Bolthole Index

Hood River County, Oregon

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Cascade Locks, Oregon

The City of Cascade Locks, Oregon sets zoning inside city limits under its Community Development Code1 and manages its own building-code program2. Septic permits are different: Hood River County Environmental Health issues them for systems under 2,500 gallons a day, under contract with Oregon DEQ3. Land outside city limits follows Hood River County's rules instead.

At a glance

Zoning
City zoning under the Community Development Code14
Building permits
Handled by the City of Cascade Locks, not the county2
Septic permits
Hood River County Environmental Health, under DEQ contract35
Manufactured homes
Permitted use in the Rural Residential (RR) district6
Minimum lot, RR district
30,000 square feet7
Minimum lot, LDR district
6,500 square feet for most uses8
Owner-builder
Limited structural-code exemption; a permit is still issued910
Wells
Landowner well permit from the state is required11

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Cascade Locks City Hall (planning & zoning)

Zoning, land-use applications and building permit review inside Cascade Locks city limits

(541) 374-8484

[email protected]

140 SW Wanapa Cascade Locks, OR 97014

Septic permits

Hood River County Environmental Health

Septic site evaluations, permits and inspections for systems under 2,500 gallons a day

541-387-7129

1109 June Street Hood River, OR 97031

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Cascade Locks have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Cascade Locks adopted a Community Development Code that controls land use inside city limits through zoning districts1. The city is divided into zoning districts, including RR, LDR, MDR, HDR, C, LI and HI4. Rules differ by district.

  • Rural Residential (RR): single-family homes and manufactured homes on an individual lot are permitted uses6. The minimum lot is 30,000 square feet, with a 1-acre average when two or more lots are created7. Buildings and paving may cover 20 percent of the lot12, and buildings top out at 35 feet13.
  • Low Density Residential (LDR): the minimum lot is 6,500 square feet for most uses, averaging 7,500 square feet when two or more lots are created8. Coverage may reach 75 percent14, with a 35-foot height limit15.

We could not confirm a Cascade Locks rule on tiny homes or on living in an RV on a private lot. Ask the city's land use planner at City Hall before you buy16.

Do you need a building permit in Cascade Locks, and who issues it?

Inside city limits, the City of Cascade Locks manages its entire building-code program, so the county building counter is not the place to apply2. Oregon requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair or move a residential building17. The city directs building permit review to its City Recorder at City Hall16.

The city also publishes a Development Handbook with land use application packets, and says the handbook is being updated18. If the packet you need is missing, call City Hall at (541) 374-848416. We could not confirm which edition of the Oregon specialty codes the city has adopted, or its inspection stages, so ask City Hall before you design.

How do septic permits work inside Cascade Locks?

Septic is not a city function. Hood River County Environmental Health conducts site evaluations, issues permits and performs inspections for systems under 2,500 gallons of wastewater a day, under contract with Oregon DEQ3. A permit is required before any construction, alteration or repair of a septic system19.

Where a lot has no municipal sewer, state rules require an onsite system that meets DEQ siting, soil, water-table and setback requirements20. Before DEQ or its agent issues a construction permit for a new system, an affirmative land-use compatibility statement is required5, which in practice means the city's planning staff signs off first. Hood River County's soils are tough: only about 8.8% of soils rate "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system21. Call Environmental Health at 541-387-712922.

Can you build as an owner-builder, and what about wells?

Oregon lets an owner-builder who will live in the home use an exemption from structural-code requirements for ceiling heights, room sizes and specified temperature levels, and the exemption covers owner-built dwellings and outbuildings inside Cascade Locks9. A building permit is still issued, and it must note whether the home complies with the exempted requirements10.

A landowner who drills their own water-supply well needs a state permit, a permit fee and a bond or irrevocable letter of credit before work begins11. The Oregon Water Resources Department sets the fee at $550 and the bond at $10,00023.

Building a home in Cascade Locks: the steps, in order

  1. Call Cascade Locks City Hall at (541) 374-8484 and confirm your lot's zoning district, lot size and height limit164.
  2. Ask the city whether your project needs a land use application, using the Development Handbook packets18.
  3. Book a septic site evaluation with Hood River County Environmental Health if no sewer reaches the lot3.
  4. Get the city's land-use compatibility statement, which DEQ requires before a septic construction permit5.
  5. Apply for the building permit through the City of Cascade Locks2.
  6. If you plan a driveway or utility work in the street, ask about the city's Work in Right of Way Application16.
  7. Request the septic inspection when work is complete, before backfilling, which the county lets you do within seven days of notice unless the inspection is waived24.

What stays with Hood River County, and what should you check before you buy?

The county's own zoning, building and driveway rules apply to unincorporated land outside the city limits of Hood River and Cascade Locks25. For land outside the city, see the Hood River County page. Septic permits for homes come from the county either way3.

Before you buy, confirm the lot's zoning district, sewer availability and flood status with City Hall; the city posts a flood plain application among its land use forms16. Costs are county-level figures: Hood River County's typical home value is about $700,00026, and its effective property tax rate is 0.6%27.

