Building Permit & ePermitting Information

****MISSION STATEMENT****

The City of Gearhart aspires to provide high-quality, responsive, and transparent services to our community while maintaining compliance with all relevant regulations and codes. We strive to be a knowledgeable resource for both homeowners and contractors, offering guidance and support throughout the permitting process. Through our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, we seek to enhance the safety and comfort of our community and contribute to the overall growth and development of our city, while working with our local jurisdictions. 

The building official is generally at City Hall Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 8:00AM to 9:00AM, 503-738-5501.  After that, he is in the field. Occasionally, an inspection or meeting may overlap with morning office hours. For all technical building questions, contact Leonard Brogden at city hall or via email at buildingofficial@cityofgearhart.com. To apply for a building permit, Contractors are to apply for and purchase building permits, submit plans, and schedule inspections through the Oregon E-permitting program for Mechanical, Plumbing, and Structural permits. One hard copy of 24"X36" plans, containing a plot plan, with all related project information, will need to be provided as well to the building department. For any land use or building permit questions, to schedule a pre-application meeting or questions on submitting permit applications, please contact the building and planning assistant Angoleana Torres at (503)738-5501 or via email at building@cityofgearhart.com. FOR ALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PLEASE CONTACT THE HELP DESK AT (503)373-7396 or via email at oregon.epermitting@oregon.gov. 

****VERIFY YOUR CONTRACTORS & SUBCONTRACTORS****

Contractors:

Ensure Compliance and Protect Your Business

As a contractor working within the City of Gearhart, it is your responsibility to verify that all subcontractors you hire are actively licensed and properly insured. This not only protects your business but also ensures compliance with state and local regulations.

Why Verification is Crucial

• Compliance: Ensures that subcontractors meet state standards for competency, safety, and legality.
• Protection: Helps avoid potential liabilities and ensures that both you and your clients are covered in case of issues arising from the work performed.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates your commitment to quality and legal standards, enhancing your reputation in the community.

Stay Compliant, Stay Protected

By verifying your subcontractors' credentials and ensuring they have the necessary licenses and insurance, you safeguard your business and contribute to a safer, more reliable community.

Homeowners:

Ensure Your Peace of Mind

Before signing any contract or starting home improvements, take a moment to protect your investment. Verify your contractor and subcontractors through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) to ensure they hold:

Active Licenses

Workers' Compensation

Liability Insurance

Surety Bond

Other Potential Required Certifications

Additionally, you should contact the City of Gearhart to confirm their Active City Business License.

Why Verify?

• Verifying licenses safeguards your family, your home, and your insurance coverage. It ensures:
• Compliance: Contractors meet state standards for competency and safety.
• Protection: Active licenses safeguard against potential liabilities and ensure coverage for any future issues.
• Peace of Mind: Confidence that your contractor is reputable and accountable.

How to Verify:

• Visit Oregon CCB: Use the Contractor License Search to check contractor licenses.
• Current Oregon Workers’ Compensation: Coverage status can be confirmed through the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division.
• Oregon Secretary of State Business Search: Confirm the business registration status of your contractor through the Oregon Secretary of State Business Registry.
• City of Gearhart: Contact us at building@cityofgearhart.com to verify city business licenses.

Stay Informed, Stay Secure!

Your home deserves the best protection. Verify today and build with confidence.

****BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIRED****

The City of Gearhart requires ALL businesses to obtain a city business license before conducting any work within the City of Gearhart. This ensures compliance with our municipal regulations and helps maintain a fair and organized business environment for all.

City Business License Requirement

According to Title XI: Business Regulations, Chapter 110: Business Licenses, Section 110.03 of the Gearhart Municipal Code, it is mandated that "No person, for himself or herself or as agent or employee of another, shall conduct or transact business based within the city unless: (A) The business has been duly licensed within this chapter; and (B) The license is valid at the time of the transaction."

How to Comply

To comply with this requirement, we kindly request that you submit an application for a business license, as outlined in Section 110.06 of our municipal code. This application should include essential information such as the name of the business, assumed business name (if any), address of business premises, mailing address (if different), nature of business, and the number of employees, among other details.

For your convenience, you may download the application form from the city's website.

APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE HERE

Completed applications can be mailed to PO Box 2510, Gearhart, OR 97138, or submitted in person at Gearhart City Hall located at 698 Pacific Way, Gearhart, OR 97138.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The importance of having a business license is underscored in Section 110.01 of our municipal code, which clarifies that business license fees serve revenue purposes and do not waive any regulatory licensing requirements imposed by the city or other ordinances. Failure to obtain and maintain a valid business license may result in penalties as specified in Section 110.99, which can include fines up to $100 per violation. Each full business day of non-compliance constitutes a separate offense subject to the penalties outlined in Section 110.99. 

We encourage you to promptly initiate the process to obtain your business license prior to any work performed to avoid any potential penalties and to ensure compliance with our city's regulations.

Should you have any questions or require assistance regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Gearhart City Hall at (503) 738-5501.

We sincerely appreciate your active participation in our community and are delighted to have you serving the Gearhart community.

