Salem, OR Local Ordinances Guide

Salem is a mid-sized city in Marion County, Oregon, with about 178000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 123 ordinances across 40 categories that affect daily life in Salem.

Public Conduct

Skateboarding Rules: Salem bans skateboarding outright in a defined downtown zone bounded by Union, Trade, Cottage, and Front streets, plus the Civic Center, the Liberty, Chemeketa, and Pringle parking structures, Center 50+, posted private property, and any City park where park rules forbid it, under SRC 103.015. Breaking the rule is an infraction with a fine up to $110..

Also covered: Public Urination (moderate), Public Alcohol Use (moderate), Loitering Rules (limited). See the full public conduct guide for Salem for details.

Building Safety

Door Locking Hardware: Salem's Housing Code caps residential door lock placement at 48 inches above the floor and bans double-cylinder deadbolts on exit doors under SRC 59.155(c). Every exterior door must open from inside without a key, and hinges, knobs, locks and strike plates must be kept in good condition..

Also covered: Childcare Center Rules (moderate), Carbon Monoxide Detectors (moderate), Fire Sprinkler Requirements (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Salem for details.

Environmental Rules

Erosion Control: Salem bans visible, measurable erosion or sediment reaching its storm system and requires an erosion control permit for ground disturbance of 1,000 square feet or more, with civil penalties up to $2,000 per day for violations..

Also covered: Flood Zones (moderate), Flood Elevation Requirements (moderate), Stormwater Management (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Salem for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Salem lets the Director issue a revocable permit to encroach into the public right-of-way at the owner's risk, subject to structural, traffic, and adjoining-property review, a City-approved permit form, and a Council-set fee..

Also covered: Sidewalk Repair (moderate), Obstruction Rules (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Salem for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Dumping solid waste anywhere in Salem outside an approved receptacle is illegal, whether it lands in a creek, on public property, or on someone else's land without permission. SRC 47.220 bans it outright, and a person fined for violating it can work off the penalty clearing the dumped waste instead of paying cash..

Also covered: Collection Schedule (moderate), Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Pickup Rules & Schedules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Salem for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Salem Revised Code 56.215 declares any dangerous building a public nuisance that must be abated by repair, demolition, or securing and vacating the property. A structure counts as dangerous if conditions such as likely collapse, an inadequate foundation, a fire hazard finding, or abandonment for more than 30 days endanger public health, safety or welfare..

Also covered: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Salem for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: Salem outlaws open burning of garbage or yard-cleanup debris anywhere inside city limits under SRC 58.334, with no residential burn permit offered. The Fire Code Official can also declare a broader recreational-fire ban whenever hot, dry or windy weather raises wildfire risk, under SRC 58.004(e)..

Also covered: Propane Storage (moderate), Smoke Detectors (moderate), Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Salem for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Salem requires an annual license before anyone can operate a multifamily dwelling under SRC 59.400. The license runs through December 31, exempts uses like hospitals and short-term rentals, and comes with proration, inspection and re-scheduling rules enforced by the City Inspector..

Also covered: Repairs & Habitability (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Salem for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Food Truck Permits: Operating a food truck in Salem requires a mobile food unit license issued under SRC chapter 30, valid one year and renewable, with a separate license and fee for each truck the vendor operates. Trucks must follow zoning, parking-lot, and cleanup rules, and unlicensed operation can draw code enforcement action from the Licensing Director..

Also covered: Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (moderate), Vending Zones (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Salem for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Permits: Operating an accessory short-term rental in Salem requires a City license under SRC 30.1000 before any booking, on top of the special-use standards in SRC 700.006. The license is issued for a calendar year, expires every December 31, and cannot be transferred to a new operator or a different property..

Also covered: Taxes & Fees (moderate), Insurance Requirements (moderate), Occupancy Limits (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Salem for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Auto Repair on Residential Property: Salem's UDC excludes automotive repair from home occupations entirely: Sec. 400.125(b)(3)(A) reclassifies 'automotive repair, body work, painting, and other motor vehicle services' as a stand-alone 'motor vehicle services' use, and the residential zone tables mark that use prohibited (N), so no permit or home-occupation approval lets a resident run a repair shop out of a house, garage, or driveway..

Also covered: Pawnbrokers (moderate), Secondhand Dealers (moderate), Towing Companies (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Salem for details.

Accessory Structures

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..

Also covered: ADU Impact Fees (permissive), Shed & Carport Rules (moderate), ADU Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Salem for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Salem imposes a nine percent transient occupancy tax on every hotel, motel, and other transient lodging stay of 30 days or less, charged to the guest and collected by the operator at the time rent is paid (SRC 37.030). The same tax and definition explicitly reach short-term rentals, so a Salem hotel bill and an Airbnb booking both carry the identical nine percent city tax..

