Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Winston, Oregon

Winston’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, altering, moving or demolishing any building or structure inside Winston city

  • Permit is obtained from the building inspector under the application conditions of the state building code
  • Section 150.067 says fees are set in the state building code

  “without first obtaining a separate building permit for each building or structure from the building inspector in the manner and according to the application conditions prescribed in the state building code.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings inside Winston city

  • Section 150.001 adopts the state 1993 structural specialty code by reference with amendments; the text is dated and current state code status was not checked

  “the city adopts the following codes by reference, and each is incorporated and made a part of this subchapter, except as specifically provided by this section”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Winston city limits (Douglas County)

  • Winston administers its own Zoning Code, Chapter 154, with zones including A-O, R-L (R-L-A/B/C) and R-M
  • The copy opened is the 2021 S-2 text; a 2025 ordinance (25-724) amended Chapter 154 and was not read

  “lot or parcel sizes shall conform with requirements of the city zoning ordinances in effect at the date of application for land division.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-L (low density residential) zone inside Winston city

  • Subject to the exceptions in sections 154.084 and 154.116
  • R-L-A, R-L-B and R-L-C subzones differ
  • Lot width at front property line: R-L-A 60 ft interior and 70 ft corner, R-L-B 80 ft, R-L-C 85 ft

  R-L-A minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet · R-L-B minimum lot area: >= 8500 square feet · R-L-C minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet

  “(1) the minimum lot areas shall be: (a) r-l-a 6,000 square feet; (b) r-l-b 8,500 square feet; (c) r-l-c 20,000 square feet;”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-O (agricultural/open space) zone inside Winston city

    “the minimum lot size within an a-o zone shall be as follows: (1) the minimum lot area shall be ten acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-L zone (subzones R-L-A, R-L-B, R-L-C, in that column order) inside Winston city

  • Subject to exceptions in sections 154.056, 154.073, 154.083, 154.085 and 154.116
  • Side yard adjacent to a street is 15 ft in all subzones
  • Rear yard: 10 ft R-L-A, 15 ft R-L-B, 20 ft R-L-C
  • On streets not built to city standards, front setback is at least 40 feet from the street centerline

  front yard R-L-A/R-L-B/R-L-C: 20/20/30 feet · side yard R-L-A/R-L-B/R-L-C: 5/5/10 feet (except adjacent to a street)

  “a. front yard 20' 20' 30' b. side yard (except as below) 5' 5' 10'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-O zone inside Winston city

    “(1) front yard - 30 feet; (2) side yard - 20 feet; (3) rear yard - 30 feet;”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-O zone inside Winston city

  • Subject to exceptions in sections 154.056, 154.086 and 154.116
  • R-L zone height limit not read

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “in an a-o zone no building shall exceed a height of 35 feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory residential units on single-family lots in the R-L zone inside Winston city

  • Not more than one per single-family unit
  • Maximum 1,000 square feet or 50% of the primary residence gross floor area, whichever is less
  • Primary heat source must be electric or gas, not wood
  • Illegally established units may be legalized by planning clearance worksheet

  maximum ADU size: <= 1000 square feet (or 50% of primary residence floor area if less)

  “shall not exceed one per single-family unit; may either be part of the primary residence, existing garage, accessory building, or a separate detached structure; maximum size is 1,000 square feet”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Winston city under Chapter 153 Subdivision Code

  • Lot sizes must conform to the zoning ordinances in effect at application

  “the lot or parcel size, width, shape and orientation shall be appropriate for the location of the land division and for the type of development and use contemplated.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Winston city
• Inspections — Inspections of construction inside Winston city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Winston city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Winston city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Winston 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.