Do you need a permit for a garage, shop or steel building in Deschutes County?

First, find out who has jurisdiction

The rules depend on where the building will stand. Inside Bend city limits, the City of Bend handles building permits. Outside any city, Deschutes County Community Development does. Redmond, Sisters and La Pine run their own processes, and Prineville is in Crook County. Before you price a kit or pick a size, confirm which office covers your address.

City of Bend: the 200 square foot, 15 foot rule

The City of Bend's Accessory Uses and Structures Quick Reference Guide says a building permit is generally not required if a structure is no larger than 200 square feet and no more than 15 feet tall from grade. Anything bigger needs a permit, which covers most garages, shops and steel buildings. An electrical permit is required if you install an electrical system, and a plumbing permit if you install plumbing.

Zoning rules apply whether or not a building permit is needed. In residential zones, the guide says a house has to exist on the lot before or with the accessory structure; accessory structures are capped at 1,500 square feet; detached accessory structures are limited to 25 feet tall; and setbacks and lot coverage limits vary by zone. In RS, RM-10, RM and RH zones, rear and side setbacks are at least 5 feet and garage doors must be 20 feet from the front property line.

One more Bend detail for shops: an accessory structure may have one half bath or a wet bar only with a signed city compliance form stating it will not be used as a dwelling. A full bath or kitchen moves you into accessory dwelling unit rules.

Unincorporated Deschutes County: the 200 square foot, 10 foot rule

Deschutes County's accessory buildings handout says an accessory building requires a building permit if it is over 200 square feet or over 10 feet in height, measured to its highest point. It must also meet the height and setback standards for its zone. Note the lower height trigger compared to Bend: a small but tall structure can need a county permit even under 200 square feet.

Questions go to Deschutes County Community Development at (541) 388-6575.

Farm buildings: the agricultural exempt permit

Deschutes County offers an agricultural or equine exempt permit for qualifying farm buildings. Per the county's application guide, only buildings in areas zoned EFU, F1, F2 or MUA10 on property receiving farm or forest tax deferral are considered. You still submit an application, a site plan showing all structures, a floor plan and elevation drawings of all four sides. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are still required, and plumbing means a septic permit too.

What the permit review checks

For a steel garage or shop, the review is where snow load, wind and foundation design get checked against the site. Deschutes County treats snow load as site specific, set by the Oregon Snow Load Map, and lists an 18 inch minimum frost depth for footings. Have the building's engineering and the foundation design ready. See snow load requirements and footing depth.

HOAs and private rules

The City of Bend notes that it does not enforce private restrictions such as HOA rules or CC&Rs, which may be stricter than city code. If you are in an HOA or a resort community, check its rules for size, color and placement before you order a building.

What to have ready when you apply

Permit offices move faster when the application is complete. For a garage, shop or steel building, that usually means a site plan showing property lines, existing structures and the new building with distances; the building's plans and engineering, including design snow and wind loads; the foundation design; and separate electrical or plumbing permit applications if you are adding power or water. Deschutes County's agricultural exempt process lists its own documents: an application form, a site plan, a floor plan and elevation drawings of all four sides.

Adding power or water later

Even when a small structure needs no building permit, Bend still requires an electrical permit for an electrical system and a plumbing permit for plumbing. Plan for those if a shop will get lights, outlets, heat or a sink.

How RCC fits in

RCC is an authorized VersaTube dealer and installer and builds the foundation and site work as well, so the kit, the slab and the permit drawings line up. Send us the address and the building you have in mind.