Environmental Rules in Josephine County, OR (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Josephine County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In rural Josephine County outside the Grants Pass and Cave Junction urban growth boundaries, every subdivision, partition, replat and planned unit development must install stormwater drainage facilities under Josephine County Code § 19.83.050. The County Engineer reviews the design against the County's master storm drainage plan, drainage must avoid excessive flow across property lines and public rights-of-way, and the Review Body can condition final approval on dedicating a drainage easement to the County.
Josephine County Stormwater Drainage Facility Rules
Some RestrictionsJosephine County Code § 19.83.050
Drainage facilities shall be provided for subdivisions, partitions, replats, or planned unit developments, and shall be connected directly to existing drainageways or storm sewers outside of the proposed land division that have an adequate capacity to accept drainage water from the subdivision, partition, replat, or planned unit development as provided below: A. Design of drainage within the su...
Erosion Control
In rural Josephine County outside the Grants Pass and Cave Junction urban growth boundaries, grading or filling on slopes of 15 percent or more, or on granitic soils, triggers the erosion and sediment control standards of Josephine County Code § 19.83.020. Bringing in or stockpiling more than 10 cubic yards of fill anywhere in the unincorporated county requires runoff-control measures such as straw bales, and steep-slope cuts need a stormwater plan signed by a registered engineer.
Josephine County Erosion & Sediment Control Rules
Some RestrictionsJosephine County Code § 19.83.020
A. These standards shall apply to any land division or land use application, including development and construction which would require any grading or filling on slopes that are 15 percent or greater or soils that are granitic in composition as mapped by the Natural Resources Conservation Service except when authorized or regulated by the Oregon Forest Practices Act. B. An erosion and sediment ...
Flood Zones
In rural Josephine County, outside the Grants Pass and Cave Junction urban growth boundaries, the Rural Land Development Code's Flood Hazard Overlay (Chapter 19.69A) governs every mapped flood hazard area. It adopts the county's Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps effective December 3, 2009, and requires a development permit before any construction, filling, grading or dredging in a mapped floodplain, floodway fringe or floodway.
Josephine County Flood Hazard Overlay Rules
Some RestrictionsJosephine County Code § 19.69A.020
This chapter shall apply to all areas of flood hazard within Josephine County as identified in the Flood Insurance Study for Josephine County, Oregon, and Incorporated Areas (two volumes), with Flood Insurance Rate Map panels and a map index, effective December 3, 2009, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for use in the administration of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In rural Josephine County, outside the Grants Pass and Cave Junction urban growth boundaries, homes built in flood hazard areas with base flood elevation data must be raised above that elevation. New or substantially improved conventional residences need their lowest floor at least one foot above base flood elevation, while manufactured homes must sit 18 inches above it on an anchored permanent foundation.
Josephine County Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsJosephine County Code § 19.69A.090(B)(1)(a), (B)(2)(b)
New construction and substantial improvement of any conventional residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated one foot or more above the base flood elevation. ... Manufactured homes to be placed or substantially improved on sites ... in an existing manufactured home park or subdivision ... within zones A1 – 30 and AE (or floodway and floodway fringe) that are ...
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