Lane County, OR Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adoption section
- Lane Code § 11.010 (State Building Code)
- Permit requirement
- Lane Code § 11.015(1), all covered work
- Key exemption
- Agricultural buildings and equine facilities
- Fee authority
- Set by Board under ORS 455.210, 479.845
- No-permit consequence
- Stop-work order under LC 11.990(3)
- Max daily civil penalty
- $2,000 per violation per day
Summary
Lane County adopts the Oregon State Building Code, including its plumbing specialty code, as its own Building Codes under Lane Code § 11.010, and § 11.015 requires a permit for all work those codes cover unless a specific exemption applies. Working without one draws a stop-work order and daily civil penalties under § 11.990.
11.010 Building Codes. This subsection adopts the following, except as modified or supplemented in this chapter, as the Building Codes of Lane County: (1) The State Building Code as defined in ORS 455.010(9) expressly including buildings and structures unless specifically exempted from permits... 11.015 Permits, Fees and Refunds. (1) Permits. Permits are required for all work covered by the Building Codes of Lane County except where specifically designated as exempt pursuant to Lane County adopted code. A structure approved by the Planning Department as an "agricultural building" or "equine facility" is exempt from the structural permit requirement.
Full Breakdown
010(9)," which covers buildings and structures unless a permit is specifically exempted under the administrative sections of the Oregon Structural and Residential Specialty Codes. Because the plumbing specialty code is one of the specialty codes making up Oregon's State Building Code, plumbing work in unincorporated Lane County is permitted under this same adoption. 015(3) allows a partial refund if an applicant withdraws an application before substantial staff review, minus a processing charge. 026 shift that authority to the respective city instead of the county. 015.
Violations & Fines
LC 11.990 lets the Division Manager post or serve a stop-work order on anyone doing plumbing work without a permit or against an approved permit's terms; work must stop immediately until authorized to resume. Continued noncompliance is enforced administratively under LC Chapter 5: civil penalties accrue at up to $2,000 per violation per day under LC 5.025.025 (10 or more days after notice triggers a separate daily occurrence per LC 11.990(6)), and the responsible party may appeal in writing to a Hearings Official within 10 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for plumbing work on my rural Lane County property?
Who issues plumbing permits, the county or the state?
What happens if I do plumbing work without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lane County
Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.