How is public land differentiated in Salem?

Through five districts: Public Amusement at roughly 2,763 acres, health services at about 1,154, education services at roughly 1,086, general public service at about 1,067 and cemetery at roughly 120.

Why do three of them say public and private?

Because the districts cover the function rather than the ownership, so health services, education services and cemetery districts accommodate both public and private providers under the same standards.

How is mixed use organised?

Through three numbered districts covering roughly 1,568 acres together, plus a Fairview Mixed Use district at about 254 acres naming a specific area.

How much employment land is there?

General Industrial covers roughly 1,702 acres, an Industrial Commercial district about 1,285, an Employment Center roughly 538 and an Industrial Park about 250.

Salem Zoning Intelligence

Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Salem, Oregon. 30 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.

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City Context

How is Salem zoned?

Salem regulates land through 30 zoning districts, and the public districts are unusually differentiated. Five of them appear: Public Amusement at roughly 2,763 acres, Public And Private Public Health Services at about 1,154, Public And Private Education Services at roughly 1,086, Public Service at about 1,067 and Public And Private Cemetery at roughly 120.

Splitting public land into amusement, health, education, general service and cemetery categories, and naming both public and private providers in three of them, is far more granular than most cities attempt. Public Amusement at nearly three thousand acres is the second largest classification in the city.

An Exclusive Farm Use district at roughly 156 acres reflects Oregon's statewide farmland protection framework, which applies a specific statutory designation to agricultural land.

The mixed use districts are numbered 1, 2 and 3, together covering roughly 1,568 acres, with a Fairview Mixed Use district at about 254 naming a specific area.

The residential ladder runs single family at roughly 8,213 acres, residential agriculture at about 2,240, and multiple family at 1 and 2 covering roughly 2,195.

General Industrial covers roughly 1,702 acres, an Industrial Commercial district about 1,285 and an Employment Center roughly 538. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.

Zoning Districts

Salem, Oregon Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?

Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Salem's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.

Zone Code	Zone Type	Area
RS Single Family Residential	-	8,212.9 ac
PA Public Amusement	-	2,762.6 ac
RA Residential Agriculture	-	2,240.1 ac
RM2 Multiple Family Residential 2	-	2,090 ac
IG General Industrial	-	1,702.5 ac
IC Industrial Commercial	-	1,285.2 ac
PH Public And Private Public Health Services	-	1,154 ac
PE Public And Private Education Services	-	1,085.6 ac
PS Public Service	-	1,066.9 ac
MU-III Mixed Use 3	-	1,009.5 ac
EC Employment Center	-	538.4 ac
CR Retail Commercial	-	453.7 ac
MU-I Mixed Use 1	-	362.7 ac
FMU Fairview Mixed Use	-	254.5 ac
IP Industrial Park	-	250.5 ac
MU-II Mixed Use 2	-	195.8 ac
CG General Commercial	-	183.3 ac
EFU Exclusive Farm Use	-	155.8 ac
CB Central Business District	-	134 ac
CO Commercial Office	-	128.2 ac

Building Controls

What are the building controls in Salem?

Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Salem zoning districts.

Building height
Coverage
Density
FAR
Front setback
Lot
Lot width
Multi
Pervious
Rear setback
Side setback

Other Oregon cities

Salem zoning: frequently asked questions

How is public land differentiated in Salem?: Through five districts: Public Amusement at roughly 2,763 acres, health services at about 1,154, education services at roughly 1,086, general public service at about 1,067 and cemetery at roughly 120.
Why do three of them say public and private?: Because the districts cover the function rather than the ownership, so health services, education services and cemetery districts accommodate both public and private providers under the same standards.
What is the Exclusive Farm Use district?: A district covering roughly 156 acres reflecting Oregon's statewide farmland protection framework, which applies a specific statutory designation to agricultural land.
How is mixed use organised?: Through three numbered districts covering roughly 1,568 acres together, plus a Fairview Mixed Use district at about 254 acres naming a specific area.
How much employment land is there?: General Industrial covers roughly 1,702 acres, an Industrial Commercial district about 1,285, an Employment Center roughly 538 and an Industrial Park about 250.

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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Salem planning department before acquisition or design.