Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Scotts Mills, Oregon

Scotts Mills’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land within the Scotts Mills urban growth boundary / city zoning map

  • Zoning map is retained by the city recorder and is part of the development code
  • Chapter text is the 2007 version posted on the city site; the code carries an August 2008 footer and may have later amendments not reviewed

  “all areas within the urban growth boundary of the city of scotts mills are divided into land use zones.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Scotts Mills city

  • Official zoning map retained by the city recorder; map itself not reviewed

  “2.1 single-family residential (rs) zone 2.2 multi-family residential (rm) zone 2.3 industrial commercial (ic) zone 2.4 commercial (cg) zone”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-Family Residential (RS) zone inside Scotts Mills city

  • Minimum lot width: 20 feet at front property line for single-family, except flag lots and lots on private lanes
  • Same 8,000 sq ft single-family minimum in the RM zone

  minimum lot area, single-family: >= 8000 sq ft · minimum lot area, duplex: >= 12000 sq ft

  “a. minimum lot area 1. single-family dwellings: 8,000 square feet 2. duplex: 12,000 square feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-Family Residential (RS) zone inside Scotts Mills city; applies to primary and accessory structures

  • Side yard: 5 feet interior, 10 feet street corner
  • Rear yard 5 feet for alley-access lots
  • Variance required to modify any setback
  • Eaves etc. may encroach up to 3 feet; porches/decks under 3 feet high up to 6 feet

  front setback, residential: >= 20 feet · rear setback, street-access lots: >= 15 feet

  “the minimum rear yard setback shall be 15 feet for street-access lots, and 5 feet for alley-access lots (all structures).”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-Family Residential (RS) zone inside Scotts Mills city

  • Compliance with other code sections may preclude maximum coverage
  • Accessory structure floor area may not exceed the primary structure or 35% of lot coverage

  max lot coverage, single-family detached: <= 35 percent · max lot coverage, duplex: <= 40 percent

  “1. single-family detached houses: 35% 2. duplex: 40% 3. public/institutional uses: 80%”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-Family Residential (RS) zone inside Scotts Mills city

  • Detached accessory structures limited to 30 feet
  • RM zone limit is 45 feet or 3 stories, whichever is greater

  max building height: <= 35 feet or 2 stories, whichever greater

  “buildings within the single family residential (rs) zone shall be no more than 35 feet or 2 stories in height, whichever is greater.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on single-family, multi-family or general commercial zoned property containing single-family dwellings inside Scotts Mills city

  • Park on graveled or paved driveway, side yard or back yard, not within the 20 foot front yard or side street setback
  • Must belong to temporary visitors or the owner/renter; must be self contained; must not be connected to septic or sewer
  • Residential use limited to 14 out of 30 consecutive days per calendar year
  • Use or storage on general commercial or industrial commercial property is prohibited except in an RV park or commercial storage area
  • Overnight use or storage prohibited on city streets and rights-of-way

  residential RV use: <= 14 of 30 consecutive days days

  “developed property may contain a recreational vehicle for residential recreational vehicle use a total of 14 out of 30 consecutive days during the calendar year.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on individual lots in the RS (and RM) zone inside Scotts Mills city

  • Multi-sectional with at least 1,000 square feet of enclosed floor area
  • Pitched roof of at least 3 feet in height per 12 feet in width
  • Residential siding/roofing, garage or carport where nearby homes have them, thermal envelope certification, foundation not more than 16 inches above grade, fully skirted
  • Not allowed in a designated historic district
  • Design standards do not apply to units existing before the code's effective date
  • Manufactured home parks allowed in RM zone on parcels of one acre or larger

  minimum floor area, manufactured home: >= 1000 sq ft (units existing before the code)

  “manufactured homes are permitted on individual lots, subject to all of the following design standards, consistent with ors 197.307(5).”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building and septic permit fees for land inside Scotts Mills city

  • A school construction excise tax and system development charges may apply when building on a vacant lot; call 503-873-5435

  “fees for permits may vary, for accurate pricing please call our office at 503-873-5435.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and septic permits for land inside Scotts Mills city

  • City page lists forms: structural permit, manufactured home placement permit, site plan access permit, septic certification for record review, variance, lot line adjustment, pre-application conference, partition, encroachment/right of way permit

  “within city limits, all building and septic permits must be submitted to the city hall for review and they will then be sent to marion county for review and approval.”

Rules another office applies inside Scotts Mills

Scotts Mills 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)

  Septic permits for land inside Scotts Mills city; Marion County reviews and approves after city hall intake

  • Applications are submitted to Scotts Mills city hall first, then sent to Marion County
  • Fees vary; call city office

  “within city limits, all building and septic permits must be submitted to the city hall for review and they will then be sent to marion county for review and approval.”

Still unanswered

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

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