Albany, OR Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit office
- City of Albany Building Division
- Governing section
- Albany Municipal Code § 18.06.010
- Application expires
- 180 days without permit issuance
- Permit expires
- 36 months; 180 days if work not commenced
- Reinstatement fee
- One-half the new permit fee
- Unpermitted work
- Investigation fee plus civil penalty up to $1,000 first offense
Summary
In the City of Albany, Oregon, it is unlawful to do any work regulated by the Oregon Building Code, or by a city code the building official enforces, without first getting a permit. Albany Municipal Code § 18.06.010 also reaches signs, demolition, and parking lot work.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in any work, conduct, or activity for which a permit is required by this title or other regulation without first obtaining such permit. Permits are required for any work that is regulated under the Oregon Building Code, as per ORS Chapter 455 and the rules adopted thereunder, as well as any work, activity, use, or review required by any code, policy, or procedure within this jurisdiction that is enforced by the building official, which may include occupancy reclassifications, signs, demolition, new parking lots, and parking lot resurfacing/ striping.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 18.06 of the Albany Municipal Code governs permits, and section 18.06.010 sets the trigger. Permits are required for any work regulated under the Oregon Building Code as per ORS Chapter 455, and for any work, activity, use, or review required by a code, policy, or procedure that the building official enforces. The section names occupancy reclassifications, signs, demolition, new parking lots, and parking lot resurfacing and striping. Section 18.04.040 widens the scope further to retaining walls over 4 feet, freestanding signs, ground-mounted flagpoles and antennas over 25 feet, and certain tanks.
The applicant applies to the City of Albany Building Division (section 18.06.020) with a description of the work, a legal description or street address, the intended use or occupancy, plans and specifications as the building official requires, the valuation of the work, and plans showing rights-of-way, easements, and covenants. The building official can waive plan submission when plan review is not needed (section 18.06.030(2)). Other city departments review the plans, and the official issues the permit once the work conforms and the fees in the Albany Municipal Code are paid (section 18.06.040). Approved plans are stamped "Reviewed for Code Compliance" or "APPROVED" and cannot be changed without authorization.
Timing is fixed. A plan review application expires if no permit issues within 180 days, with one extension of up to 180 days (section 18.06.080). An issued permit expires 36 months after issuance, or 180 days after issuance if work has not commenced, or after 180 consecutive days without a required inspection (section 18.06.090). A permit that lapsed less than one year ago can be reinstated at one-half the new permit fee if the codes and the plans are unchanged.
Permits are not transferable (section 18.06.110), and the building official can suspend or revoke one that was issued in error or is being violated (section 18.06.120). A permit never authorizes a violation of any other code (section 18.06.070).
Violations & Fines
Starting work before the permit issues triggers an investigation under section 18.06.100 and an investigation fee on top of the permit fee. Under section 18.10.210 a first-offense civil penalty is up to $1,000 per violation, a second offense within 3 years is $2,500, later offenses are $5,000, and uncorrected violations can add $1,000 per day. The building official can also issue a stop work order under section 18.10.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a building permit required in Albany, Oregon?
How long does an Albany building permit last?
Can I transfer an Albany building permit to another contractor?
What does it cost to start work without a permit in the City of Albany, Oregon?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
Compare Albany to another location·View the Oregon building safety overview
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