City Building Permits
Lowell, OR - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Lowell, Oregon. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Lowell accepts permit applications at City Hall but uses Northwest Code Professionals as the contract building inspector for building, mechanical, electrical, and mobile home permits.
- Department
- City of Lowell Building Division
- Address
- City Hall, 70 N Pioneer St, Lowell, OR 97452
- Phone
- 541-937-2157
- admin@ci.lowell.or.us
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Oregon ePermitting (Accela) • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Prepare application and project documents; city forms and checklists are posted online.
- Submit permit materials to Lowell City Hall during regular business hours or through Oregon ePermitting as appropriate.
- Northwest Code Professionals processes the permit application and performs plan review.
- Respond to corrections if requested.
- Pay fees and obtain permit issuance.
- Schedule inspections with the contract building inspector.
- Complete finals and close out the permit.
Source: City of Lowell Building Division
General Requirements
Structural, mechanical, electrical, and mobile-home work regulated under Oregon codes and Lowell Municipal Code Title 8 and related code provisions.
Required Documents
- Building permit application worksheet
- Energy forms
- Permit-type-specific checklists
- Permit validity
- Oregon 180-day rule generally applies.
- Building code
- Lowell has adopted the state building codes and administers them through its local building program.
- Contractor requirements
- Oregon licensing rules apply; contract inspection staff processes regulated permit types.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $95.00
- Plan check fee
- 65% of permit fee; fire/life plan review at 40% where applicable
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based structural permit table plus plan review and trade/itemized fees
- Reinspection fee
- $88 per hour
- Payment note
- Permit applications are accepted by City Hall and processed by the contract inspector; confirm exact payment channel at submittal.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective FY 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Detached one- and two-family dwellings
Important: Exempt work can still trigger Lowell land development code review or floodplain review. Applicants should verify with City Hall before relying on an exemption.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Northwest Code Professionals (phone)
- Inspection hours
- City Hall regular business hours
Typical inspection sequence: Structural and trade inspections in normal construction order.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Lowell has adopted the state building codes and administers them through its local building program.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Planning contact
- Building application worksheet
- Municipal code
- 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 City of Lowell Building Division before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Lowell, OR?
- Structural, mechanical, electrical, and mobile-home work regulated under Oregon codes and Lowell Municipal Code Title 8 and related code provisions.
- How much does a building permit cost in Lowell, OR?
- The minimum permit fee is $95.00. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based structural permit table plus plan review and trade/itemized fees. Plan check fee: 65% of permit fee; fire/life plan review at 40% where applicable.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Lowell, OR?
- 1. Prepare application and project documents; city forms and checklists are posted online. 2. Submit permit materials to Lowell City Hall during regular business hours or through Oregon ePermitting as appropriate. 3. Northwest Code Professionals processes the permit application and performs plan review. 4. Respond to corrections if requested. 5. Pay fees and obtain permit issuance. 6. Schedule inspections with the contract building inspector. 7. Complete finals and close out the permit.
- What work is exempt from building permits in Lowell, OR?
- The following work is generally exempt: Detached one- and two-family dwellings. Note: Exempt work can still trigger Lowell land development code review or floodplain review. Applicants should verify with City Hall before relying on an exemption.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Lowell, OR?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Northwest Code Professionals.
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