Development Services Newsletter | July 2024
ARCHIE Soars High for Building Inspections!
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ... ARCHIE? The Development Services Division is pleased to implement a new drone inspection program. Over the past year, Development Services has been working on developing procedures and training staff to use the new drone, affectionately nicknamed ARCHIE (Aerial Remote Control Home Inspection Expert).
Don’t let the name fool you – ARCHIE will be inspecting more than just homes. ARCHIE will allow Development Services’ inspectors to perform building inspections safely and efficiently, especially on large or tall buildings. When an inspector would normally be required to climb up tall buildings, use ladders or scaffolding, or navigate uneven surfaces, staff will instead be able to deploy ARCHIE to visually inspect the building or elements required under code. This will result in more efficient use of City staff time, as well as reduced safety risks. Some examples of these types of inspections include rooftop mechanical work, solar installations, framing, roofing, and shear wall inspections.
ARCHIE will only be buzzing around to assist with construction inspections associated with active permits, and only after permission has been obtained from the property owner/applicant. The drone will not fly over adjacent properties, people, or the public right-of-way. The drone inspection program follows the Federal Aviation Administration, Part 107 requirements. For more information, go to Drone Inspection Program | Corvallis Oregon.
Do I Need a Building Permit?
Oregon law requires you to obtain permits for a range of installations, alterations, and construction performed on your home. Permits ensure that the work meets minimum codes and standards, which protect you and your family from safety risks like fire hazards and structural failures. They also help eliminate costly repairs and save money in the long run.
As better weather approaches, you may be thinking about construction projects you’d like to complete around your home. While not all projects require a permit, it’s important to consider what does. Some of the most common home projects that require a permit are listed below.
- Build or demolish a detached accessory structure that exceeds 200 square feet.
- Add an attached patio cover over 200 square feet.
- Construct a fence over 7 feet in height.
- Build a deck more than 30 inches above grade.
- Finish an existing attic, garage, or basement to create living or conditioned space.
Additional information, including permit exemptions and requirements for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, can be found in our Do I Need a Permit – Guide. If you still aren’t sure whether your project requires a permit, or to get more information about the permitting process, go to Development Services Permits & Plan Review | Corvallis Oregon. You can also contact Development Services at 541-766-6929 or development.services@corvallisoregon.gov if you have additional questions or want to discuss your potential project in further detail.
Please note: Regardless of whether a building permit is required, the project must meet all adopted construction codes and Corvallis Land Development Code requirements.
School District Construction Excise Tax (CET) Increase
Effective July 1, the School Construction Excise Tax (CET) will increase from $1.56 to $1.63 per square foot for residential construction, and from $0.78 to $0.82 per square foot for non-residential construction.
The CET was first implemented in 2009 and helps pay for capital improvements to school facilities. The tax applies to construction permits that result in a new structure or additional square footage to an existing structure. The fee is collected and passed through to the Corvallis School District by Development Services at the time of permit issuance. Additional information, including construction projects that are exempt from the tax, can be found on the Corvallis School District’s website at Financial Services - Corvallis School District (csd509j.net).
The Corvallis School District has also provided a Brochure, Information Sheet, and Exemption Claim Form to help guide contractors and homeowners on how the tax will affect them.
For additional information about the CET adoption process or fee amount, please contact Maria McEldowney, Accounting Manager, at 541-757-3900 or maria.mceldowney@corvallis.k12.or.us.
If you have questions about how the CET applies to a specific construction project, please contact Development Services at 541-766-6929 or development.services@corvallisoregon.gov.
Fire Season
The City of Corvallis fire season goes from May 15th through September 30th. During this time, property owners are required by Corvallis Municipal Code to keep weeds and grass on their property (including the adjacent rights-of-way) under 10” in height. Compliance staff will be responding to community complaints about overgrown weeds and grass throughout the fire season.
Additional information about the City’s weed abatement process is available on the City’s website at Code Compliance - Development Services | Corvallis Oregon or you may call the Development Services Division at 541-766-6929 and ask to speak to a Compliance staff member.
Development Services is Going Paperless!
