Commercial
Commercial building permits are applied to buildings that are spaces that are occupied by businesses that intended to be used for profit. This can include office buildings, retail spaces, warehouses, professional establishments and more.
Here are the steps to apply for a Commercial permit:
Most commercial building permits require plans for the viewing process. Here are a few guidelines to follow when submitting plans:
- Must be clearly read
- Must be printed or in PDF file format depending on the size of the plans
- If plans are 8 ½ x 11 or a 11×17 files can be emailed to permits@ci.independence.or.us
- If plans are larger, they must be dropped off or mailed to Att: Building Department 555 S. Main St. Independence OR 97351 and send 2 (two) copies of the plans. One for our files and one to have on construction site for inspector.
Considerations:
- Does the zoning allow the use?
- Will access or street improvement be required?
- Is the site in a Historic District?
- Are there adequate utilities?
- Is my project fall under the Oregon Code?
If you have questions, you can view the FAQ section HERE, or email us at permits@ci.independence.or.us
Once you have all the information necessary to complete the permit process, you can apply for a permit through the Independence Building Department.
- Fill out the necessary permit form for your building project.
- Review the commercial checklist to make sure you have everything needed to apply.
- Prepare you drawings/plans for submission. See Step 1 for more details.
- Prepare supporting documents
You can send your application via email (if file is 11×17 or smaller) at permits@ci.independence.or.us or you can mail your application ( a must if file is larger than 11×17) to Att: Building Department 555 S. Main St. Independence, OR. 97351
- Once received the review process will begin.
- Depending on the size of the project and how busy the inspector is will determine how long the process will take. It can be anywhere from 3 business days to 1 month.
The plans are reviewed for compliance with State and City regulations.
Your plans will be reviewed by staff, and they will respond to you if there is more information needed to complete the review.
Once the review process is complete, the Building Department will contact you to make payment for the permit. Once paid, the permit and approved plans will be addressed to you.
When the plan review process is complete, your permit will be issued and your approved plans.
You have 180 days from the day the permit is issued to get your first inspection in order to keep your permit active. Each time you request an inspection, your permit expiration date will extended for another 180 days.
You are also eligible for a one-time extension of 180 days at no cost during the life of construction.
- You can request an inspection by calling the building inspection line at 503-837-1199
- No inspections will be taken by email, or other ways.
Once the final inspection is completed and passed, a final Certificate of Occupancy will be issued (for projects that these are needed).
Residential
A residential building has one or two separate residences where a person may live in or regularly stay. Each residence includes independent cooking and bathrooms.
This can include:
- Single or multi-family homes
- Apartments
- Condominiums
- Townhouses
- And more
Here are the steps to apply for a Residential permit:
Most commercial building permits require plans for the viewing process. Here are a few guidelines to follow when submitting plans:
- Must be clearly read
- Must be printed or in PDF file format depending on the size of the plans
- If plans are 8 ½ x 11 or a 11×17 files can be emailed to permits@ci.independence.or.us
- If plans are larger, they must be dropped off or mailed to Att: Building Department 555 S. Main St. Independence OR 97351 and send 2 (two) copies of the plans. One for our files and one to have on construction site for inspector.
Considerations:
- Does the zoning allow the use?
- Will access or street improvement be required?
- Is the site in a Historic District?
- Are there adequate utilities?
- Is my project fall under the Oregon Code?
If you have questions, you can view the FAQ section HERE, or email us at permits@ci.independence.or.us
Once you have all the information necessary to complete the permit process, you can apply for a permit through the Independence Building Department.
- Fill out the necessary permit form for your building project.
- Review the commercial checklist to make sure you have everything needed to apply.
- Prepare you drawings/plans for submission. See Step 1 for more details.
- Prepare supporting documents
You can send your application via email (if file is 11×17 or smaller) at permits@ci.independence.or.us or you can mail your application ( a must if file is larger than 11×17) to Att: Building Department 555 S. Main St. Independence, OR. 97351
- Once received the review process will begin.
- Depending on the size of the project and how busy the inspector is will determine how long the process will take. It can be anywhere from 3 business days to 1 month.
The plans are reviewed for compliance with State and City regulations.
Your plans will be reviewed by staff, and they will respond to you if there is more information needed to complete the review.
Once the review process is complete, the Building Department will contact you to make payment for the permit. Once paid, the permit and approved plans will be addressed to you.
When the plan review process is complete, your permit will be issued and your approved plans.
You have 180 days from the day the permit is issued to get your first inspection in order to keep your permit active. Each time you request an inspection, your permit expiration date will extended for another 180 days.
You are also eligible for a one-time extension of 180 days at no cost during the life of construction.
- You can request an inspection by calling the building inspection line at 503-837-1199
- No inspections will be taken by email, or other ways.
Once the final inspection is completed and passed, a final Certificate of Occupancy will be issued (for projects that these are needed).
Manufactured Dwelling
A prefabricated residence has standardized parts constructed and assembled in a factory. It’s then transported and affixed to a location.
The City of Independence Building Department requires a permit for putting a manufactured dwelling home on your property.
We follow the State of Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Code and Services.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
ADU’s are additional, smaller dwellings on the same property as your home. Unlike a guest house, an ADU must be an independent dwelling unit having both a kitchen and a bath.
This includes:
- A “mother-in-law” cottage
- A basement apartment
- An apartment over a garage
- A garage transformed into a living space with a kitchen and bathroom
Some defining traits of ADU include:
- Only one ADU unit per lot
- No off-street parking spaces
- Square footage is limited to 800 square feet
- Height is limited to 15 feet average roof height
- Minimum size of 300 square feet
- An ADU must include a bathroom and kitchen
- Does not have a direct interior connection to the main house
A guest house is not an ADU because it’s a detached accessory building maintained for the purpose of providing temporary and free living accommodations but remains dependent on the main dwelling for cooking and the bathroom. Temporary uses are limited to no more then 6 months in a calendar year and it may not be converted to a dwelling unit.
The process to get an ADU approved
An ADU is considered a special use, meaning no land use application is required but permits are required:
- Residential Permit – to include SDC’s, water hook-up, and school tax fees
- Electrical – Get this through Polk County
- Mechanical Permit
- Plumbing Permit
Additional Resources
- accessorydwellings.org: Information about ADU’s
Historical Properties
Helpful Resources
Building Inspections
You can schedule an inspection for your construction project by calling 503-837-1199 during regular business hours.
Inspections are available Monday through Thursday 9 am to 3 pm except on holidays and closed 11:30-12:30. Call before 7 AM for same day inspections.
Times are not guaranteed. Inspector workload and routings determine the time of day when inspections are done.
Electrical inspections go through Polk County. Please contact them to schedule.
