Plat Naming Policy

The naming of subdivision plats in Oregon must conform to ORS 92.090(1) which states:

"Subdivision plat names shall be subject to the approval of the county surveyor or, in the case where there is no County Surveyor, the County Assessor. No tentative subdivision plan or subdivision plat shall be approved which bears a name similar to or pronounced the same as the name of any other subdivision in the same county, unless the land platted is contiguous to and platted by the same party that platted the subdivision bearing that name or unless the party files and records the consent of the party that platted the contiguous subdivision bearing that name."

To clarify this statute, the following policies are adopted:

1. If a proposed subdivision is adjacent to an existing subdivision and proposes to use the same name, the subdividers must either be the same, or must acquire a notarized affidavit from the subdivider of the adjacent plat and record that affidavit with the County Clerk. A recorded copy must be provided to the County Surveyor prior to name approval being granted.
2. Geographical Names - Names that are indicative of a specific area such as a region or a city may be used a maximum of ten (10) times. A portion of the plat name must be significantly different. Examples of a allowable names are: "Bull Mountain Estates", "Bull Mountain Park", "Bull Mountain Woods." Once there are ten plat names that begin with "Bull Mountain", no further use will be allowed.
3. No subdivision shall begin with "A", "The" or other similar words, or use the words "Subdivision" or "Plat" in the name of the subdivision.
4. Phases in subdivisions shall be named as follows:

For the first phase "Oak Hills"

For the second phase "Oak Hills No. 2" or "Oak Hills 2"

For the third phase "Oak Hills No. 3" or "Oak Hills 3"

**ROMAN NUMERALS SHALL NOT BE USED

Initials will not be allowed in subdivision names.
Plat names shall not begin with a number (ie: 78th, 102nd) unless the number is spelled out (ie: ONE ROSA PLACE).
Since the subdivision planning process is generally very lengthy, subdivision names may be reserved with the County Surveyor for a period of two (2) years by the completion of a "Plat Name Reservation" form.