Administrative overview · FIPS 41061
Union 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
City of La Grande/Union County Building Division; Union County Planning Department
For a project in or near Union 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
Building Division: 541-962-1360 or 541-963-1224; inspection scheduling: 541-962-1317; County Planning: 541-963-1014
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
City of La Grande/Union County Building Division, City Hall, 1000 Adams Avenue, La Grande, OR 97850; Union County Planning, 1001 Fourth Street, Suite C, La Grande, OR 97850
Operating hours
Building Division: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; County Planning: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., closed noon-1:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
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 Union County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
City of La Grande/Union County Building Division; Union County Planning Department 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 Building Division: 541-962-1360 or 541-963-1224; inspection scheduling: 541-962-1317; County Planning: 541-963-1014.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call the Building Division inspection line at 541-962-1317. Permits and plan reviews can also be handled through Oregon ePermitting; the La Grande/Union County Building Division performs digital plan review and provides certified inspection services after issuance.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Current Oregon state specialty codes administered through the La Grande/Union County program, including the 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code, 2023 Oregon Residential, Electrical, and Plumbing Specialty Codes, and 2025 Mechanical and Energy-Efficiency Specialty Codes as of July 31, 2026; applicable fire, manufactured-dwelling, floodplain, sanitation, and Union County zoning requirements also apply. Limited Oregon exemptions include qualifying minor cosmetic finish work, certain low decks and patio/deck covers, fences, private slabs/driveways, and detached nonhabitable one-story accessory structures under 200 square feet and under 15 feet average roof height; trade, floodplain, septic, and zoning approvals may still be required. Union County/La Grande provides an ORS 455.315 agricultural/equine exemption for qualifying farm structures, but separate electrical, mechanical, boiler, plumbing, and septic permits may be required and conversion to non-agricultural use requires a building permit.