Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Gresham, Oregon

Gresham’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Gresham city

  • The city also lists projects that do not require permits (page not opened).

  “a permit is needed to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or change the occupancy of a building or structure”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted building work inside Gresham city

  • Inspections performed daily 8:30 am-3:30 pm; request before midnight for next-day inspection.

  “when you obtain a permit, a certified inspector ensures the work is done safely and to code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Gresham city limits

  • Gresham adopts and administers its own Community Development Code with land use districts.

  “development of land in the following residential land use districts is permitted when development proposals are found to comply with the standards of this section”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Residential land use districts inside Gresham city (LDR-5, LDR-7, TR, TLDR, MDR-12, MDR-24, OFR, plus other article 4 districts)

  • Non-residential and other districts are in other sections of article 4, not opened

  “4.0114 moderate density residential-12 (mdr-12) 4.0115 moderate density residential-24 (mdr-24) 4.0116 office/residential (ofr)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential districts LDR-5 and LDR-7 inside Gresham city (table 4.0130 minimum lot size; column assignment inferred from header order LDR-5, LDR-7, TR)

  • Table text extracted from PDF; the single detached row is not separately labeled, shown under 'all other uses'
  • Large lot subdivision option: minimum lot 8,000 sq ft

  LDR-5 minimum lot size: 5000 sq ft · LDR-7 minimum lot size: 7000 sq ft

  “all other uses 5,000 sq. ft. 7,000 sq. ft. 4,000 sq. ft. none 3,600 sq. ft. none 3,600 sq. ft. all other uses”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single detached dwellings in LDR-5 and LDR-7 inside Gresham city (table 4.0131)

  • Column order inferred: front 10 ft; front facade 8 ft; front garage 20 ft; interior side 5 ft; street side wall 10 ft; rear no alley 15 ft; rear with alley 8 ft
  • Detached accessory structures follow section 10.0200
  • Zero lot line option only on lots designated through land division

  front setback: 10 ft · interior side setback: 5 ft

  “single detached dwelling, duplex, triplex, and quadplex: ldr-54, ldr-74, tldr4, and tr4 10 ft.5 8 ft. 20 ft. 5 ft. na 6 in. on zero / 6 ft. other 10 ft. 8 ft. 20 ft. 15 ft. 8 ft.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  LDR-5 and LDR-7 residential districts inside Gresham city (table 4.0130)

  • Height transition (9.0600) and rear roof height limits (7.0400) may modify
  • Flag lot structures limited to 22 or 30 ft depending on roof type

  maximum building height, LDR-5 and LDR-7: <= 35 ft

  “table 4.0130: development requirements for residential land use districts ldr-5 h. maximum building height11 ldr-7 tr tldr mdr-12 mdr-24 ofr townhouse 35 ft.12 35 ft.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes in the LDR-5 district inside Gresham city (LDR-7 description is parallel)

  • Manufactured dwelling requirements in section 4.0135 were not read; they may impose siting or design conditions.

  “the low density residential-5 district is primarily intended for residential uses including single detached dwellings and manufactured homes”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and partitions inside Gresham city

  • Minimum net density 6.22 units per acre in LDR-5 for subdivisions and partitions of parent parcels greater than 20,000 sq ft

  “for all subdivisions, and for those partitions of parent parcels greater than 20,000 square feet, a minimum net density of 6.22 units per acre is required.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Accessory dwellings inside Gresham city; the city also runs a short-term rental program (not opened)

  • The ban quoted applies to accessory dwellings only; rules for other dwellings not read

  “accessory dwellings shall not be used as short-term rentals”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits inside Gresham city

  • In-person services at City Hall Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:00 pm; phone 503-618-2845

  “for projects that require plan review, plans will be submitted directly through the online permit application system”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Gresham city
• Certificate of occupancy — Gresham city
• Minimum dwelling size — Gresham city
• Lot coverage — Gresham city
• Living in an RV — Gresham 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.