Accessory Structures in Salem, OR

Salem maintains 123 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with accessory structures. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Salem falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

ADU Impact Fees

Salem charges system development charges (SDCs), its impact fees for water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation, and parks capacity, on nearly every new development citywide, but SRC 41.150(a)(9) carves out a blanket exemption for 'any accessory dwelling unit.' A new ADU in Salem therefore owes no SDC at building permit issuance, unlike most other new residential construction, which pays the charge under SRC 41.110.

Key details: ADU SDC status: Fully exempt under SRC 41.150(a)(9). Standard SDC trigger: Building permit issuance (SRC 41.140(a)). SDC categories: Water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation, parks. Fee-setting authority: Set by Council resolution, adjusted annually. Appeal window: 10 days to challenge a calculation.

There is no penalty specific to the ADU exemption itself since no charge is owed. But if a permit is later found to be misclassified, for example an accessory structure that does not qualify as an accessory dwelling unit, the City may recalculate and bill the omitted system development charge, and a person who disputes that calculation must file a written challenge with the Director within ten days of receiving it (SRC 41.180(a)).

The rules around adu impact fees in Salem lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Shed & Carport Rules

In Salem's RS single-family zone, accessory structures such as sheds are capped at 15 feet in height and a combined 600 to 1,000 square feet depending on the main house's size, and must sit at least 5 feet from an interior side line and further from the street, under SRC 511.010's dimensional tables.

Key details: Max accessory height: 15 ft. in the RS zone. Max total accessory footage: 600 sq ft (small house) up to 1,000 sq ft. Rear-yard coverage cap: 25% for single/two-family accessory structures. Street setback: 12 ft. (20 ft. near collector/arterial) if over 4 ft. tall. Interior side setback: 5 ft. for structures over 4 ft. tall.

Building a covered accessory structure without the required permit exposes an owner to the general building-code enforcement track: a stop-work order and permit revocation under SRC 56.198, plus a civil penalty of up to $5,000.00 per violation, with each day a violation continues counted separately. A shed left unmaintained or structurally unsound is instead enforced under SRC 50.550 as a property-maintenance nuisance rather than through a fixed fine schedule.

ADU Rental Restrictions

Salem bars accessory dwelling units from operating as short-term rentals or accessory short-term rentals. The rule sits in the special-use standards at SRC 700.007(a)(6), and applies to every ADU in the city regardless of zone once the unit is designated a special use.

Key details: Governing section: SRC 700.007(a)(6). Rule: ADUs barred from short-term/accessory short-term rental use. Max ADU size: 900 sq ft or 75% of main building. Lot limit: One ADU per lot. Detached ADU height cap: 25 feet.

Renting an ADU short-term is a UDC use violation, not a permitted deviation. Because SRC 700.005(d) blocks conditional-use approval as a workaround for special-use standards, a property owner cannot apply for relief; the City's code enforcement division pursues compliance under SRC chapter 20, which can include a notice of violation, civil penalties, and an order to cease the rental use until the ADU reverts to standard occupancy.

Compared to other cities, Salem takes a harder line on adu rental restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

ADU Rules

Salem caps an accessory dwelling unit at 900 square feet or 75 percent of the main house's gross floor area, whichever is smaller, and limits detached ADUs to 25 feet in height. Only one ADU is allowed per lot, and it cannot be split off in separate ownership from the main house under SRC 700.007.

Key details: Size cap: 900 sq ft or 75% of main building, whichever less. Height limit: 25 feet for detached ADUs. Lot coverage: 60% maximum, all buildings combined. Street setback: 12 ft local street, 20 ft collector/arterial. ADUs per lot: One accessory dwelling unit per lot.

Building an accessory dwelling unit that exceeds the 900-square-foot or 75-percent size cap, the 25-foot height limit, or the Table 700-1 setbacks violates SRC 700.007 and Salem's Unified Development Code. The City issues a correction order under SRC chapter 20J, and the enforcement officer may assess a civil penalty if the violation is not corrected by the deadline, is intentional, or repeats a prior violation, with appeal rights under SRC 20J.190.

The Bottom Line

Salem's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Salem is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Salem's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.