Dwelling Permit Unbundles - Individual Permits Required

The City of Salem issues a Structural Dwelling Permit for new one- and two-family dwellings, duplexes and townhomes.  As of July 1, 2008, the Structural Dwelling Permit for a new dwelling covers only the structural work included in the project.  

Electrical (including temporary power), Mechanical, and Plumbing work permits for the structure EACH continue to require SEPARATE permits as of July 1, 2008.  Public Works permits, e.g., SDC, water, sewer, or right-of-way, are also purchased separately through the Public Works - Development Services group, separate from Building and Safety.  The Planning Division may also require a Site Plan Review permit or other Planning application prior to applying for the Dwelling Permit or other building permits.  Please check with each separate workgroup when planning for any new construction project.

Dwelling Permit—Structural Plans Review

Structural Plans Review fees are calculated as a percentage of the Dwelling Permit Fee.

View our current fee schedule to estimate permit costs.

Dwelling Permit—Permit Fees

The cost of the Dwelling Permit fee is based on the total project valuation for the New 1&2 Family Dwelling (to include all construction work for which the permit is issued, as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire extinguishing systems and any other permanent equipment - it also includes the contractor's profit) - plus state-required surcharge and an automation fee for each transaction.  The New 1&2 Family Dwelling valuation table (ICC Valuation) used to determine Dwelling permit fees is adopted by City Council annually.

• Electrical Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the square footage of the structure and the Limited Energy needs.
• Mechanical Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the individual appliances/equipment being installed to the structure.
• Plumbing Permit Fees - New Residential:  are based on the number of bathrooms and kitchens - the first 100 feet of footing drain, rain drain, and water service are included in this permit's fee; footage beyond the 1st 100 feet is purchased separately as needed.  Sanitary and Storm Sewer permits are purchased separately with Public Works at this time.  Residential Fire Suppression Systems (13D multipurpose or continuous loop systems) are required now in some homes, and this is also a separately purchased Plumbing Permit.

No More Specialty Stickers - Individual Permits Required

As noted above - electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors have to obtain individual permits for the construction of new 1&2 family dwellings, duplexes, and townhomes. The inspection fees, with the exception of temporary power, are covered in the cost of the individual permit.

To obtain applications for Dwelling Structural, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits make this request in person at the Permits Application Center, City Hall - 555 Liberty Street SE - Room 320 or print our current application forms (list at middle of our BAS home page) from our website. City staff must verify license numbers and validity during the application process. 

Specialty contractors must pull individual Structural, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits prior to beginning work and post them at the jobsite; failing to do so can result in a possible correction notice, stop work, and/or investigation fees.  If an inspector arrives at a jobsite where there are no approved plans or hard card, that inspector will not perform the inspection and may assess an investigation fee equal to the specialty permit fee. Investigation fees must be paid prior to further inspections or before a permit will be issued.

Dwelling Permit—Inspection Services

As individual permits are required, inspections need to be separately scheduled relating to each discipline/permit(s).  Permit numbers will be required in order to schedule inspections - any inspections, other than Finals, called in prior to 5:30am each business day can be scheduled same day.

Work Exempt from Dwelling Permits

Permits shall not be required for the following as indicated by the 2000 International Residential Code.

1. Non-habitable one-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet or a height of 10 feet measured to the highest point.
2. Except for barriers around swimming pools, fences not over 6 feet in height.
3. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
4. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
5. Concrete sidewalks, slabs, and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below.
6. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, interior wall, floor, or ceiling covering and similar finish work.
7. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep.
8. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling.
9. Window awnings and patio covers supported by an exterior wall not over 120 square feet in area.
10. Non-bearing partitions, except when such partitions create habitable rooms.
11. Replacement or repair of siding not required to be fire-resistant.
12. Retrofitted insulation.
13. Masonry repair.
14. Porches and decks, where the floor or deck is not more than 30 inches above grade and where the edge of the porch, deck, or floor does not come closer than 3 feet to property lines.
15. Gutters and downspouts.
16. Door and window replacements (where no structural member is changed).
17. Reroofing, except in wildfire hazard zones as provided in Section R328 (of the 2000 International Residential Code) or where replacement or repair of roofing does not exceed 30 percent of the required live load design capacity and is not required to be fire-resistant.
18. Plastic glazed storm windows.
19. Framed-covered accessory buildings not more than 500 square feet in area, one story in height, or closer than 3 feet to the property line, where the structure is composed of a rigid framework to support tensioned membrane that provides a weather barrier.