Administrative overview · FIPS 41007
Clatsop County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Clatsop County Community Development Department, Building Codes Division
For a project in or near Clatsop County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
503-338-3697; inspection request line 503-338-3698
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Clatsop County Building Codes Division, 800 Exchange Street, Suite 100, Astoria, OR 97103
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM. Building Codes provides inspections Monday-Friday throughout the county.
Review expectation
N/A. Clatsop County publishes the permit process and fees but no standard 2026 plan-review turnaround; timing depends on project scope and review requirements.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Clatsop County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Clatsop County Community Development Department, Building Codes Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 503-338-3697; inspection request line 503-338-3698.
How long might review take?
N/A. Clatsop County publishes the permit process and fees but no standard 2026 plan-review turnaround; timing depends on project scope and review requirements.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule through Oregon ePermitting, email buildingdivision@clatsopcounty.gov, or call 503-338-3698. Email and inspection-line requests are retrieved and processed at 7:00 AM each morning; provide permit number, job-site address, inspection type, and callback information. Projects without an issued permit are not scheduled. Building Official questions: 503-338-3697.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Current Clatsop County codes in effect include the 2023 Oregon Residential Specialty Code based on the 2021 IRC (mandatory April 1, 2024); 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code, mandatory April 1, 2026; 2023 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code based on the 2023 NEC; 2023 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code; 2025 Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code; 2025 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code based on ASHRAE 90.1-2022; and the applicable manufactured-dwelling installation/park codes. County Title 15 incorporates the Oregon specialty codes. A structural permit is generally required for new or enlarged buildings, remodeled habitable space, new or widened openings, moved/added walls, full roof replacement with new sheathing, stairs, decks over 30 inches above grade, fences over 7 feet, and detached carports/garages/sheds over 200 square feet. Minor plumbing repairs to existing accessible fixtures and related attachments by the property owner are exempt; emergency concealed-piping repairs or replacement are exempt when new piping does not exceed 5 feet. An owner-occupant may replace defective electrical devices as maintenance, and qualifying agricultural structures may use the county's agricultural-exempt certificate. Other zoning, land-use, or trade approvals may still apply.