Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sisters, Oregon

Sisters’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Regulated construction, alteration, repair, moving, improvement, conversion, or demolition inside Sisters city limits.

  • Exceptions are those specified in SMC 15.10.380.
  • A separate appropriate permit is required for each regulated building, structure, or building-service equipment item.
  • Deschutes County Building Safety Division is the building agency having jurisdiction for Sisters.

  “Except as specified in Section 301.2, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this code and the specialty codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from the building official.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building work inside Sisters city limits.

  • The adoption includes Oregon Residential Specialty Code Section R327 for the entire City.
  • Deschutes County Building Safety Division administers the code and applicable rules.

  “The city of Sisters hereby adopts the state building codes, ORS Chapter 455 and Oregon Administrative Rules adopted thereunder as may be amended from time to time.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted buildings and structures inside Sisters city limits.

  • Inspections include foundation, under-floor, frame, lath/wallboard, and final inspection.
  • Reinforcing steel or structural framework may not be covered before approval.
  • Final inspection occurs after finish grading when the building is complete and ready for occupancy.

  “There shall be a final inspection and approval of all buildings and structures when completed and ready for occupancy and use.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use or occupancy of buildings or structures inside Sisters city limits.

  • Exception: Group R, Division 3, and Group M occupancies.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued before completion if the building official finds substantial hazard will not result.

  “Buildings or structures shall not be used or occupied nor shall a change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Building permits for agricultural buildings inside Sisters city limits.

  • This is a building-permit exemption, not evidence of exemption from zoning, utilities, or other law.
  • Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits remain required unless otherwise exempted.

  “A building permit shall not be required for the following: [...] (12) Agricultural Buildings.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Sisters city limits.

  • Permit fees are set by the City fee schedule.
  • When submittal documents are required, plan-review fee is 65 percent of the permit fee and is additional to permit fees.

  plan review fee: 65 percent of permit fee (When submittal documents are required)

  “When submittal documents are required by Section 302.2, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting the submittal documents for plan review. Said plan review fee shall be 65 percent of the permit fee as shown in the fee schedule adopted by the city.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside Sisters city limits.

  • The building official reviews the application, plans, specifications, computations, and other submitted data.
  • Permit issues only if work conforms to the code, specialty codes, and pertinent laws and ordinances, and specified fees are paid.

  “The application, plans, specifications, computations and other data filed by an applicant for permit shall be reviewed by the building official.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder residential construction inside Sisters city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Sisters city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Sisters city limits.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Sisters city limits.
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Sisters city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Sisters means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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