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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Multnomah County
In unincorporated areas, building-permit applicants are referred by the issuing city to Multnomah County for zoning review where required; separate county permits may also apply for floodplain, geologic hazards, erosion and sediment control, transportation, and related land use matters.
No single countywide public exemption list exists for all unincorporated building work because structural permit exemptions follow the routed building department and Oregon code
Even where a structural permit is exempt, county floodplain, erosion-control, transportation, septic, scenic-area, or geologic-hazard approvals may still be required depending on site conditions
- Exempt No single countywide public exemption list exists for all unincorporated building work because structural permit exemptions follow the routed building department and Oregon code
- Exempt Even where a structural permit is exempt, county floodplain, erosion-control, transportation, septic, scenic-area, or geologic-hazard approvals may still be required depending on site conditions
Required documents
- Application form
- Site plan
- Floor plan
- Building elevations
- Service-provider review forms
- Other items identified in the zoning checklist or land use permit
- Building code
- County zoning and land use review is paired with state-adopted Oregon building codes administered by the routed building department. Unincorporated sites may also face county floodplain, landslide or geologic hazard, erosion-control, transportation, septic, wildfire, and Columbia River Gorge or scenic-area review depending location.
- Permit validity
- County land use pages do not publish a single building-permit expiration rule because issuance and inspections are handled by the routed city; county permit validity varies by permit type.
- Owner-builder
- Follow the routed city and Oregon rules for the actual building permit.
- Contractor requirements
- Follow the routed city and Oregon contractor and trade licensing requirements.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: County states the assigned planner will send a status update within 30 days after an application is received; no single full permit-issuance estimate is posted because county and city reviews are split.
- 01 Contact Multnomah County Land Use Planning first through Ask a Planner or phone to confirm jurisdiction, zoning, and whether county land use permits or zoning plan review are required.
- 02 If the project is in unincorporated county, determine which city issues the structural building permit for that location: Portland, Gresham, or Troutdale.
- 03 If county land use approval or zoning plan review is required, obtain that approval before or alongside building-permit routing as instructed.
- 04 Submit county zoning-plan-review or land use materials through the county permit portal with all required digital documents.
- 05 Pay county invoices; applications are not considered received until full payment is made.
- 06 After county review, continue with the applicable city building-permit process for permit issuance and inspections.
- 07 Complete any county erosion-control, transportation, floodplain, geologic hazard, septic, or other parallel reviews that apply to the site.
Typical processing time: County states the assigned planner will send a status update within 30 days after an application is received; no single full permit-issuance estimate is posted because county and city reviews are split.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Effective July 1, 2025
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Examples include Accessory Building/Structure Registration at $77, Agricultural Building Review at $157, Floodplain Development Permit at $1,266, and Sign Permit at $162
02
Plan check fee
County zoning plan review and related land use fees are separate from the routed city's building plan review fees
03
Permit fee formula
County land use fees are mostly flat or deposit-based by application type; actual building permit fees depend on the routed city
04
Reinspection fee
County transportation review and erosion-control inspections can have separate fee structures; building reinspection fees depend on routed city
County states applications are not received until full payment is made; payment after regular business hours posts next business day. County permit-portal payments accept Mastercard, Visa, or Discover.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective July 1, 2025) before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Self-scheduling available for certain county inspection types (online)
- County land use staff by appointment (phone)
- Inspection hours
- County land use staff available by appointment Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Typical sequence: County erosion-control or hazard inspections as required, then city building and trade inspections for the actual permit.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Multnomah County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
In unincorporated areas, building-permit applicants are referred by the issuing city to Multnomah County for zoning review where required; separate county permits may also apply for floodplain, geologic hazards, erosion and sediment control, transportation, and related land use matters.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Examples include Accessory Building/Structure Registration at $77, Agricultural Building Review at $157, Floodplain Development Permit at $1,266, and Sign Permit at $162. Fees are calculated as: County land use fees are mostly flat or deposit-based by application type; actual building permit fees depend on the routed city. Plan check fee: County zoning plan review and related land use fees are separate from the routed city's building plan review fees.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR, follow these steps: 1. Contact Multnomah County Land Use Planning first through Ask a Planner or phone to confirm jurisdiction, zoning, and whether county land use permits or zoning plan review are required. 2. If the project is in unincorporated county, determine which city issues the structural building permit for that location: Portland, Gresham, or Troutdale. 3. If county land use approval or zoning plan review is required, obtain that approval before or alongside building-permit routing as instructed. 4. Submit county zoning-plan-review or land use materials through the county permit portal with all required digital documents. 5. Pay county invoices; applications are not considered received until full payment is made. 6. After county review, continue with the applicable city building-permit process for permit issuance and inspections. 7. Complete any county erosion-control, transportation, floodplain, geologic hazard, septic, or other parallel reviews that apply to the site.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR typically run County states the assigned planner will send a status update within 30 days after an application is received; no single full permit-issuance estimate is posted because county and city reviews are split.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR. The following work is generally exempt: No single countywide public exemption list exists for all unincorporated building work because structural permit exemptions follow the routed building department and Oregon code; Even where a structural permit is exempt, county floodplain, erosion-control, transportation, septic, scenic-area, or geologic-hazard approvals may still be required depending on site conditions. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Multnomah County, OR via: Self-scheduling available for certain county inspection types, County land use staff by appointment.
last verified April 2026
source Split authority. Multnomah County Land Use Planning handles zoning, land use, and county review for rural and unincorporated property; structural building permits are routed to City of Portland, City of Gresham, or City of Troutdale depending service area. ↗
entry id permits/oregon/multnomah/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Split authority. Multnomah County Land Use Planning handles zoning, land use, and county review for rural and unincorporated property; structural building permits are routed to City of Portland, City of Gresham, or City of Troutdale depending service area. before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.