Published 6:37 am Thursday, April 23, 2026

Oregon’s new housing laws let cities expand urban growth boundaries under requirements and offer loans for developers willing to build housing units

Six new Oregon housing laws aim to make it easier for cities and developers to build housing and prioritize affordable housing for families and older Oregonians.

Gov. Tina Kotek, local elected officials and state legislators gathered at Woodburn’s city hall Wednesday to celebrate the new laws, which include one to clear the way for Woodburn to add more housing outside of current city limits.

State economists say Oregon has to build 29,500 new homes a year , mostly in the Portland region and Willamette Valley, if it wants to overcome its housing shortage, while Kotek set — but has yet to meet — a more ambitious goal of 36,000 homes per year.…