Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bay City, Oregon

Bay City’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  City setback and final inspections for projects inside Bay City city limits

  • Structural building inspections are handled by Tillamook County; not verified here
  • Hazard overlay zone subgrade inspections by PE and CEG must be turned in at the time of the setback inspection request

  “the city handles the setback inspections prior to the construction of the foundation, and the final inspection prior to the certification of occupancy.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Final city inspection before occupancy inside Bay City city limits

  • Page references a final city inspection prior to certification of occupancy; it does not itself state the CO requirement or issuer

  “the city handles the setback inspections prior to the construction of the foundation, and the final inspection prior to the certification of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Bay City city limits

  • Chapter 10 of the city municipal code is the land use code; the city issues zoning permits

  “the bay city municipal codes, chapter 10, is intended to regulate land use within the bay city corporate limits in conformance with the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan and the statewide planning goals and guidelines.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Bay City city limits

  • Use matrix is at 10.06.020 of the city code on municipalcodeonline (JavaScript site, not opened in full)

  number of zones: 8 zones

  “there are 8 zones in the city: low intensity (li), moderate intensity (mi), north high intensity (nhi - the downtown district), east high intensity (ehi), south high intensity (shi), shorelands 1 (s1), shorelands 2 (s2), shorelands 3 (s3).”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Required setbacks listed on the city's permit submittal instructions, inside Bay City city limits (zone not named on the page)

  • Page does not tie these figures to a particular zone; confirm against 10.10 development standards
  • Wetland setback 15 feet and stream setback 25 feet also listed

  front yard: 20 feet · rear yard: 10 feet · side yard: 5 feet · street side: 15 feet

  “identify the required setbacks: wetland: 15 feet, stream: 25 feet. front yard: 20 feet; rear yard: 10 feet; side yard: 5 feet side; street side: 15 feet.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lot coverage / open area by zone inside Bay City city limits

  • Page gives paired percentages per zone, read as lot coverage/open area

  MI zone coverage/open area: 40%/60% · LI zone coverage/open area: 25%/75% · HI zone coverage/open area: 90%/10% · SH3 zone coverage/open area: 40%/60%

  “meet the lot coverage and open area requirements for each zone: mi zone: 40%/60%, li zone: 25%/75%, hi zone: 90%/10%, sh3 zone: 40%/60%.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Building height on the city's permit submittal instructions, inside Bay City city limits (zone not named)

  • Height measured as an average of the center of all walls from existing grade to the peak of the roof
  • Confirm per-zone limits in 10.10 development standards

  building height max: <= 24 feet

  “provide a building height calculation measured as an average of the center of all walls from existing grade to the peak of the roof. building height max: 24 ft.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Developed properties inside Bay City city limits

  • Owner/developer must extend the lines; city makes the water hookup and installs the meter; developer may hook up sewer with city inspection
  • Fire code review requires a water supply such as a working hydrant within 250 feet

  hydrant distance: <= 250 feet

  “the city requires that water, sewer and an improved road be extended to developed properties by the property owner/developer.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Property in the flood hazard area inside Bay City city limits

  • Special flood hazard area: topographic survey and pre-, lowest-floor and post-construction elevation certificates by a professional land surveyor
  • Coastal high hazard area: construction plans and V zone certification by a professional engineer

  “flood development permit: in the special flood hazard area provide a topographic survey, pre- construction flood elevation certificate, lowest floor elevation certificate, and post construction elevation certificate prepared by a professional land surveyor.”

• Permit processPartial

  City zoning permit process inside Bay City city limits

  • Also needs recorded survey, site plan (3 copies), elevations (3 copies), grading/erosion permit, driveway/right-of-way permit, utility permits, fire code review
  • Building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are listed under Tillamook County, not the city

  “submit a zoning permit application form and accompanying plans: signed by the property owner(s).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bay City or Tillamook County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Bay City city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Bay City city limits
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Bay City city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Bay City city limits
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Bay City city limits

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.