Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Manzanita, Oregon

Manzanita’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Manzanita city limits (Tillamook County)

  • Zoning ordinance 95-4 adopted March 6, 1996, amended through Ord. 25-04 passed January 7, 2026

  “manzanita zoning ordinance - adopted march 6, 1996 including all ordinance amendments through january 7, 2026”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Manzanita city use zones: MH-1 (formerly R-2), MH-2 (R-3, R-4, RMD, R-2 east of Classic St.), MH-3 (SR-R), plus C-1 and others

  • Article 3 use zones; zoning map also linked from city site

  “article 3. use zones section 3.010 middle housing zones, mh-1, mh-2, mh-3. the following tables summarize the development standards and permitted uses for:”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Manufactured dwellings only inside Manzanita city; no general minimum for site-built dwellings found

  • Applies to manufactured dwellings under Section 4.135

  minimum enclosed space, manufactured dwelling: >= 1000 square feet

  “the manufactured dwelling shall be multi-sectional and enclose a space of not less than 1,000 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Middle housing zones MH-1, MH-2, MH-3 inside Manzanita city (residential districts); no agricultural district found

  • Maximum lot size for one-plex 10,000 sq ft; for duplex/triplex/quadplex/cottage cluster/courtyard apartment 20,000 sq ft
  • MH-3 column and non-residential zones not separately reviewed

  minimum lot size, townhouse or multi-unit: 1500 square feet

  “minimum lot size for townhouse (square feet) 1,500 1,500 1,500 minimum lot size for duplex, triplex, quadplex, cottage cluster, or courtyard apartment (square feet) 1,500 1,500 1,500”

• SetbacksSpecified

  MH-1, MH-2 residential zones inside Manzanita city

  • Street side yard of a corner lot is 12 feet (table footnote)

  front yard: 20 feet · rear yard: 5 feet · side yard: 5 feet (corner lot street side 12 feet)

  “front yard setback (feet)2 20 20 20 minimum rear yard setback (feet) 5 5 5 minimum side yard setback (feet) 5 5 5”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles placed on a lot inside Manzanita city

  • Must conform to Section 5.077 or 5.098 criteria
  • Recreational vehicle park is a conditional-use article; use table lists RV use during construction under a building permit for six months with one six-month extension

  max stay without permit: <= 30 days (or 60 days within a 90 day period)

  “no recreation vehicles shall be placed on a lot for a period of more than 30 days, nor for more than 60 days within a 90 day period, in zones approved for such use without the issuance of a permit by the city manager.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured dwellings in MH-1, MH-2 inside Manzanita city

  • Subject to Section 4.135 standards (multi-sectional, pitched roof 3:12, excavated foundation etc.)
  • Manufactured dwelling parks only in MH-2, subject to Section 4.096

  minimum enclosed space: >= 1000 square feet

  “the manufactured dwelling shall be multi-sectional and enclose a space of not less than 1,000 square feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed

  Accessory dwelling units in MH-1 and MH-2 zones inside Manzanita city

  • Permitted outright (P) in the use table

  “one-plex p p p accessory dwelling (adu) p p p duplex p p p triplex p p p quadplex p p p”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Manzanita city

  • Ord 95-5 (land subdivision and partitioning), amended by Ord 26-01; text not reviewed

  “ord 95-5 land subdivision and partitioning”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short term rentals in MH-1, MH-2 inside Manzanita city

  • Permitted subject to restrictions in the ordinance footnote and city STR regulations (Ord 10-03, 24-06); details not reviewed

  “short term rental13 p p p church or community hall14 c c c nursery c c golf course c c c15”

Still unanswered

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

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