand as a structure
designed and used for the sale of farm crops or
livestock grown on the farm operation, or grown on the
farm operation and other farm operations in the local
agricultural area (Oregon)
The annual sale of incidental items and fees from
promotional activity do not make up more than 25% of
the total annual sales of the farm stand
A county building permit may be required for the farm
stand structure, depending on size

Whos Involved?
Other Regulations:
County Land
Use/Planning, Waste
Disposal,
ODA Weights &
Measurements,
Drinking Water, Fire
Codes

Food for immediate later

consumption: Oregon
Department of Agriculture, Food
Safety Program
www.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD

Food for immediate

consumption: Local
County Health
Department

Slide provided by Will Fargo, ODA

Food Safety Licensing Exemptions

Retail Fruit and Vegetable, Honey &

Eggs Exemption
Farm Direct Marketing Exemption, up to
$20,000 gross sales, primary
ingredients grown on farm
Poultry Bill Exemption, up to 1000 birds
raised, slaughtered and marketed on
farm
< $2,000 Exemption Policy

Slide provided by Will Fargo, ODA

Home Occupation

Whos Involved
County
May require a conditional use permit
Parking, Number of employees, number of trips
(to/from), type of building used, drinking water

Oregon Department of Agriculture, Domestic

kitchen license
Others, depending on the type of business