Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Glendale, Oregon

Glendale’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Glendale city for which Chapter 153 requires a building permit.

  • Work commenced without first obtaining a required permit is subject to a special investigation before a permit may issue.
  • The Building Official issues a permit only after finding conformity with Chapter 153 and pertinent laws and after fees are paid.

  “for which a permit is required by this chapter”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building and related activities within Glendale city corporate limits.

  • The listed specialty codes are subject to portions deleted, modified, or amended by Chapter 153.
  • The code lists structural, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, manufactured-dwelling, recreational-park, and organizational-camp rules.

  “The following Oregon Specialty Codes, Appendix Chapters thereof and Oregon Administrative Rules [...] are hereby adopted and incorporated herein”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted work inside Glendale city.

  • The permit holder or authorized agent must request necessary or otherwise required inspections timely and provide site access and necessary equipment.
  • The permit holder may not proceed with construction activity until authorized by the Building Official.
  • The inspection record card must remain available until final approval.

  “request all inspections that may be necessary or otherwise required”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Glendale city limits.

  • The provisions are adopted by reference; the incorporated zoning and land-use-development document was not available in the published-code chapter.

  “The city’s zoning and land use development provisions are hereby adopted by reference”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Chapter 153 building permits inside Glendale city.

  • Fees are set by Council resolution.
  • The Building Official determines value or valuation.
  • The fee computation value includes all construction work and listed permanent work or equipment.

  “Fees charged under this chapter shall be as set by Council resolution.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Chapter 153 building-permit applications inside Glendale city.

  • The Building Official reviews application materials and must find conformance with Chapter 153 and pertinent laws before issuance.
  • Fees must be paid.
  • Applications without an issued permit expire after 180 days, with one extension of up to 180 days upon qualifying request.
  • Permit expiration rules separately apply.

  application expiration: 180 days (The Building Official may grant one extension not exceeding 180 days upon applicant request showing circumstances beyond the applicant's control.)

  “shall be reviewed by the Building Official”

Rules another office applies inside Glendale

Glendale does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems for property in Glendale city where onsite sanitation is authorized.

  • Oregon DEQ identifies Douglas County Building and Environmental Health Department as the county office and residential onsite septic agent.
  • Whether a particular Glendale parcel may use septic depends on sewer availability and applicable onsite requirements.

  “Please contact the onsite permit technicians for all questions related to applications and prices for permits”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, altered, or repaired onsite septic systems in Oregon, including a Glendale-city parcel where onsite sanitation is allowed.

  • A site evaluation and compliance with site-evaluation-report and rule requirements are required before issuance.
  • The published state process says an installation permit is valid for one year.

  “Septic permits are required to install a new septic system, alter an existing septic system, or repair an existing septic system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Glendale city.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Glendale city.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Glendale city.
• Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Glendale city.
• Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Glendale 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Glendale 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.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.