Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Turner, Oregon

Turner’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structural remodels and new buildings inside Turner city

  • Applied for at city hall and processed by Marion County Building
  • Most permits also need a DEQ 1200-C stormwater permit (since Jan 1, 2023)
  • Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work also needs permits

  new building size threshold: > 200 sq ft (most structural remodels of existing buildings also need a permit)

  “for most structural remodels of existing buildings and any new buildings over 200 sq ft, a building permit is required.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Turner city; state building code enforced by Marion County under intergovernmental agreement

  • Where the code and the intergovernmental agreement conflict, the agreement governs

  “administration and enforcement of the state building code is conducted by the marion county community development, building inspection division, under an intergovernmental agreement between marion county and the city of turner.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Turner city limits

  “the land use development code (ludc) and the comprehensive plan (cp) guide the development process, location and allowed uses in the city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Turner city zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-11, commercial, public institutional)

  • City also posts a 2025 zoning map PDF and an interactive zoning map

  “in an r-1 district, the following uses and their accessory uses are permitted subject to the standards, provisions and exceptions set forth in this code”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-2 residential district inside Turner city

  • Duplex 10,000 sq ft; cottage housing 12,000 sq ft

  minimum lot area single-family: >= 6000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 50 ft

  “(a) minimum lot area: i single-family: 6,000 square feet. ii attached single-family: 6,000 square feet. iii duplex: 10,000 square feet. iv cottage housing: 12,000 square feet. (b) minimum lot width - 50 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 single-family residential district inside Turner city

    “(a) minimum lot area - 8,000 square feet. (b) minimum lot width - 50 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district inside Turner city

  • Exterior (street) side yard 12 ft; garage or carport entrance 20 ft from street right-of-way
  • Additional street setbacks under LUDC 5.116
  • City FAQ gives general residential figures (front 20, rear 20, side 5) that differ from the code; the code text controls

  front yard: >= 15 ft · interior side yard, one story: >= 5 ft (7.5 ft for two story) · rear yard, primary structure: >= 15 ft (5 ft for accessory structures)

  “(e) yards: i exterior (street) yard setbacks front yard:15 feet for structures. side yard: 12 feet for structures. garage or carport: 20 feet from the street right-of-way line to a garage or carport entrance. see section 5.116 for additional street setbacks. ii interior yard setbacks - side yard: 5 feet for one story buildings, 7.5 feet for two story buildings; rear yard: 15 feet for primary structure; and 5 feet for attached or detached accessory structures.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 district inside Turner city

  • Includes accessory structures

  maximum building coverage: <= 60 percent

  “(c) maximum building coverage including accessory structures - 60%.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 district inside Turner city (R-2 also 35 feet)

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “(c) maximum building coverage including accessory structures - 60%. (d) maximum building height - 35 feet.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  R-1 residential district inside Turner city: human habitation of RVs and campers

  • Storage is allowed
  • Section 6.114 temporary manufactured dwelling use and other districts not reviewed

  “boats, trailers, detached campers, motorized dwellings and similar recreational equipment may be stored, but not used for human habitation.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Class A and B manufactured dwellings on individual lots in R-1, R-2 and R-11 districts inside Turner city

  • Must meet LUDC 6.113 standards and all provisions for conventionally built dwellings
  • Excavated area with perimeter concrete or masonry foundation
  • Hooked up to city water and sewer
  • Class B may also need conditional use on individual lots per 6.112

  “class "a" and "b" manufactured dwellings are permitted on individual parcels outside of manufactured dwelling parks in the city's residential districts, r-1, r-2 and r-11”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  R-1 district inside Turner city

  • One ADU per lot, conforming to LUDC article 6 (section 6.105) standards, not reviewed in detail
  • Accessory structures limited to one story and 800 square feet unless approved under site plan review

  “accessory structures subject to the following standards: i one accessory dwelling unit in conformance with the applicable standards of article 6.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Manufactured homes on residential lots inside Turner city (the only connection mandate located)

  • Developer pays to bring water and sewer to the property and structure
  • Whether a general connection mandate applies to site-built homes was not located

  “yes, manufactured homes are allowed on residential lots in turner. they must be on a foundation and hooked up to city water and sewer.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits inside Turner city

  • Excludes SDCs and the school excise tax
  • City page links a building permit fee sheet (24-25) and SDC schedule (2023-2024)

  remodel permit fee: <= 500 USD (often) · new home permit fees: <= 3000 USD (up to)

  “remodel level fees are often $500 or less, while a new home can run up to $3000 for permitting fees, not including other fees such as sdcs and the cet.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Turner city

  • Zoning-review applications may be submitted directly to Marion County Building or via its e-permitting site
  • DEQ 1200-C permit documentation required with application

  “the city of turner has a contract agreement with marion county to provide full service programs for permit, plan review and inspection services for building, manufactured dwelling, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Turner city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Turner city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy inside Turner city
• Minimum dwelling size — Inside Turner city
• Camping on your land — Inside Turner 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.