Environmental Rules in Lane County, OR (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lane County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Lane County bans dumping anything but rainwater into its stormwater system: LC 9.010.007 makes it illegal to discharge pollutants, wash water, or other non-stormwater material into county storm drains, ditches or culverts. The rule applies only outside the Eugene and Springfield urban growth boundaries, where each city enforces its own adopted illicit-discharge ordinance instead.
Stormwater Illicit Discharge Rules in Lane County
Significant RestrictionsLane Code § LC 9.010.007
C. Applicability: 1. This section applies to illicit discharges and to discharges from illicit connections, when such discharges occur on property located outside the Urban Growth Boundaries of the cities of Springfield and Eugene, as defined in LC 10.600-10 and LC 10.600-20, respectively. ... D. Requirements and Prohibitions. 1. Prohibited Discharges: a. No person may place or cause to be plac...
Erosion Control
Unincorporated Lane County requires an erosion prevention permit for land-disturbing construction within the county's MS4 stormwater area once a project crosses set thresholds, and a self-certification declaration for smaller ones. The Public Works Director administers the program under LC 9.090, and violations are a Class A offense under ORS Chapter 153.
Erosion Prevention Permits in Lane County
Some RestrictionsLane Code § LC 9.090.040(D)(1)
Within the MS4 Area, except as otherwise provided by this Code, an erosion prevention permit is required for any land-disturbing activity on property that: a. Requires a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 1200-C Construction Stormwater General Permit or a DEQ 1200-CA Stormwater General Discharge Permit and such permit has been obtained; or b. Disturbs one-quarter (1/4) acre or more of la...
Flood Zones
Any construction, fill, grading or new structure within Lane County's mapped special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit issued by the Planning Director before work starts. Lane Code § 10.271 covers all buildings, manufactured dwellings and other development in the unincorporated floodplain, and critical facilities must be built three feet above the base flood elevation.
Floodplain Development Permits in Lane County
Some RestrictionsLane Code § LC 10.271(3)(c)(i)
Floodplain Development Permit Required. A development permit must be obtained before construction or development begins within any area laterally (horizontally) within the special flood hazard area established in section (3)(b). The development permit will be required for all structures, including manufactured dwellings, and for all other development, as defined in section (2), including fill a...
Boat Dock Permits
Building a new dock or pier in Lane County's Conservation Estuary Zone requires a Conditional Use Permit from the Hearings Official under Type III review, not a routine building permit. Repairing an existing, functional dock without dredging or fill is allowed outright. New pilings, floats, or moorage structures must clear resource-capability findings and the size and joint-use tests in LC 10.235-35.
Boat Dock Permits in Lane County's Estuary Zones
Significant RestrictionsLane Code § LC 10.235-35
Public and private piers and docks must meet the following additional criteria: (1) The size and shape is limited to that required for the intended use. (2) The applicant attests in writing (and provides analysis to support that conclusion) that alternatives to docks and piers, such as mooring buoys, dryland storage, and launching ramps, have been investigated and considered and no alternatives...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Lane County's mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas, new and substantially improved residential structures must have their lowest floor, including any basement, built at least two feet above the Base Flood Elevation. Manufactured dwellings and nonresidential buildings face the same two-foot freeboard standard under Lane Code Chapter 10's floodplain ordinance.
Base Flood Elevation Rules in Lane County
Some RestrictionsLane Code § 10.271(2)(f), (5)(a)(xii), (5)(b)(iii)(bb)(A)
"Base flood elevation (BFE)" means the elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during the base flood. ... All freeboard requirements set forth in section (5) of this Ordinance will not become effective until September 7, 2023. Until that time, new construction and substantial improvement/damage must be elevated at or above one (1) foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), or two (...
Environmental Rules by City in Lane County
1 cities in Lane County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Lane County ordinances
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