Oregonians value the open spaces that surround our urban area. They aren’t here by accident. In the 1970s, as other West Coast cities allowed unchecked development to extend far from downtown areas, Oregonians decided to protect our farms and forests, and make sure that outward growth would happen only as necessary.
Metro manages the urban growth boundary under state law and works with residents, elected leaders, community groups and researchers to plan for future population growth and meet needs for housing, jobs, transportation and recreation.
Every six years, Metro assesses whether there is enough land inside the growth boundary for 20 years of job and housing growth. Metro considers trends in a wide variety of factors, from changes in population growth, household size and consumer desires to the future of workplaces and transportation. Metro publishes these assessments in an urban growth report.
Learn more about the urban growth report
Learn more about the urban growth boundary
Go to the urban growth boundary lookup tool