Structure height in Oregon is governed by the statewide Oregon Structural Specialty Code and Residential Specialty Code adopted under ORS 455.040. These set maximum heights by construction type and occupancy that cities cannot lower for code purposes, though zoning height limits remain local.
ORS 455.020-455.040 require uniform statewide enforcement of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) and Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC). OSSC Table 504.3 sets maximum building heights by construction type, ranging from 40 feet for Type V-B wood frame to unlimited for Type I-A. Residential R-3 occupancies are limited to three stories above grade plane. These are minimum-safety ceilings, not zoning. Local zoning height limits (often 25-35 feet in single-family zones) operate independently and remain valid as long as they do not exceed code maxima or violate state housing preemption laws like HB 2001.
Building permit denials for code-exceeding heights are appealed to local boards then to the State Building Codes Structures Board.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Deschutes County, OR
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See how Deschutes County's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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