Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Halfway, Oregon

Halfway’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, movement, reconstruction, extension, enlargement or alteration of buildings inside Halfway city

  • City authorization permit from city recorder after discussing with ordinance officer
  • Building permit, if required, is obtained from the Baker County building department
  • Applicant pays fee established by city ordinance

  “an authorization permit for such erection, movement, reconstruction, extension, enlargement, or alteration shall be obtained from the city recorder after discussing with the ordinance officer. the applicant shall pay a fee as established by city ordinance at the time the application is filed.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Halfway city limits (Baker County, OR)

  • Zones: Residential R, Commercial-Residential CR, Public P

  “the land may be used and a building or structure or part of a building or structure may be constructed, reconstructed, altered, occupied or used only as this chapter shall permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Halfway city zoning districts R, CR and P

  • Sections 150.035 Residential Zone R, 150.036 Commercial-Residential Zone CR, 150.037 Public Zone P

  “this chapter hereby establishes the following land use zones for the city. zone abbreviated designations residential r commercial-residential cr public p”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential Zone R inside Halfway city (single, two family and mobile home dwellings)

  • Multiple family: 5,000 sq ft for two units plus additional area per added unit
  • Minimum street frontage 25 feet
  • All uses need adequate area for setbacks and parking

  minimum lot area single/two-family: >= 5000 sq ft

  “in the "r" zone the minimum lot or parcel size shall be as follows. a. single, two family, and mobile home dwellings: 5,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential Zone R inside Halfway city

  • Side yards measured from drip-line
  • Street-side yard on corner lots not less than ten feet
  • Clear vision regulations apply

  front yard: >= 10 feet · interior side yard: >= 5 feet from drip-line · rear yard: >= 5 feet from drip-line

  “there shall be a rear yard of not less than five feet from the drip-line in depth.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential Zone R inside Halfway city

  • Whichever is less: two stories or 28 feet

  max height: <= 28 feet or two stories, whichever is less

  “buildings, structures, or portions thereof shall not be erected to exceed a height of two stories or 28 feet at grade of front door, or whichever is less.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on individual lots in residential zones inside Halfway city

  • Only used as permanent residences
  • Foundation per manufacturer instructions; placement reviewed and approved by city recorder and ordinance officer
  • Other siting criteria in section 150.064 not fully reviewed

  “manufactured homes meeting the following criteria are allowed on individual lots in specified residential zones. only those manufactured homes are used as permanent residences.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land partitioning and subdivisions inside Halfway city

  • Tentative plan filed with city recorder with fee

  “any person proposing a subdivision, or their authorized agent or representative shall submit an application for a subdivision to the city recorder.”

• Permit processPartial

  Land use authorization inside Halfway city

  • Fee amount not located
  • Building permits via Baker County

  “once authorized by the city, the applicant will consult with the baker county building department. if a building permit is required, it will be obtained from the baker county building department.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Halfway or Baker County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Halfway city
• Building code adopted — Inside Halfway city
• Inspections — Inside Halfway city
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside Halfway city
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential Zone R inside Halfway city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.