Rental Inspections

Inspection Programs: Salem licenses and inspects every multifamily dwelling under SRC chapter 59, with homeless shelters, hotels, motels, and room-and-board facilities inspected at least once a year. Owners must give tenants 24 hours' notice before an inspection, and the City issues a certificate of inspection once the property passes..

Outdoor Lighting

Dark Sky Rules: Salem's development code caps exterior lighting citywide: fixtures cannot shine or reflect onto neighboring properties or cast glare onto the public right-of-way, and light sources must be shielded or limited to five foot-candles at the lot line under SRC 800.060..

Also covered: Light Trespass & Shielding (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Salem for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: SRC 808.030 requires a City tree and vegetation removal permit before cutting a significant tree, a riparian-corridor tree, or a tree on a lot of 20,000 square feet or more, processed as a Type I application, with 17 listed exceptions covering hazards, utilities, and emergencies..

Also covered: Weed Ordinances (moderate), Water Restrictions (moderate), Tree Trimming (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Salem for details.

Special Events & Permits

Parade Permits: Any parade, procession, march, or assembly expected to block Salem's public right-of-way, or any gathering of 200 or more people on public property, needs a community event permit from the Director under SRC 104.030. Spontaneous events triggered by breaking news can skip the permit if organizers notify the Director when practicable..

Also covered: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (moderate), Park Event Permits (restrictive), Street Fair Rules (moderate). See the full special events & permits guide for Salem for details.

Noise Ordinances

Leaf Blower Rules: Salem prohibits running leaf blowers and other domestic power equipment between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Also covered: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (moderate), Decibel Limits (moderate), Vehicle Noise (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Salem for details.

Parking Rules

Abandoned Vehicles: Salem bars keeping a wrecked, neglected, or derelict vehicle outdoors on any premises or in the right-of-way unless it falls under a licensed wrecking, dealer-display, or vehicle-service exception. Code enforcement ties removal to SRC 50.265's abatement rule, which routes junk-vehicle towing, notice, hearing rights, and disposal through the citywide impound procedure in SRC chapter 102..

Also covered: Preferential Parking Districts (moderate), Commercial & Oversized Vehicles (moderate), Driveway Rules (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Salem for details.

Animal Ordinances

Mandatory Spay/Neuter: Salem has no general spay/neuter mandate for dogs or cats, but SRC 50.715 requires any miniature swine kept as a residential pet to be spayed or neutered, caps ownership at one animal per residence, and defines 'miniature swine' as a pig under 100 pounds and 18 inches at the shoulder at maturity..

Also covered: Beekeeping (moderate), Bird Protection (strict), Pet Groomer Rules (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Salem for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: In Salem's RS Single Family Residential zone, buildings must sit back at least 12 feet from a street (20 feet along a collector or arterial), 5 feet on the interior side, and 14 to 20 feet at the interior rear, per Table 511-3 under SRC 511.010(d)..

Also covered: Structure Height Limits (moderate), Lot Coverage Limits (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Salem for details.

Historic Preservation

Historic-Cultural Monuments: Salem designates individual buildings, structures, sites, and objects as local historic resources through a Type IV quasi-judicial procedure under Salem Revised Code 230.010. The Council, the Historic Landmarks Commission, or the property owner can request designation, but the resource must be at least 50 years old and meet cultural, human, or architectural significance criteria to qualify..

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Adding solar panels to a historic-contributing building or individually listed resource in one of Salem's public historic districts triggers mandatory historic design review under SRC 230.060(f). Panels visible on the primary facade need a Class 3 major review; panels confined to a secondary facade qualify for the lighter Class 1 minor review, per Table 230-1 of the Historic Preservation chapter..

Right to Farm

Agricultural Zoning Protection: Salem's Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zone reserves land for agriculture and forestry, requiring a minimum 75-acre lot and imposing no maximum height or lot coverage on farm buildings, livestock structures, or forestry operations. Non-farm uses face a 35-foot height cap, keeping EFU land functionally dedicated to farming under Salem Revised Code Chapter 500..

Code Violation Reporting

How to Report: Salem requires every shopping cart owner to run a toll-free phone line so shoppers and neighbors can report carts left on sidewalks or in yards. Under Salem Revised Code section 98.340, the line's operator must forward each report to the store and to the City's Code Compliance Office within one business day, and the owner must retrieve the cart within 72 hours or face a civil penalty..

