Advocating for Fiber Farms and Family Farms in Oregon
Hello dear Fiber friends,
It is with sadness and deep frustration that we write to you today. The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development has made grave steps toward ruining the futures of Oregon farms across the state. We are, on behalf of our members in Oregon, advocating that the DCLD reconsider their proposed changes to the legislation that governs farmstands and agritourism. We have contacted all Oregon House of Representative members, the Oregon Governor, and the DCLD team itself.
If you are unfamiliar with this issue, please read on to learn more. We also welcome your responses - please tell us if you are going to be affected by these proposed changes so we can better support you.
Below is a copy of our letter, which you may use to advocate for family farms. If you would like a word doc or PDF copy, reply here.
July 24, 2025
Oregon State Legislature
Oregon House of Representatives
Subject: Protecting Oregon’s Vital Farms: Agritourism & Farmstands
Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Agritourism & Farmstand Regulations Proposal (HB 3133)
Dear Representative,
We are writing to you with great urgency to request that you do not pass or support the DLCD’s recent proposed changes to (ORS) 215.283 and 215.203 (the rules which regulate farmstands - which are currently recognized as an allowed use within EFU zones). These proposed changes are an absolutely horrific attack on Oregon’s critical small farming economy. The DLCD’s rulemaking by committee represents a failure of Oregon’s government to properly protect a crucial element of the state’s economy and vitality: its small family farms.
As a newly established Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Northwest Fiber Connect (PNWFC) represents businesses within the natural fibers economy in Oregon, Washington, and Idado. We have members who operate fiber (wool, alpaca) farms as well as members in a variety of related fiber infrastructure industries (fiber mills, shearers, yarn producers, yarn and fabric shops, and more.) It is our mission to support the economic health of the natural fiber industry, and thus we must advocate on their behalf on this issue.
PNWFC respects and agrees with Oregon Property Owners Association (OPOA)’s concerns and proposed new language for the regulations. We stand with OPOA and join with the cries of hundreds of farmers across Oregon urging DLCD to reconsider and return to the original goal of supporting agritourism and small farms. It is absolutely critical that DLCD not enact their new enforcement scheme because doing so will surely ruin the livelihoods of many family farms across the state.
PNWFC is highlighting our concerns, carefully and expertly elaborated on by OPOA here for your consideration, and excerpted below:
1. Farm Use vs. Farmstand Permit Requirements – DLCD’s proposed language risks requiring land use approval for farmers selling their own products from permanent structures— despite ORS 215.203 clearly protecting such activities as “farm use.” This could subject basic agricultural operations to unnecessary permitting and treats protected farm uses as “non-farm uses” which is inconsistent with state law.
2. New Limits On Retail Incidental Items – The draft rules narrowly define “retail incidental items” as those that directly promote farm products sold at the stand. This would prohibit many items currently sold at farmstands, such as crafts, gifts, and value-added products that generally relate to agriculture or that customers want. If this rule is adopted, a significant portion of local goods will no longer be available at farmstands.
3. Prepared Foods – Despite HB 3133 highlighting the need for clarity, DLCD’s rules remain vague on whether prepared foods— such as cider donuts or milkshakes made from farm-grown ingredients— can be sold at the farmstand and in what quantities. This ambiguity has already led some counties to prohibit such sales. DLCD’s rules do not provide needed clarity.
4. New Limits On Promotional Events – DLCD’s definition of promotional events excludes popular agritourism activities like petting zoos, cow-train rides, and live music unless they directly feature a farm product or have an educational component. This narrow framing will disqualify many beloved agritourism experiences.
5. New Limits On Farm-to-Table Dinners – The rules propose capping farm-to-table dinners at 17 per year, despite broad support from RAC members and existing income limits that already regulate their scale. OPOA views this as arbitrary and unnecessary restrictions on something that the public loves and is important for farmers.
6. Lack Of Clarity On Indoor Events – While DLCD’s rules allows tents for outdoor events, it fails to address the need for indoor flexibility during inclement weather. OPOA supports the use of temporary structures, but urges DLCD to clarify that events may occur inside farmstands when needed. If LCDC cannot make this clear in rule, they should support the Legislature making this clarification.
7. New Siting Standards and Enforcement Regime – DLCD introduces new siting standards (e.g., parking and access) and a periodic permit review system that allows local governments to charge fees and revoke permits. This creates a burdensome and unequal enforcement regime for farmstand operators—one not applied to other non-farm uses in EFU zones. Most concerningly, LCDC proposes to reach back to existing vested permits. This likely violates several aspects of state law.
8. No Relief From Income Restrictions – HB 3133 also attempted to address the longstanding 25% cap on incidental sales and event tickets outlined in statute. Unfortunately, DLCD did not attempt to solve this issue. As such, the proposed rules do not reflect modern agritourism economics. OPOA proposes redefining “sale of farm products” to include ticketed experiences like flower festivals and corn mazes, where the product is consumed through interaction rather than harvest.
9. No Legitimate Alternative Options – To justify these additional restrictions, DLCD argues that farmers can seek conditional use permits like home occupations or apply for “agritourism event” permits. However, DLCD fails to recognize that counties do not have to offer these options and most do not. Thus, DLCD’s rule will ban certain activities in counties that do not offer alternative pathways.
Please consider the fate of Oregon farmers as you examine the DLCD’s proposed new rules for farmstands and agritourism. If you enjoy any of the farm-based experiences that Oregon has become nationally known for, you must understand that these rules not only put that in jeopardy, but put a nail in the coffin for farm families across the state.
Sincerely,
The management team of the Pacific Northwest Fiber Connect:
Kristen Buchanan, Co-Executive Director & Founder
Hannah Pacquette, Co-Executive Director & Founder
Jolene Quaintance, Founder