Beaverton, Oregon Building Permits
Learn Beaverton, Oregon building permit steps, fees, review times, zoning, code rules, and plan requirements for home and commercial projects.
Wind
ASCE 7 basic wind speed: generally 98 mph Vult for Risk Category II in Beaverton and the Portland westside; final wind pressures depend on exposure, building height, topographic effects, roof zones, openings, and component/cladding design.
Snow Load
Ground snow load: generally 25 psf at low elevations in Beaverton; roof snow load must be calculated using Oregon code provisions for slope, exposure, thermal factors, drifting, unbalanced loading, and occupancy/risk category.
Flood
FEMA floodplain mapping for Washington County applies. Properties near Beaverton Creek, Fanno Creek, Johnson Creek, Cedar Hills-area drainageways, and other mapped corridors may be in Zone AE or other special flood hazard areas and can require floodplain development review, elevation certificates, compensatory storage, and flood-resistant construction standards.
Earthquake
Seismic Design Category: commonly D or D1/D2 depending on site class, risk category, and ASCE 7 parameters. Beaverton is in a high seismic hazard region, so projects must address shear walls, hold-downs, foundation anchorage, cripple-wall bracing, equipment anchorage, and potentially liquefaction or soft-soil conditions in lowland areas.
Wildfire
Beaverton's urban core generally has low wildfire exposure, but parcels along wooded natural areas, slopes, parks, or urban edge conditions should verify current Oregon wildfire hazard mapping and any fire access or defensible-space expectations. Most standard urban projects are not subject to special WUI construction, but vegetation, access, and exterior material choices can still affect fire risk.
Building Department
City of Beaverton Building Division, Community Development Department
Approval Timeline
Over-the-counter or simple trade permits may be issued same day to a few business days when the application is complete. Residential remodels, decks, additions, ADUs, and new houses commonly take 2 to 4 weeks for first review. Projects needing planning approval, stormwater review, tree or natural resource review, or right-of-way coordination may take 4 to 8 weeks or more. Commercial tenant improvements typically take 3 to 6 weeks for first review, while new commercial, mixed-use, multifamily, change-of-occupancy, and major redevelopment projects may take 6 to 12 weeks or longer depending on corrections and interdepartmental approvals.
Common Requirements
Typical Beaverton permit submittals include an application, project valuation, site plan, existing and proposed floor plans, elevations, structural/framing plans, foundation details, sections, energy code compliance forms, mechanical/electrical/plumbing scope, truss drawings, structural calculations when needed, and erosion control information. Commercial and multifamily projects usually need a full code summary, occupancy and construction type, exiting and occupant load analysis, accessibility plans, fire-rated assemblies, special inspection forms, deferred submittal list, sprinkler/alarm information, and Oregon-licensed architect or engineer stamps when required.
Zoning Information
Beaverton zoning is controlled by the Beaverton Development Code and zoning map. The city regulates residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, employment, and multiple-use districts, with standards for permitted uses, setbacks, height, density, lot coverage, parking, landscaping, design review, and site development. Important local overlays and review areas can include Downtown Beaverton, Central Beaverton, regional center and station-area planning, floodplain corridors, significant natural resources, tree protection, and transportation-related standards. Zoning approval or land-use review may be required before building permit issuance.
Permit Costs
Beaverton permit fees are based on the adopted fee schedule, construction valuation, plan review, and any associated development charges. Small trade permits may be about $75 to $300. Residential decks, remodels, sheds, and minor structural work commonly run about $300 to $1,500 in permit and review fees. Additions, ADUs, and new homes can involve several thousand dollars, especially when utility, transportation, parks, school excise tax, or system development charges apply. Commercial tenant improvements often range from about $1,000 to $10,000 or more, and new commercial or mixed-use buildings are valuation-based and may be significantly higher.
Engineering Requirements
Beaverton commonly requires Oregon-licensed engineering for structural work outside prescriptive code limits, including bearing wall removals, large beams, moment frames, shear wall changes, retaining walls over about 4 feet or supporting surcharge, complex decks, custom foundations, equipment anchorage, seismic bracing, and commercial or multifamily structural systems. Engineered designs may also be required for special inspections, underpinning, soil-sensitive sites, rooftop units, solar support structures, and fire/life-safety systems involving performance-based design.
Local Code Adoption
Beaverton enforces Oregon statewide specialty codes, including the current Oregon Structural Specialty Code and Oregon Residential Specialty Code, generally the 2023 Oregon codes based on the 2021 IBC/IRC with Oregon amendments, plus current Oregon mechanical, plumbing, electrical, energy, fire, accessibility, and local development code requirements.
Typical Projects
Common Beaverton permit projects include home remodels, additions, ADUs, garage conversions, decks, patio covers, solar installations, multifamily projects, downtown mixed-use redevelopment, retail and restaurant tenant improvements, office and medical office build-outs, seismic upgrades, fire alarm and sprinkler work, accessibility upgrades, and site improvements tied to infill and transit-oriented development.