Dwelling Permit Information

Dwelling Permit Unbundles - individual permits required as of July 1, 2008! The City of Salem issues a Structural Dwelling Permit for new single family dwellings, duplexes and townhomes.  A Structural Dwelling Permit for a new house covers only the structural work included in the project.   Electrical (including temporary power), mechanical, and plumbing work for the structure EACH require SEPARATE permits as of July 1, 2008.  Public Works permits, e.g., SDC, water, sewer, or right-of-way, are also purchased separately. SRC Code Links: Community Development Standards.

Dwelling Permit—Structural Plans Review

Structural Plans Review fees are 65% of the Structural Dwelling Permit Fee, see below.

View our current fee schedule to estimate permit costs.

Structural Dwelling Permit—Permit Fee

The cost of the Structural Dwelling Permit is 66% of the Building Permit Fee which is based on total project valuation (to include all construction work for which the permit is issued, as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire extinguishing systems and any other permanent equipment - it also includes the contractor's profit) - plus 12% state required surcharge and a $5.00 automation fee for each transaction.

• Electrical Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the square footage of the structure and the Limited Energy needs.
• Mechanical Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the individual appliances/equipment being installed to the structure.
• Plumbing Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the number of bathrooms and kitchens - the first 100 feet of footing drain, rain drain, and water service are included in this permit's fee; footage beyond the 1st 100 feet is purchased separately as needed.  Sanitary and Storm Sewer permits are purchased separately with Public Works at this time.  Residential Fire Supression Systems (13D multipurpose or continuous loop systems) are required now in some homes, and this is also a separately purchased Plumbing Permit.

Dwelling Permit Unbundles—NO MORE SPECIALITY STICKERS - INDIVIDUAL PERMITS REQUIRED!

As noted above electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors will have to obtain individual permits for the construction of new single family dwellings, duplexes and townhomes. The inspection fees, with the exception of temporary power, are covered in the cost of the individual permit.

To obtain applications for Dwelling Structural, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits make this request in person at the Permits Application Center, City Hall - 555 Liberty Street SE - Room 320. City staff must verify license numbers and license expiration dates during the application process. 

Specialty contractors must have pulled individual structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits prior to beginning work and post them at the jobsite in plain view; failing to do so is the same as working without a permit. If an inspector arrives at a job site where there are no approved plans or hard card, that inspector will not perform the inspection and will assess an investigation fee equal to the specialty permit fee. Investigation fees must be paid prior to further inspections. Only one warning will be given per contractor.

Dwelling Permit—Inspection Services

As individual permits are required, inspections will need to be scheduled for inspections related to each discipline.  Permit numbers will be required in order to schedule these inspections - any inspections called in prior to 5:30am each business day can be scheduled for that day.

Work Exempt from Dwelling Permits

Permits shall not be required for the following as indicated by the 2000 International Residential Code.

1. Nonhabitable one-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet or a height of 10 feet measured to the highest point.
2. Except for barriers around swimming pools, fences not over 6 feet hight.
3. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
4. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
5. Concrete sidewalks, slabs, and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below.
6. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, interior wall, floor or ceiling covering and similar finish work.
7. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inces deep.
8. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling.
9. Window awnings and patio covers supported by an exterior wall not over 120 square feet in area.
10. Nonbearing partitions, except when such partitions create habitable rooms.
11. Replacement or repair of siding not required to be fire-resistant.
12. Retrofitted insolation.
13. Masonry repair.
14. Porches and decks, where the floor or deck is not more than 30 inches above grade and where the edge of the porch, deck or floor does not come closer than 3 feet to property lines.
15. Gutters and downspouts.
16. Door and window replacements (where no structural member is changed).
17. Reroofing, except in wildfire hazard zones as provided in Section R328 (of the 2000 International Residential Code) or where replacement or repair of roofing does not exceed 30 percent of the required live load design capacity and is not required to be fire resistant.
18. Plastic glazed storm windows.
19. Framed-covered accessory buildings not more than 500 square feet in area, one story in height or closer than 3 feet to the property line, where the structure is composed of a rigid framework to support tensioned membrane that provides a weather barrier.