Salem permits accessory dwelling units as a 'special use' under Salem Revised Code (SRC) Chapter 700, Section 700.007, accessory to a detached single-family dwelling. No discretionary land use application is required where the special-use standards are met, but a building permit from Salem Community Development is required. One ADU is permitted per lot, with detached units up to 800 square feet and attached units capped at 800 sq ft or 50% of the primary dwelling's living area, whichever is less. Oregon HB 2001 (2019) and ORS 197.312 require cities of 2,500 or more to allow ADUs on single-family lots, which Salem (population over 175,000) implements through Chapter 700.
Salem Revised Code Title X (Unified Development Code) Chapter 700 (Special Use Provisions) governs accessory dwelling units in Salem at SRC 700.007. An ADU must be accessory to a detached single-family dwelling on the same lot; only one ADU is allowed per lot. Three configurations are permitted: detached (separate structure), attached (sharing a wall or roof with the primary dwelling), and internal/conversion (IADU) carved out of existing primary-dwelling floor area such as a basement or upper level. Detached ADUs cannot exceed 800 square feet of floor area; attached ADUs cannot exceed 800 square feet or 50 percent of the primary dwelling's living area, whichever is less. An ADU must include an independent kitchen and bathroom (which distinguishes it from a guest house) and must be a permanently built structure on a foundation (RVs, tiny homes on wheels, and park-model trailers are excluded). Salem does not require off-street parking for ADUs, consistent with statewide preemption under ORS 197.312. Building permits are issued by the Salem Community Development Department under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC, adopted under ORS 455) with separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. A water-meter sizing worksheet is required to confirm adequate domestic water pressure for two dwellings. The city publishes free Ready-Build pre-approved plans for detached ADUs under 600 square feet to streamline permitting. Salem-area Marion County and Polk County do not require a separate county building permit for parcels inside Salem city limits.
Building or occupying an ADU without permits violates SRC Chapter 700 and the Oregon Residential Specialty Code, triggering stop-work orders from Salem Community Development, after-the-fact permit fees, mandatory exposure of concealed framing and mechanicals for inspection, and possible orders to remove non-compliant work. Zoning violations of SRC 700.007 can be abated under SRC Chapter 95 (Code Enforcement) with daily civil penalties and injunctive relief in Marion County Circuit Court. Unpermitted electrical or plumbing work voids homeowner insurance and creates title problems on resale.
Salem, OR
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See how Salem's adu permits rules stack up against other locations.
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