Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tangent, Oregon

Tangent’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building and fire codes inside Tangent city

  • Adopts the Oregon state building code (OAR chapter 918) and the Oregon Fire Code (OAR chapter 837) as amended from time to time.
  • Linn County administers the building code program and the Tangent Rural Fire Protection District administers the fire code on the city's behalf (TMC 9.50.030).

  “the city adopts and incorporates by reference each of the specialty codes making up the state building code adopted by the administrator of the building codes division, department of consumer and business services pursuant to oar chapter 918”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal inside Tangent city

  • Allowed only where public sewer is not available or service is not provided, and only as a system complying with state statutes and DEQ/EQC rules.
  • Must connect to public sewer and decommission the septic system when sewer becomes available (TMC 5.60(2)).

  “where a public sanitary sewer is not available or service is not provided, a building sewer may be connected to a private on-site septic disposal system that complies with all applicable state statutes and the administrative rules of the state department of environmental quality and environmental quality commission.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New development, subdivision or partition inside Tangent's sewer service area

  • Applies to owners applying for a subdivision, partition or other development within Tangent's service area.
  • Extension must follow city design and construction standards, include a step system, and be approved by the city engineer.
  • Once public sewer becomes available to a property on a septic system, the owner must apply to connect and decommission the septic system (TMC 5.60(2)).
  • Water connection rules not opened.

  distance to city sewer main: <= 500 feet (city must permit the connection)

  “the owner of lands located within tangent's service area that makes application for a subdivision, partition or other development shall, at the owner's expense, extend the public sewer system to serve the land proposed for division or development, provided there is a city sewer main within 500 feet of the property and city permits such a connection.”

Rules another office applies inside Tangent

Tangent 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 septicState (with conditions)

  Private on-site septic systems inside Tangent city where public sewer is not available (city code defers to state DEQ/EQC rules)

  • City code defers to state statutes and DEQ/EQC rules; the code also refers to state and county requirements for decommissioning a septic system when sewer becomes available.
  • The county's role in septic permitting (if any, under DEQ agreement) was not confirmed.

  “where a public sanitary sewer is not available or service is not provided, a building sewer may be connected to a private on-site septic disposal system that complies with all applicable state statutes and the administrative rules of the state department of environmental quality and environmental quality commission.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Tangent city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Tangent city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Tangent city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Tangent city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Tangent 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.