To provide a more sustainable plan review process, Development Services will begin to transition to paperless permitting on October 1, 2024. Incoming applications, plans, and other documents can be uploaded through our online portal at www.corvallispermits.com. The system is free and allows citizens to apply for permits, schedule inspections, pay fees, as well as upload and/or download plans and other permit documents at their convenience. Electronic permitting streamlines the plan review process, reduces the need for paper plans, and allows convenient access to important information 24 hours a day. Help us go paperless by submitting your permit application online today!
Development Services’ Performance Metrics
Want to know more about permitted construction projects happening in the city? The Development Services’ Performance Metrics Dashboard offers real time data with information on recently issued permits, plan review timelines, and more! Here you can see how long it takes to complete the initial plan review process (on average), what kind of inspections our division is currently performing, as well as additional services performed by the Development Services Division.
Plans for reviewed, approved, construction projects are also available online at www.corvallispermits.com. Simply click on Search Cases under the Development Services tab to search by address or permit number. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 541-766-6929.
Water & Transportation System Development Charges (SDCs)
The City of Corvallis is currently in the process of updating its Water and Transportation System Development Charges (SDCs). Updates are necessary to implement new project lists identified through recent master plan updates, increase transparency, and generally modernize our SDC approaches. SDCs are fees collected from new development in order to pay its fair share of existing and planned facilities that provide system capacity to serve growth. SDC updates are a standard practice following the adoption of Master Plans and their associated project lists. The Transportation System Plan was adopted in 2019 and the Water Distribution and Treatment Facility Master Plan in 2022. The updates include reviewing and updating the methodology consistent with State law, including the new master plan project list to inform the calculation of a new “maximum allowable” SDC fee. The maximum allowable SDC represents the maximum fee the City could legally charge under the new methodology and project list. Setting the actual fees charged to new development is a separate Council action.
The Council is currently reviewing staff’s recommended updates to the methodologies for calculating Water and Transportation SDCs. Council action on these methodologies is currently planned for August (Water) and October (Transportation). At the time Council acts on these methodologies, staff will propose Council adopt SDC fees charged to new development at their current levels. While it is expected that both will ultimately increase, the discussion of how much is anticipated in early 2025. Staff is recommending a holistic discussion about SDCs charged to new development so that decisions on individual SDC fees can be made in context of total SDC impacts.
For more information on the Water and Transportation SDC update process, click here to access the City’s web page.
Land Use Application Fees Update for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
As required by State law and the City’s Land Development Code, the City Council reviews and updates application fees for land use proposals on an annual basis. This process requires fees be revised to reflect the change in costs to the City for processing each land use application type, and that updated fees go into effect each year on July 1. More information concerning the fees can be found on the Planning Division webpage at https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/cd/page/applications-and-fees.
Climate Friendly Parking Design
There have been several changes required by the State of Oregon over the past few years to promote Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities. Some of these changes have included the elimination of required minimum vehicle parking spaces, requiring EV conduit be installed for 40% of vehicle parking spaces being constructed, and new climate friendly parking lot design requirements.
New projects that are proposing to add a new surface parking area that exceeds ½ acre must provide one of the following:
- Installation of solar panels with a generation capacity of at least 0.5 kilowatt for each new provided parking space on the Development Site. Solar panels may be located anywhere on the Development Site.
- Payment in an amount of $1,500 for each new provided parking space on the Development Site. Payments received will then be transmitted by the City into a fund managed by the Oregon Department of Energy dedicated to equitable solar and wind energy development.
- Provide parking lot trees such that the total parking lot tree canopy covers at least 40% of new Surface Parking Area (excluding non-paved surfaces such as landscape or tree islands).
For more information on Oregon’s Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities Program, you can view the City’s Planning Division’s website at Oregon Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities Program | Corvallis Oregon or the Oregon Department of Conservation and Development website at www.oregon.gov/lcd/CL/Pages/CFEC.aspx.
Community Development Resources
Looking for more information on the development review and/or permitting process? The Community Development Publications page on the city website includes links to many documents, such as the Land Development Code, Comprehensive Plan, and Municipal Code and Ordinances. If you have any questions regarding these publications, don’t hesitate to reach out. Each department’s contact information can be found below.
Development Services Division
(541) 766-6929
development.services@corvallisoregon.gov
Planning Division
(541) 766-6908
planning@corvallisoregon.gov
Housing & Neighborhood Services Division
(541) 766-6944
housing@corvallisoregon.gov
