OAR 150-308-1110: Disqualification of Non-Exclusive Farm Use (Non-EFU) Farmland; Site Inspection and Notation

(1)(a) Before non-EFU land is disqualified from farm use assessment due to discovery by the assessor that the land is no longer being devoted to a farm use, the assessor must; (A) Make a reasonable effort to contact the owner, owner’s agent or person using the land; (B) Make a site inspection of the property; and (C) Request the recent history of the property’s use. (b) The assessor must make a record of the inspection that includes when the inspection was made, who made the inspection, copy of contact letter(s) or record of other means of contact, information from the person contacted, and notations of the conditions found. Notations about the conditions found may include the farm uses being made of the property, areas having no apparent farm use, vegetation on the property and its condition, whether the property is fenced and the fence’s condition, and other conditions of the property that indicate a farm use or lack of farm use. The record of inspection must be retained in the assessor’s office for at least three years. (c) If the inspection indicates a farm activity being conducted which may not provide sufficient income to satisfy the income test, the assessor must demand that the landowner complete an income questionnaire. (2) If property disqualification is effective after June 30, the non-EFU property will remain valued for farm use on the assessment and tax roll until the following July 1. (a) Disqualification for non-farm use occurs as of the January 1 assessment date and is effective as of June 30 if the disqualification notice is mailed on or before August 14. (b) If non-EFU property disqualification is effective on or before June 30 for any reason other than for non-farm use, to be valid the notice must be mailed within 30 days after the date that land is disqualified.