Oregon permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in Oregon?
Oregon's building-permit deadline is narrow and fast. Plans for simple low-rise homes must be approved or disapproved within 10 business days, or 15 in the largest jurisdictions.
A 2025 law adds a 120-day limit on final engineering plan review for housing, starting July 1, 2026.
See the deadlines ↓Current Oregon state-level guidelines
The short answer
Under ORS 455.467, a building department must approve or disapprove plans for a simple low-rise residential dwelling within 10 business days of a complete application, or 15 business days in a jurisdiction of 300,000 people or more. The deadline does not apply to complex structures or to plans that need approval from another agency. A municipality that repeatedly misses the deadline is treated as having a pattern of failing to provide timely plan reviews. We found no statewide deadline in Oregon for commercial plan review.
By project type
Oregon permit review deadlines.
Oregon's plan review deadline covers simple low-rise homes. Housing engineering plans get a separate clock in 2026.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Simple low-rise home plans, population under 300,000 | 10 business days | To approve or disapprove, from a complete application. |
| Simple low-rise home plans, population 300,000 or more | 15 business days | |
| Final engineering plans for housing | 120 days | Under SB 974, operative July 1, 2026. |
The 10 and 15 business-day limits do not apply when a plan needs approval from an outside agency, when the structure is complex, or when the state has approved a different schedule for the jurisdiction.
When the clock runs out
What happens when an Oregon department misses the deadline.
A municipality that repeatedly misses the plan review periods is considered to have a pattern of failing to provide timely plan reviews under the state's building program rules.
The statute does not refund fees or approve late plans.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
Recent changes
What changed, and when.
2025
SB 974 becomes law (Chapter 330)Requires final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days and limits design review inside urban growth boundaries.
July 1, 2026
SB 974 becomes operativeCity by city
How Oregon cities handle review times.
Portland publishes targets for more than the state requires and reports against them.
Portland
Portland sets a schedule for a first plan review: 7 days for a home remodel, 15 for a new house, 20 for a new commercial building. It tracks how often it hits those dates and posts weekly dashboards showing where time is spent.
Read the source →City details come from each city's public pages as of November 12, 2026. Cities change their targets and processes often, so check the linked source for the current version.
Common questions
Oregon building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Oregon?
For a simple low-rise home, the building department has 10 business days to approve or disapprove the plans, or 15 in a jurisdiction of 300,000 or more. We found no statewide plan review deadline for other projects.
Does Oregon's 120-day rule cover building permits?
The long-standing 120-day rule covers land use decisions. The 2025 law adds a separate 120-day limit for final engineering plans on residential development.
What happens if an Oregon city misses the plan review deadline?
There is no refund or automatic approval. Repeated misses count as a pattern of late plan review under the state's oversight of local building programs.
How do Oregon building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in Oregon
Working under Oregon's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in Oregon as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.