Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Salem, Oregon

Salem’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Salem city limits; Salem adopts and administers its own Unified Development Code with zones such as RS and RA

  “Development within the RS zone must comply with the development standards set forth in this section.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  RS (Single Family Residential) zone inside Salem city

  • Townhouses 1,500 sq ft; other single family 4,000 sq ft; infill lots 5,500 sq ft unless more required for the use
  • Two family 4,000; three family 5,000; four/multiple family 7,000 sq ft

  min lot area single family (non-townhouse): >= 4000 sq ft (townhouses 1,500 sq ft)

  “min. 1,500 sq. ft. applicable to townhouses. min. 4,000 sq. ft. applicable to all other single family.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — RA (Residential Agriculture) zone inside Salem city

    “Single family Min. 1,500 sq. ft. Applicable to townhouses. Min. 4,000 sq. ft. Applicable to all other single family.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  RS zone inside Salem city, single family buildings

  • Abutting street 12 ft (20 ft along collector or arterial streets) for most uses
  • Interior side 5 ft new buildings, 3 ft existing; townhouses per SRC 700.085; zero side yard per SRC 700.095
  • Rear setbacks not captured (section truncated)

  interior side setback, new single family: >= 5 ft (townhouses and zero side yard dwellings differ)

  “Interior Side Buildings Single family Min. 5 ft. Applicable to new buildings, other than zero side yard dwellings and townhouses.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — RA zone inside Salem city, single family buildings

    “Interior Side Buildings Single family Min. 5 ft. Applicable to new buildings, other than zero side yard dwellings and townhouses.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV habitation inside Salem city outside licensed tourist parks

  • Allowed up to 72 hours aggregate in any 30-day period
  • Not on private property 10 p.m.-7 a.m. without owner consent; not on public street while occupants sleep
  • Director may license longer stays after inspection; not in commercial/industrial zones unless on property used residentially
  • Violation is an infraction

  temporary habitation limit: <= 72 hours per 30 days (Director license may allow longer)

  “it shall be unlawful for any person to use any motor vehicle or recreational vehicle as a place of temporary or permanent habitation except in a licensed tourist park.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping on public property and rights-of-way inside Salem city; private-land camping is governed by the RV rule SRC 30.655

  • Prohibited on posted public property, vehicular rights-of-way, parks, and public property zoned or adjacent to residential
  • Council may exempt special events by resolution

  “it is unlawful for any person to camp in or upon:”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Salem city where designated as a special use

  • One per lot; max 900 sq ft or 75 percent of main building, whichever is less
  • Not in an RV, travel trailer, or motor vehicle
  • Detached ADU: side or rear yard, max 25 ft height, total lot coverage max 60 percent
  • Cannot be used as short-term rental

  max ADU size: <= 900 sq ft (or 75 percent of main building gross area, whichever is less) · detached ADU max height: <= 25 ft

  “Only one accessory dwelling unit shall be allowed per lot.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions in the RS zone inside Salem city

  • Minimum density 5.5 units per acre and 15 percent middle housing for sites of 5+ acres

  minimum subdivision density: >= 5.5 units per acre

  “a site that is at least five acres in size and is subdivided shall comply with the following standards:”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Accessory short-term rentals inside Salem city where designated a special use

  • Resident family must live there at least 270 days per year
  • Max 29 consecutive days per guest
  • Non-hosted rental max 95 days per year, one booking at a time, max 10 guests
  • Not allowed in ADU, RV, tent or motor vehicle

  max stay: <= 29 days · non-hosted days per year: <= 95 days

  “the resident family must reside in the dwelling unit for a minimum of 270 days during each calendar year.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Salem city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Salem city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Salem city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Salem city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Salem 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.