Tigard, OR Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Tigard Municipal Code § 14.04.065 is the city's electrical program. Subsection A makes the permit the starting point: no electrical work is performed unless a separate electrical permit for each separate building or structure has first been obtained from the building official. The exceptions are the ones the section itself names: work exempt under OAR 918-261-0000 through 0039, minor installations (subsection O, using minor installation labels under OAR 918-050-0500 through 0520), temporary electrical permits (subsection P, OAR 918-309-0080) and industrial plant electrical permits (subsection Q, OAR 918-309-0100). Section 14.04.030 adopts the Electrical Specialty Code as one of the state specialty codes the City of Tigard administers under ORS 455.150.

Electrical plan review is mandatory under subsection E, with procedures set by OAR 918-311-0000 through 0060. An application with no permit issued within 180 days expires, and the building official can extend that once, by not more than 180 days, if the applicant shows circumstances beyond their control; after expiration the applicant resubmits plans and pays a new plan review fee. Permits themselves expire under OAR 918-309-0000(7). Fees for electrical permits are set by resolution of the City Council.

Refunds are capped. The building official can refund an erroneously paid fee, not more than 80% of the permit fee when no work has been done, and not more than 80% of the plan review fee when an application is withdrawn before review effort is spent, but only on written application filed within 180 days of payment. Issuing a permit does not approve any violation of the code, and the building official can suspend or revoke a permit issued in error or on incorrect information. The official can enter a building at reasonable times to inspect after presenting credentials, disconnect service in an emergency, and order defective equipment removed or restored under a written notice with a fixed time limit.