Thinking about remodeling?  Building a new home?  The City of Corvallis offers free pre-construction meetings for residents thinking about a building project.  Our professional and courteous staff can help you understand the permit process and estimate permit costs.  We can also provide information about the inspection process and building safety codes.  And, as Corvallis continues to encourage sustainable construction practices, we will work with you in exploring the latest green building options for your project.

For more information, or to arrange an appointment, contact Development Services at 541-766-6929.

DO I NEED A PERMIT ?

Contractor's Corner

On-line Permits

Corvallis Offers Electrical & Mechanical Permits, Anytime, 24/7 Learn more...

 
Apply on-line at :

New Mechanical Equipment Requirements

The 2006 Land Development Code , which became effective December 31, 2006, provides new requirements for the location and screening of outdoor mechanical equipment such as condenser units and heat pumps. Learn more...

Downloads available:

Contractor's Mechanical Site Plan Worksheet

Mechanical Permit Application

Over-the-Counter Permits

Need a Permit Today ? - We offer an Over-the-Counter permit process for certain types of applications. This means applying for and receiving your permit in one, fast and easy stop at our Development Services counter. Learn more...

News

Rainwater Harvesting

Rain barrels and rain gardens are receiving a lot of attention these days. Both are viable options for conserving water. By using rainwater, less drinking water is required for irrigation.

A rain barrel may be installed next to a downspout from the roof collection system. There are a few ways to modify this, but regardless of the set up, the overflow shall discharge to an approved location, which is usually where the downspout was originally connected. Rain barrels have a spigot attached to the bottom where a hose may be attached for irrigation. It is important to remember that health and safety ordinances require rainwater containers to be sealed/screened for mosquito control.

A rain garden is more complex because the water is dispersed throughout the planted area without flow control. During larger flow periods, water can overflow and cause sediment to flow across the sidewalk and into the storm drain system. Due to the design of rain gardens, there is rarely a simple approach to direct the overflow to an approved location. Some alternatives are to use a rain garden in conjunction with a rain barrel and to have a valve where water can be diverted away from the rain garden and to an approved location.

The most common question is “Do I need a permit?” and the most universal answer is “If installing pipe in the ground, you probably need a permit.”  Questions are free, so please ask!

For more information, please contact Lisa Franklin in Development Services at 541-766-6929 or by email.

Please remember “Call Before You Dig”. It is the law and it is the safe thing to do. Oregon Utility Notification Center: 800-332-2344 or 811 (from a cell phone).

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Updated May 29, 2009