Issue Papers

2025

• Issue Paper No. 2025-1: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the Rural Area (PDF 10.6 MB)

Oregon counties can now allow ADUs on rural lands not intended for farm or forest use because of recent state law changes. ADUs are small, separate units inside an existing home or located on the same lot as an existing home. We regularly receive requests for ADUs in the rural area. While ADUs have long been allowed in the Washington County’s urban area, they have not been allowed in the rural area.

Our issue paper explores the potential of allowing ADUs in rural unincorporated Washington County. The paper:

• Explains new state allowances for rural ADUs
• Identifies where rural ADUs could be allowed

• Examines possible regulations and potential policy implications

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2020

• Issue Paper No. 2020-01: Short-term Rentals: Issues and Considerations (PDF 358.34 KB)

2019

• Issue Paper No. 2019-01: Telecommunication Facilities Located in the Right-of-Way (PDF 251.15 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2019-02: Status Report on County Regulation of Recreational Marijuana (PDF 707.46 KB)

2018

• Issue Paper No. 2018-02: Fair Housing Code Updates (PDF 467.41 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2017-6: Rural Roads/Urban Edge (PDF 6.82 MB)
• Issue Paper No. 2017-08: Measure 49 Transfer of Development Credits Program Assessment (PDF 1.3 MB)

2017

• Issue Paper No. 2017-03: Transportation Requirements and Procedures for Development (PDF 656.36 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2017-04: Rightsizing the Parking Code (PDF 251.76 KB)

• Issue Paper No. 2017-02: Food Carts in Unincorporated Washington County (PDF 165.4 KB)
• Rural Tourism Study: Follow-up Report on Citizen Comments and Options for Future Actions (PDF 5.19 MB)

2016

• Issue Paper No. 2016-01: Solutions for Addressing Walkway Gaps in the Urban Unincorporated Area - Revised (PDF 3.17 MB)
• Issue Paper No. 2016-02: Half-Street Requirement for North Bethany Parks (PDF 1.97 MB)

2015

• Issue Paper No. 2015-01A: North Cooper Mountain Land Use Planning (PDF 582.18 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2015-01B: North Cooper Mountain Transportation Planning (PDF 561.34 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2015-02: Written Testimony by Email (PDF 95.31 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2015-03: Consideration of Width Reductions to North Bethany's Natural Features Buffer (PDF 4.16 MB)
• Issue Paper No. 2015-04: County Regulation of Recreational Marijuana (PDF 1.02 MB)

2014

• Issue Paper No. 2014-1: Consider Revisions to Standards Regarding Car Washes (PDF 75.44 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2014-2: Agri-tourism (PDF 192.62 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2014-3: North Bethany Development Restrictions Within the Natural Features Buffer (PDF 938.02 KB)

2013

• Issue Paper No. 2013-1: North Bethany Development Restrictions on Slopes Greater than 25% (PDF 972.29 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2013-2: Limitation on Hours of Operations for Drive-thru Facilities (PDF 205.22 KB)
• Issue Paper No. 2013-3: Request to Amend the Neighborhood Meeting Requirements (PDF 93.28 KB)