Building Safety in Gresham, OR

Gresham maintains 113 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with building safety. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Gresham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Building Permits

Gresham enforces the Oregon Structural Specialty Code as its building code, and the Building Official must issue a permit before construction, alteration, demolition, or moving of a building anywhere in the city outside the public way.

Key details: Adopted code: Oregon Structural Specialty Code. Permits issued by: City Building Official. Covers: construction, alteration, demolition, moving. Exception: work within the public way. Conflict rule: GRC provisions prevail over OSSC.

Work performed without a required permit is enforced by the Building Official under GRC Article 10.05, and can also draw nuisance-abatement action and fees set by council resolution under the city's broader code enforcement provisions.

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

Gresham requires floating homes moved or added onto to carry an NFPA 13D sprinkler system whenever they sit closer than six feet to a neighboring floating home.

Key details: Trigger: Under 6 ft wall separation. Standard: NFPA 13D sprinklers. Applies to: Floating homes/combos only. Alternate route: Building official approval.

Adding to or relocating a floating home within the reduced-separation distances without the required NFPA 13D sprinkler system or an approved alternate violates GRC Article 10.60 and is subject to the building official's enforcement remedies.

Plumbing Permits

Gresham enforces the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code as its local plumbing code, so new plumbing installation, alteration, and repair work in the city is permitted and inspected under that state standard through the Building Official.

Key details: Adopted code: Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code. Permits issued by: City Building Official. Adopted under: GRC Article 10.05. Conflict rule: GRC provisions control.

Plumbing work performed without a required permit is enforceable by the Building Official under GRC Article 10.05, and the prohibited acts described in ORS 455.450 and 455.453 apply directly under GRC 10.05.125.

Green Building Code

Mixed-use, industrial and office buildings in Gresham's Springwater Plan District must earn 3 points from a LEED-based menu of measures: bike parking, alternative-fuel infrastructure, green roofs, water and energy reductions, recycling space and more.

Key details: Points required: 3, from 2+ measures. Applies to: mixed-use, industrial, office buildings. Location: Springwater Plan District only. Model standard: USGBC LEED rating system. Section: Development Code § 4.1568.

Qualifying mixed-use, industrial or office projects in the Springwater Plan District that don't document at least 3 green building points are not approved at site plan or building permit review.

Building Inspections

Gresham inspects every business location for fire code compliance once each calendar year, charging an inspection fee set by council resolution.

Key details: Frequency: Every calendar year. Fee: Set by council resolution. Unresolved violation: Public nuisance, fines. Unpaid fee: Becomes a property lien.

Failure to abate OFC violations is a public nuisance; unpaid inspection fees become a lien on the property after 30 days (GRC 10.25.090(5),(7)).

Electrical Permits

Gresham enforces the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code as its local electrical code, so wiring, panel, and other electrical work in the city is permitted and inspected under that state standard through the Building Official.

Key details: Adopted code: Oregon Electrical Specialty Code. Permits issued by: City Building Official. Adopted under: GRC Article 10.05. Conflict rule: GRC provisions control.

Electrical work performed without a required permit is enforceable by the Building Official under GRC Article 10.05, and the prohibited acts described in ORS 455.450 and 455.453 apply directly under GRC 10.05.125.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Gresham requires carbon monoxide alarms in residential units, installed, maintained and repaired according to Oregon's landlord-tenant statute, ORS Chapter 90.

Key details: Requirement: Required in residential units. Standard applied: Per ORS Chapter 90. Local code: PMC § 705.1 (GRC 10.30.035(4)). Duty: Install, maintain, repair.

A missing or unmaintained CO alarm is a Property Maintenance Code violation under GRC Article 10.30, alongside any separate ORS Chapter 90 landlord-tenant remedy.

The Bottom Line

Gresham's building safety 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 Gresham is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Gresham can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.