Natural Hazards (Docket G 3-22)

Map of McMinnville with Natural Hazards Overlay

In January 2026, the City amended the draft Natural Hazards Overlay Zone, changing the ranking system for Natural Hazards Protection subdistrict, shifting some parcels from the protection subdistrict to the mitigation subdistrict.

The Natural Hazards Map was updated in January 2026. The property owner notice summarizes the updates.

The City is currently engaged in Natural Hazards planning to identify potential natural hazards to people and property within the boundaries of McMinnville's city limits and urban growth boundary, and then to identify ways to mitigate those hazards so that development can occur safely. This is a requirement of the Oregon Land Use System (Goal 7). The state, counties and cities are required to do this type of planning.

In McMinnville's program, we are focused on the following hazards: Wildfire, Landslides, Steep Slopes, Soil Conditions - Liquefaction and Shaking, and Floods (click the links to see the individual maps). New data has emerged in the past ten years that indicates that there are areas within McMinnville that are impacted by these hazards, and as a result after two years of study and consultant recommendations, two zones are being proposed to help development occur safely in these areas - 1) Natural Hazard Mitgation Zone; and 2) Natural Hazard Protection Zone.

Find your property on our interactive map. This map will show you if your property is impacted and by which zone it is impacted. Then review the proposed zones below to see what it means for your property. Call us if you have questions. We are here to help you understand the proposed program.

PUBLIC HEARINGS RESUME - FEBRUARY 19, 2026, 6:30 PM.

The Planning Commission will resume their public hearing on this planning program on February 26, 2019. You can find the link to the meeting here. Planning Commission Meeting, February 19, 2026

Proposal Being Discussed:

History of the Dialogue

Planning Commission Public Hearings: The Planning Commission started hosting public hearings in 2023 to evaluate the proposed program, however due to some state housing mandates that needed to be done, the program was put on hold. The City has picked it up again and is resuming public hearings with the Planning Commission starting in February, 2026.

The Planning Commission will be considering the Natural Hazard Overlay Zone and Flood Area Zone linked above, and the following documents for recommendation to the City Council.

All meetings are conducted in a hybrid format with the ability to participate in person at the Kent Taylor Civic Hall, 200 NE Second Street or on zoom via the zoom meeting link. Please click on the planning commission meeting links below to learn more

Past Events

Property Owner Public Information Session
When: Monday, March 20, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Monday, March 27, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Where: Hybrid - your choice of Virtual - via Zoom or In-Person - Community Development Center Large Conference Room (231 NE Fifth Street)

Public Information Session - Meeting Materials

March 20 Meeting Presentation
March 20 Meeting Video Passcode: E*idvH8t

Background

Goal 7 of the Oregon Land Use system requires cities to conduct natural hazard planning to protect people and property from the potential harms of natural hazards. The City started this planning effort in 2019 in partnership with Yamhill County as part of the Yamhill County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Proposed Vision

The proposal would adopt new standards for the mitigation of known natural hazards in all zoning districts by adopting the following: (Please see draft maps updated January 2026 above, proposed to be incorporated into the original documents below).

Important Documents:

Meetings Archive

For any further questions regarding Natural Hazards information, feel free to reach out to the Community Development Director, Heather Richards, directly at Heather.Richards@mcminnvilleoregon.gov