Administrative overview · FIPS 41027
Hood River 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
Hood River County Building Department / Community Development
For a project in or near Hood River 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
541-386-1306 (Building); 541-387-6840 (Planning)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Hood River County Community Development, 601 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; the application page notes the office is closed for lunch from noon-1:00 PM.
Review expectation
The county's Public Works review guidance asks applicants to allow at least 5 business days for building-permit applications requiring Public Works review; Building Department plan-review time is project-dependent and no single standard turnaround was published.
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 Hood River County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Hood River County Building Department / Community Development 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 541-386-1306 (Building); 541-387-6840 (Planning).
How long might review take?
The county's Public Works review guidance asks applicants to allow at least 5 business days for building-permit applications requiring Public Works review; Building Department plan-review time is project-dependent and no single standard turnaround was published.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply and schedule inspections through Oregon ePermitting at BuildingPermits.Oregon.gov or the Oregon ePermitting app. Keep the permit, inspection card, approved plan set, and required agency approvals onsite. For local scheduling or inspection questions contact Hood River County Building at 541-386-1306; the county's building page identifies its inspectors and Building Department as the inspection authority.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Hood River County Building Code Services administers Oregon State Codes, state laws, and local ordinances. Current 2026 editions include the 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code, 2023 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, 2023 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, 2023 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, 2025 Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code, 2025 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code, and applicable fire and manufactured-dwelling codes. Hood River County oversees the county building-code program; the City of Hood River and City of Cascade Locks have defined shared or separate responsibilities within their city limits. The county states that most new construction, additions, remodels, and repairs require permits. Limited Oregon-code exemptions may apply to ordinary maintenance, minor repairs, qualifying small accessory or agricultural structures, and certain trade work, but zoning, land-use, floodplain, septic, fire, utility, and agency sign-offs may still be required. Agricultural buildings must meet the county's land-use definition and approval criteria; confirm any exemption with Building and Planning.