****SERVICES****

Residential Structural Plan Review & Inspection

Residential Mechanical Inspection

Residential Plumbing Inspection

Residential Fire Suppression System Plan Review & Inspection

Manufactured Dwelling Plan Review & Inspection

Commercial Structural Plan Review & Inspection

Commercial Minor Plumbing Plan Review & Inspection

Commercial Mechanical Plan Review & Inspection

Commercial Fire Suppression System Plan Review & Inspection

Commercial Extensive Plumbing Permits (Plan review & inspection currently provided by Clatsop County or third-party agency)

***Electrical Permits, Plan Review, and Inspection (both commercial & residential) are provided by Clatsop County***

****BUILDING PLAN REVIEW****

The process for Building Plan Review typically involves the following steps:

Before you submit a new building application make sure to verify what other city approvals are required. Our interactive map is a great tool to see property information such as zoning, ordinances, lot size, floodplain, oceanfront building line, and more. 

To verify the allowed uses for your property, first identify the zone (ex. R-1, R-2, C-3, etc.) the property is located in from our mapping program, then review the allowed uses and necessary approvals from our Zoning Ordinance. City Planning staff can direct you further on these steps if needed by submitting questions to planning@cityofgearhart.com.

1. If you are not already signed up with an Oregon e-permitting user account, you will need to create one. If you have questions or need assistance with Oregon e-permitting, please contact the help desk at (503)373-7396 or via email at oregon.epermitting@oregon.gov. 

2. Submission of Plans: The building owner or their representative submits building plans, specifications, and other required documents to the building department for review through E-permitting. The submission should include all necessary information, such as permit applications, site plans with setback information, floor plans, elevations, sprinkler system, plumbing, and mechanical, acknowledgments, grading permit, water meter application, a detailed description of work and calculations, and DEQ approved permit. All required checklists and applications are available below. One hard copy of 24"X36" plans, containing a plot plan, with all related project information, will need to be provided to the building department. All electrical is performed by Clatsop County. Contractors must obtain a city business license for all work performed in Gearhart. Owners will need an Owner Affidavit when doing the work themselves. 

3. Initial Review: Once the plans are received, there will be an initial review to ensure that the submission is complete and that all required documents are present.

4. Plan Review: The building official then conducts a detailed review of the plans to ensure compliance with applicable building codes. Plans will then be reviewed by planning to ensure zoning ordinances are met, and other relevant regulations. Next will be reviewed by the fire Chief and public works for any and all additional requirements. The review will include an assessment of the structural, mechanical, and plumbing systems, as well as fire protection, accessibility, energy efficiency requirements, grading, and zoning ordinance compliance.

5. Revisions: If any deficiencies or issues are identified during the review, the building department will notify the building owner or representative and request revisions. The building owner or representative must address all issues and resubmit revised plans for further review.

6. Final Approval: Once all issues have been addressed and the plans are found to be in compliance with all relevant regulations, the building official will grant final approval. The building owner can then proceed with construction, subject to inspections and other requirements as necessary.

7. Inspections: During the construction process, the building department will conduct various inspections to ensure compliance with the approved plans and applicable regulations, if you are unsure what inspections are needed, please contact the building department. Inspections can be scheduled by phone or via text at 888-299-2821 and, on Oregon E-permitting. Instructions and inspection codes are available in PDF form below. DO NOT LEAVE INSPECTION REQUESTS ON BUILDING OFFICIALS' OR BUILDING DEPARTMENTS' VOICEMAILS & EMAILS, AS THIS WILL NOT GUARANTEE INSPECTIONS TO BE SCHEDULED.

8. Final Approval: Upon successful completion of all required inspections and any necessary corrections, the building department will grant final approval for occupancy and use of the building.

Overall, the Building Plan Review process is designed to ensure that buildings are constructed in compliance with applicable regulations and codes, and to promote the safety and well-being of occupants and the surrounding community.

For more information, please contact the building department for assistance.

***PRE-APPLICATION MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY***

****OREGON E-PERMITTING****

The Oregon E-permitting program allows the public to view all development and building permit applications and supporting documents, apply for permits, and schedule inspections.

FOR ALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PLEASE CONTACT THE HELP DESK AT (503)373-7396 or via email at oregon.epermitting@oregon.gov. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT LAND USE PLANNING APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE ACCELA E-PERMITTING SYSTEM.  PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY BUILDING OR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT (503) 738-0511 FOR INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING PLANNING APPLICATIONS.

How to Use Oregon E-permitting

****INSPECTIONS****

Please see the documents below for instructions and information on the inspection request codes and SelecTXT. 

All inspections must be requested ONLINE before 7:00 a.m. the day of. 

INSPECTIONS MAY BE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY; SPECIFIC INSPECTION TIMES ARE UNAVAILABLE. ALL INSPECTIONS WILL BE DONE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 AM & 12:00 PM, THIS TIME FRAME MAY VARY BASED ON THE VOLUME OF REQUESTED INSPECTIONS. Inspections can be scheduled by phone or via text at 888-299-2821 and, on Oregon E-permitting. Instructions and inspection codes are available in PDF form below. FOR ALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PLEASE CONTACT THE HELP DESK AT (503)373-7396 or via email at oregon.epermitting@oregon.gov. 

DO NOT LEAVE INSPECTION REQUESTS ON BUILDING OFFICIALS' OR BUILDING DEPARTMENTS' VOICEMAILS & EMAILS, AS THIS WILL NOT GUARANTEE INSPECTIONS TO BE SCHEDULED.

How to Schedule an Inspection (IVR Call Flow) 

STATE OF OREGON PERMITTING SELECTXT

Oregon Standard Model Inspection Codes 

OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS & INFORMATION

We also have land development and zoning information available HERE when applicable.

Questions? See the Staff Directory