City Building Permits
Johnson City, OR - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Johnson City, Oregon. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City approval is required before a building application can be accepted by the county for Johnson City. County then handles building and trade permit issuance and inspections.
- Department
- Clackamas County Building Codes, after City of Johnson City approval
- Address
- County: 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045. City: 16120 SE 81st Avenue, Johnson City, OR 97267
- Phone
- County: 503-742-4240; City Hall: 503-655-9710
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Development Direct self-service permit system • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Obtain Johnson City approval for the project.
- Submit county permit application and plans through county channels.
- Pay county review fees and respond to review comments.
- Receive county permit issuance.
- Schedule county inspections and close the permit with finals.
Typical processing time: Not publicly posted for Johnson City.
Source: Clackamas County Building Codes, after City of Johnson City approval
General Requirements
County and Oregon code triggers apply for new construction and most structural or trade alterations.
Required Documents
- City pre-approval
- County application
- Plans
- Site plan
- Engineering if needed
- Permit validity
- County/state 180-day rule unless extended.
- Building code
- Current Oregon specialty codes enforced by Clackamas County.
- Owner-builder
- Oregon owner-builder rules apply.
- Contractor requirements
- Oregon CCB licensing applies.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- County schedule.
- Permit fee formula
- County valuation-based structural fee plus trade schedules.
- Reinspection fee
- County schedule.
- Payment note
- County payment process applies after city clearance.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- State residential exemptions for qualifying small detached structures
- Low decks
- Minor fences
- Finish work
- Listed minor electrical, plumbing, and mechanical replacements
Inspections
How to Schedule
- County online system (online)
- County inspection line (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Requests submitted before 6:00 a.m. are scheduled for that business day.
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday
Typical inspection sequence: County sequence by permit scope.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Current Oregon specialty codes enforced by Clackamas County.
- Verify contractor license: Oregon CCB License Lookup
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Jurisdiction Information
- Oregon Building Code Division
- License lookup guide: Oregon Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Oregon Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Oregon hub: Oregon Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Clackamas County Building Codes, after City of Johnson City approval before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Johnson City Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Johnson City, OR?
- County and Oregon code triggers apply for new construction and most structural or trade alterations.
- How much does a building permit cost in Johnson City, OR?
- Fees are calculated as: County valuation-based structural fee plus trade schedules.. Plan check fee: County schedule..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Johnson City, OR?
- 1. Obtain Johnson City approval for the project. 2. Submit county permit application and plans through county channels. 3. Pay county review fees and respond to review comments. 4. Receive county permit issuance. 5. Schedule county inspections and close the permit with finals.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Johnson City, OR?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly posted for Johnson City..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Johnson City, OR?
- The following work is generally exempt: State residential exemptions for qualifying small detached structures; Low decks; Minor fences; Finish work; Listed minor electrical, plumbing, and mechanical replacements.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Johnson City, OR?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County online system, County inspection line. Requests submitted before 6:00 a.m. are scheduled for that business day..
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