‘Game-changer’: Oregon Senate unanimously OKs bill to speed urban housing approval process, quicken pace
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Senate on Monday unanimously passed a bill that would set a 90-day deadline for decisions on land-development applications for housing in urban areas.
Senate Bill 974 also eases requirements for design review in urban areas on building style and landscaping, while maintaining standards on size, fire codes, and safety regulations.
A news release from the Oregon Senate Majority Office continues:
“We bring hurdles down so developers can put housing up,” said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – Portland, Damascus & Boring), a chief sponsor of the measure. “Long delays on application decisions were holding up subdividing land, putting in roads and utilities, and more. Today’s legislation smooths the way.”
Senate Housing and Development Chair Khanh Pham put Monday’s measure in context.
“The State of Oregon must continue to make it easier and faster to build more housing to address our state’s homelessness and housing affordability crises,” said Senator Pham (D – Outer NE & SE Portland). “I’m grateful for the continued bipartisan commitment from my Senate colleagues to advance a bold agenda to build housing that meets the needs of Oregonians at all ages, wages and stages of life."
Senate Bill 974 applies to cities, counties, and special districts inside urban growth boundaries. Without the legislation, local governments had as long as 150 days to take final action on complete land-use applications.
“Cutting down the timeline to break ground is a game-changer for families waiting on housing and builders ready to get to work,” said Senator Dick Anderson (R – Lincoln City). “Today’s vote sends a clear message: Oregon is ready to build.”
The timeline for application decisions under the measure begins when developers submit final engineering plans to develop land for single-family homes, manufactured housing, and multi-unit buildings. And Senate Bill 974 has teeth. Local governments that fail to meet the deadline may have to pay developers’ engineering costs and attorney fees.
The measure passed the Senate unanimously and now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives.
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News release from state Senator Dick Anderson:
Oregon Senate Sends Clear Message to Get Housing Built—Now
Anderson’s Bill Breaks Down Barriers to Speed Up Housing Construction
SALEM, Ore. – Today, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 974, a bipartisan housing reform bill led by Senator Dick Anderson (R–Lincoln City) to speed up the housing approval process and eliminate unnecessary delays that drive up costs and limit supply.
“This is a big win for every Oregonian who’s tired of waiting for solutions to our housing crisis,” said Senator Anderson, vice chair of the Senate Housing Committee. “Senate Bill 974 makes it easier and faster to build homes where they’re needed most.”
The bill focuses on housing within Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) and cuts red tape in three key areas:
· Clarifies the housing application process to avoid unnecessary land use reviews;
· Streamlines engineering plan reviews for roads, utilities, and drainage with a 90-day timeline;
· Speeds up final platting and design approvals, helping homes go up faster without compromising safety.
“Right now, it can take two to three years just to break ground on new housing. Senate Bill 974 can cut that wait time to less than a year,” Anderson added. “That’s a game-changer for families waiting on housing and builders ready to get to work. Today’s vote sends a clear message: Oregon is ready to build.”
“As a company who builds homes in over half of Oregon’s counties, we know firsthand the positive impact this bill will have on speeding up permitting processes and getting more Oregonians in homes,” said Deborah Flagan, Hayden Homes Vice President of Community Engagement.
SB 974 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
