Oregon Forest Practices Act
Forestry & Small
Woodland Services
Understand the regulatory framework before you harvest, apply for forest land tax deferral, or explore conservation and carbon programs — without engaging a large firm.
Oregon's Forest Practices Act is strictly enforced — and most small woodland owners do not know which rules apply to their property.
Oregon's Forest Practices Act (ORS 527) governs harvest operations, road building, and stream crossings on forestland statewide. Riparian Management Area buffers, Operations Notification requirements, ODF stream type rules, and DSL removal-fill jurisdiction all apply before you call a logging contractor. Missing these steps creates legal exposure and can require costly corrective action.
Meanwhile, most small woodland owners are uncertain whether their parcel qualifies for ORS 321 forest land tax deferral, which conservation programs they could enroll in, or whether their acreage is viable for a carbon program. Those decisions require a comprehensive regulatory assessment first — which is precisely what this service provides.
Four Standalone Services. Pick What You Need.
Each tier is a standalone engagement. Start with the Regulatory Screening and add tiers as your project requires, or order individually.
Forestland Regulatory Screening
A 1–2 page memo: "What regulatory constraints apply to this forested parcel?" Covers ODF stream types, RMA buffer widths, DSL jurisdiction, FEMA flood zone, zoning, and ORS 321 tax deferral eligibility.
Turnaround: 24 hours
Forest Practices Act Compliance Memo
Everything in the Regulatory Screening, plus: ODF Operations Notification determination, RMA harvest restriction analysis by buffer zone, DSL removal-fill trigger check for stream crossings, ESA species check via ODFW StreamNet, and recommended next steps before harvest begins.
Turnaround: 48 hours
Small Woodland GIS Base Layer
A complete mapped GIS package for your parcel — ready for use by a consulting forester or in ORS 321 tax deferral documentation. Includes QGIS project file (PDF map set for non-GIS users), ODF water type layer with RMA buffers, NWI wetlands, FEMA flood zone, NLCD land cover, zoning, terrain (LiDAR where available), and a 4–6 map set.
- Single parcel < 200 acres
- Multi-parcel or 200–500 acres
- Complex parcel, multiple stream systems, or LiDAR integration
Turnaround: 5 business days · 50% at engagement
Carbon & Conservation Program Eligibility Screening
A one-page summary of which federal and state programs your forestland may qualify for: NRCS EQIP (forestry practices), NRCS ACEP-WRE (wetland reserve easement), NRCS RCPP, ODF Forest Health Program, working forest conservation easements, and voluntary carbon market preliminary feasibility. Includes program-by-program findings, recommended actions, and next-step contacts.
Turnaround: 3 business days · Can be combined with Tier 1 (Regulatory Screening)
Who Orders This
Rural and coastal Oregon landowners planning a timber harvest or forest road project. Buyers under due diligence on timberland. Heirs and estate executors trying to understand what forest property qualifies for. Small woodland owners considering conservation easements, tax deferral enrollment, or carbon programs. Anyone who is about to hire a consulting forester and wants to give them a solid GIS foundation.
Scoped per project — clear deliverables, clear cost. View pricing →
How It Works
Desktop analysis. No field visit is required for Tiers 1, 2, and 4.
01
Submit Parcel Info
Provide the parcel address or APN (county + tax lot), your intended use, and any timeline constraints. One email works.
02
Desktop Regulatory Review
We pull ODF water type data, NLCD land cover, DSL iMap, FEMA FIRM, county zoning GIS, and NRCS soil data to map your constraints.
03
GIS Analysis
For GIS Base Layer engagements, we build a full QGIS project with RMA buffers, wetlands, flood zone, land cover, terrain, and access layers.
04
Memo Delivered
You receive a written memo — or mapped GIS package — with findings, recommended next steps, and agency contacts on the agreed delivery date.
Unsure which rules apply to your woodland?
Scope is defined in writing before we begin.