Eugene Building Permit Office
Eugene
City of Eugene
541-682-5086
In-person Monday-Friday 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.; phone/email/appointments 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
99 W 10th Avenue, Suite 100, Eugene, Oregon, 97401
Eugene uses its own Building and Permit Services program for building-code administration, and its jurisdiction is broader than the incorporated city limits. Lane County’s jurisdiction table identifies Eugene as the building-code authority both inside Eugene city limits and in the area between the city limits and the Eugene Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
Building permit applications are handled electronically through the City’s eBuild system. The same system supports plan submittals, fee payments, contractor assignment, approved-plan downloads and management of active projects.
Eugene’s Permit Authority Extends to the UGB
Lane County administers building codes across most unincorporated portions of the county, but Eugene is an exception around its urban edge. The county’s current jurisdiction list assigns Eugene building-code authority inside the city and from the city limits outward to the Eugene UGB.
This distinction matters for properties outside the incorporated boundary, including some locations that may appear unincorporated. Building-code jurisdiction should be established before using Lane County’s permit system because property outside Eugene’s UGB generally falls under a different building authority.
Plan Review, Trade Permits and Express Review Use Different Paths
Residential and commercial projects requiring plan review are submitted through eBuild with the applicable application, drawings and project-specific supporting material. The City screens the submission for completeness before formal review begins.
Electrical, plumbing and qualifying mechanical permits that do not need plan review can also be submitted through eBuild using the Trade Permits option. These permits do not follow the full structural plan-review sequence.
Qualifying residential and commercial projects may use Eugene’s Express Permit programs. Applicants submit the application and drawings electronically and select an available review appointment. The program is intended for projects that meet the City’s express-review criteria.
How a Eugene eBuild Project Moves Into Review
Prepare the correct application and plans
Submittal requirements depend on the project. Projects requiring plan review need electronic construction drawings and must follow Eugene’s applicable file-naming and submittal standards. All permit applications must contain the required property-owner contact information; commercial applications also require tenant contact information when applicable.
Submit the project through eBuild
Applicants create the project online, upload the application and supporting documents, and mark the submittal complete. eBuild is also used for later revisions, deferred submittals and other project documents.
Complete intake screening
City staff first determine whether enough information has been provided to begin review. Eugene states that applicants should normally receive notice within three business days telling them whether the application has been accepted or additional material is needed.
Work through coordinated plan review
Projects needing standard review are assigned a project coordinator. Depending on the proposal, review may involve Building, Land Use, Public Works, Engineering, Fire and erosion-prevention staff rather than a building-code review alone.
Resolve review items and obtain the permit
Review comments and required actions are managed through the project record. Once the necessary approvals and issuance requirements are complete, permit documents and approved stamped plans can be obtained electronically.
Residential and Commercial Applications Are Not Identical
Residential work requiring plan review must be filed electronically with the application and construction drawings. Eugene identifies new houses, duplexes and secondary dwelling units, additions, alterations, remodels, certain decks and retaining walls, accessory structures and garage conversions among common residential projects requiring permits.
Residential eBuild files must meet the City’s residential file-naming standards. Zoning requirements such as setbacks and building height still apply even when particular work is exempt from a building permit.
For standard commercial review, Eugene identifies the Commercial Construction Application, plans, applicable supporting documents such as engineering calculations and energy-compliance material, and a Code Summary and Worksheet as part of the plan submittal.
Commercial buildings include mixed-use buildings containing commercial tenants. Commercial permit work can also involve tenant improvements, changes of use, site development, demolition, signs and building-system alterations.
Eugene requires a Project Consultation before submittal for phased projects and projects containing multiple structures on one development site. Project Consultation meetings are scheduled through eBuild.
A Building Permit Can Involve Several Eugene Review Disciplines
Zoning determines allowable uses and development standards such as setbacks, height and other site rules. Commercial review can also involve parking, landscaping and other land-use requirements. A land-use approval, when required, is separate from simply satisfying structural building-code requirements.
Review may address street and utility connections, stormwater, floodplain conditions, system development charges and other site-related matters. Work affecting sidewalks, access or the public right-of-way may require Public Works authorization in addition to the building permit.
Fire review can cover site access, firefighting water supply and, for applicable projects, fire alarms, sprinklers and other protection systems. Eugene’s erosion program separately addresses construction-site controls and protection of stormwater systems and natural resources.
Eugene-Springfield Fire has Deputy Fire Marshals working with the building departments during construction review. Commercial, multifamily and other qualifying projects may therefore receive fire-code plan review and inspections as part of the coordinated development process.
Issued Permits Use Eugene’s Online Inspection System
Required inspections for an issued permit are listed in the City’s electronic system in the usual construction sequence. Owners and contractors can schedule, cancel or reschedule inspections online, and multiple outstanding inspections can be requested together when the project is ready.
- Inspection requests submitted before 7:00 a.m. may be requested for that same day.
- The scheduling system displays outstanding inspections connected with the permit.
- A confirmation email is sent after an inspection has been scheduled.
- The request should include a telephone number where the project contact can be reached.
- Inspection results and permit progress can be followed through Eugene’s online permit services.
For residential and commercial permits, Eugene states that an issued permit generally must receive the required construction activity or inspection within the City’s stated permit-activity period to remain active. Each qualifying inspection resets that activity period. Final approval leads to the applicable Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Occupancy.
Applications and Existing Permits Can Be Tracked Online
Eugene’s Building Permit Services search can locate records by permit number, address, map and tax lot number, contractor, person or business. eBuild separately shows active project status and communications for account holders.
During intake: the project can show that screening is underway or that additional information is required.
During review: applicants can follow plan-review status and respond to review comments electronically.
After issuance: the permit record supports inspection tracking and access to related permit information.
Eugene Building Permit Links
City of Eugene
Building and Permit Services
Building permit information and services
Application Portal
eBuild Permit System
Apply, upload plans and manage projects
Permit Records
Building Permit Services Online
Permit search, inspections and project services
Residential
Residential Permit Requirements
Residential preparation, application and review
Commercial
Commercial Permit Requirements
Commercial and multifamily permit information
Planning
Land Use Information
Planning applications and land-use review
Jurisdiction
Lane County Jurisdictional Boundaries
Verify Eugene and Lane County building authority