Watch-outs

  • The city's own Development Handbook is being updated, so some application packets may not be posted; call City Hall at (541) 374-8484 if the one you need is missing1816.
  • Septic construction permits require an affirmative land-use compatibility statement first, so do not schedule excavation until it is in hand5.
  • Hood River County's rules for unincorporated land, such as its Rural Residential setbacks, do not apply inside Cascade Locks city limits25.
  • We could not confirm Cascade Locks rules on tiny homes, RV living on a private lot, short-term rentals or driveway access; ask City Hall's land use planner16.

Sources

  1. Cascade Locks Code § 150.15 (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  2. Hood River County Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  3. On-Site Waste Water Disposal Systems (Septic Systems), quoted and re-checked
  4. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  5. Oregon DEQ Housing and Onsite Wastewater Management (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  6. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  7. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  8. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2023 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, Chapter 1 (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  10. Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 455, quoted and re-checked
  11. Oregon Water Resources Department: Landowner Constructed Wells (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  12. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  13. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  14. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  15. Cascade Locks Community Development Code, Article III (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  16. Cascade Locks City Hall (planning & zoning) (cascade-locks.or.us)
  17. About Oregon residential building permits, quoted and re-checked
  18. Cascade Locks Development Handbook (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  19. On-Site Waste Water - Official Website for Hood River County, OR, quoted and re-checked
  20. Oregon DEQ Housing and Onsite Wastewater Management (Cascade Locks), quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Hood River County Environmental Health (hoodrivercounty.gov)
  23. Landowner Constructed Wells, quoted and re-checked
  24. Hood River County Final Inspection Request and Notice, quoted and re-checked
  25. Planning Department, quoted and re-checked
  26. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Cascade Locks

Cascade Locks’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • Land use is controlled by the adopted Community Development Code and applicable zoning district.
    “The revised Community Development Code, copies of which are on file in the city office, is hereby adopted and incorporated as part of this code of ordinances as fully as if set out at length herein.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • District boundaries are on the City zoning map adopted by reference.

    districts: RR, LDR, MDR, HDR, MHR, D, C, CR, RC, LI, HI, P, OS

    “The city is divided into the following Comprehensive Plan designations and zoning classification districts:”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    Manufactured home on an individual lot in the Rural Residential (RR) district inside Cascade Locks.

    • Subject to all applicable Community Development Code provisions.
    “Permitted uses in the RR district are: A. Dwelling, single-family detached; B. Manufactured home on an individual lot;”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City land-use and development applications inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • The handbook states that it is being updated and directs applicants to staff when an applicant packet is not shown.
    “designed to help applicants with the Land Use process”

Rules another office applies inside Cascade Locks

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

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Owner-built single-family dwellings and adjacent outbuildings inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • Applies to structural-code requirements for ceiling heights, room sizes, and specified temperature levels.
    • The owner-builder requirements and permit-recording conditions in ORS 455.320 apply.
    “Owner-built dwellings and outbuildings shall be exempt”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Low Density Residential (LDR) district inside Cascade Locks; all uses except zero-side-yard and duplex dwellings.

    • Unless modified under Planned Development Overlay Zone or Variance provisions.
    • Different LDR lot sizes apply to zero-side-yard and duplex dwellings.

    minimum individual lot area: 6500 square feet (All uses except zero-side-yard and duplex dwellings) · average minimum lot area when two or more lots are created: 7500 square feet (All uses except zero-side-yard and duplex dwellings)

    “A minimum lot area 6,500 for individual lots and an average minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet when two or more lots are created;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Low Density Residential (LDR) district inside Cascade Locks.

    • Unless modified under Planned Development Overlay Zone or Variance provisions.

    maximum building and impervious-surface coverage: <= 75 percent

    “The maximum coverage of buildings and impervious surfaces shall not exceed 75 percent of the total lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Low Density Residential (LDR) district inside Cascade Locks.

    • Unless modified under Planned Development Overlay Zone or Variance provisions.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “No building shall exceed 35 feet in height.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite septic systems serving property inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • Local DEQ agents, typically counties, may issue construction permits in many areas.
    “DEQ's Onsite Wastewater Management Program regulates”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New onsite septic construction or alteration inside Cascade Locks city limits where an onsite system is needed.

    • Construction permits include new construction and alterations or repairs.
    • An affirmative land-use compatibility statement is required before DEQ issues a construction permit for new construction and alterations.
    “Construction permit: This includes permits for new construction and for alterations and repairs of existing septic systems.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitary disposal on property inside Cascade Locks city limits where municipal sewer is not available.

    • A septic system must meet DEQ siting, design, installation, operation, maintenance, setback, usable-space, flow-capacity, soil, and water-table requirements.
    “development must use onsite wastewater treatment systems”
  • Well permitRequired

    Landowner construction, alteration, conversion, or abandonment of a water-supply well inside Cascade Locks city limits.

    • Does not apply where the landowner is a licensed and bonded Water Supply Well Constructor.
    • Permit, permit fee, and bond or irrevocable letter of credit are required before work.
    “The Water Resources Commission requires a permit, permit fee, and bond or irrevocable letter of credit”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Cascade Locks or Hood River County directly.

  • Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Cascade Locks city limits.
  • Inspections — Building work inside Cascade Locks city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Cascade Locks city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Cascade Locks city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Cascade Locks city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Cascade Locks publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Hood River County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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