LUBA stands for the Land Use Board of Appeals. It is an independent state agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 1979 to review appeals of certain land-use decisions made by cities, counties, and special districts. LUBA has three Board Members appointed by the Governor, who are attorneys with expertise in Oregon land-use planning law.
In Oregon, cities must make land-use decisions in accordance with applicable state laws, statewide planning requirements, comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, and local development codes. Certain final land-use decisions can be appealed to LUBA. This includes decisions involving matters such as zone changes, conditional use permits, variances, and certain urban subdivisions and partitions.
LUBA is important because Oregon's land-use laws apply to property owners and local governments alike. Property owners have the ability to use and develop their property as allowed by applicable state and local laws and regulations.
Check out the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals FAQ page.