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: The Salem City Council designates heritage trees by resolution on the property owner's own nomination, based on the tree's location, size, age, or historic significance, and once designated, SRC 808.010 bars removal unless a certified arborist confirms the tree is hazardous..

Also covered: Protected Tree Species (restrictive), Parkway Planting (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Salem for details.

Invasive Plant Rules

Tree-of-Heaven Removal: Salem's tree code names Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) as one of four species specifically excluded from "significant tree" status no matter how large it grows, and the removal-permit rules separately exempt clearing invasive non-native vegetation from riparian corridors..

Fence Regulations

Material Restrictions: Salem's SRC 800.050(c)-(d) bans junk fencing materials citywide and forbids barbed wire and electric fencing on residential property, allowing them only to enclose livestock or in specific commercial and industrial zones, with posted warning signs required..

Also covered: Retaining Walls (moderate), Fence Permit Requirements (limited), Height Limits (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Salem for details.

Sign Regulations

Digital Billboards: SRC 900.070 bans electronic display signs in historic districts, caps message changes at once every eight seconds in commercial and industrial zones (once an hour in residential and Commercial Office zones), and limits brightness to 0.3 foot candles above ambient light..

Also covered: Freeway-Facing Signs (restrictive). See the full sign regulations guide for Salem for details.

Data Centers & Crypto Mining

Data Center Zoning & Siting: Salem's Unified Development Code classifies data centers as a distinct 'data center facilities' use under UDC Sec. 400.110(e) and zones them by right in the Industrial Commercial (IC) and Industrial Park (IP) zones, allows them in the Industrial Business Campus (IBC) zone only inside a fully enclosed building, and bars them outright from the General Industrial (IG) zone..

HOA Rules

CC&R Enforcement: Salem's Unified Development Code applies to every property regardless of private HOA covenants, conditions, or restrictions, and the City will not step in to enforce a CC&R violation. Under SRC 110.060, though, if the zoning code sets a stricter standard than your CC&Rs, the zoning code controls instead..

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Salem requires every marijuana business to register with the Police Chief and certify its location complies with the applicable zoning district before it can open. The city has not opted out of marijuana retail statewide, but it blocks dispensaries outright in specific zones, including downtown's Central Business District and the Neighborhood Hub zone, where marijuana retail sales are a prohibited use..

Mobility & Curb Rules

Bike Lane Rules: Salem requires bicyclists to ride as near the right-hand side of a two-way street as practicable, or in the curb lane's direction of travel on a one-way street, under Salem Revised Code section 101.110. The same code separately makes it unlawful under SRC 76.010 to block a bike lane with barricades, building material, or merchandise without first getting the Public Works Director's written permission..

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Salem limits any address to three garage sales per calendar year, with each sale running no longer than three days. The cap covers sales of new or used goods from garages, porches, carports or yards by anyone not already licensed as a business or secondhand dealer..

Home Business

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits: Salem allows home occupations as a special use in residential zones under SRC 700.020, but confines the business to the operator's own residence, bars outward business appearance, limits on-site help to one nonresident worker, and forbids on-site sales..

Also covered: Home Daycare (limited), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Salem for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Salem bars minors under 16 from public places between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., and minors 16 or older between midnight and 4:00 a.m., unless accompanied by an adult guardian or engaged in a lawful activity requiring their presence.

Also covered: Park Curfew (moderate). See the full curfew laws guide for Salem for details.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Salem bans camping on posted public property, in vehicle and bicycle right-of-way, within ten feet of driveways or building entries, in designated parks, inside public buildings, on residentially zoned public land, and within 600 feet of an emergency shelter. Violations are treated as a public nuisance subject to City abatement..

Also covered: Sit-Lie Rules (moderate). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Salem for details.

Water Use Rules

Leak Reporting Duty: Salem water customers must keep their piping and fixtures in good repair to prevent water waste, and the City will not cover damage that results from defective plumbing on the customer's side of the meter..

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Salem requires every premises in the city to stay free of pest infestation under SRC 50.700, part of the Property Maintenance chapter enforced by the Health Officer. Infestations must be exterminated promptly without harming human health, and reinfestation must be prevented..

Noise from Specific Sources

Generator Noise: Salem's noise code has no section naming generators specifically; instead SRC 93.020(k) sweeps any sound source "not otherwise enumerated" in the chapter, which includes portable and standby generators, into the maximum permissible sound levels set by Table 51-1 of SRC chapter 51. Running one loud enough to exceed those limits without an event sound permit is a citable noise disturbance..

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Salem includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.