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County opts out of new Division 33 solar siting rules for Eastern Oregon
Summary
Umatilla County staff recommended and the board voted to opt out of newly updated state Division 33 solar siting standards for Eastern Oregon, citing staff workload and preference to retain the county's existing thresholds and standards.
County Community Development staff briefed commissioners on state changes to Division 33 solar siting rules for Eastern Oregon and recommended that the county opt out rather than adopt the broader new standards, which would raise acreage thresholds and require substantial staff time to implement and administer.
Staff said the county currently follows Division 33 rules and that the state updates would allow larger projects under the new thresholds or would require counties choosing to adopt a more robust Division 23 standard. Because adopting the new standard would increase review workload and require code amendments, staff recommended opting out. A commissioner moved to opt out, the motion was seconded, and the board approved the opt‑out by voice vote.
The board's action preserves the county's existing approach to solar siting and defers any decision to expand project size allowances until staff capacity and policy choices can be revisited.
