Building in Salem can be as simple as installing a fence or as complex as developing a subdivision of new single-family homes.

The State of Oregon and the City of Salem have established rules and review processes to ensure construction and development is safe, code-compliant, and protective of both current and future property owners. 

If you want to build in Salem, you can talk with staff at the Permit Application Center (PAC) to learn about City requirements or ask questions about a property. For example, staff can help answer questions about a property’s zoning, infrastructure needs, building code requirements and other development-related issues. No appointment is necessary.

• Visit Planning, Building & Safety and Development Services staff in person at 440 Church Street SE, 5^th Floor

Staff is also available by email or phone: 

Planning

• Phone: 503-588-6213 
• Email: planning@cityofsalem.net

Building and Safety

• Phone: 503-588-6256 
• Email: baspac@cityofsalem.net

Development Services

• Phone: 503-584-4646 
• Email: developmentservices@cityofsalem.net

If you want to apply for a permit, you can apply via the Permit Application Center portal. It is your central hub for submitting, viewing and managing your building permits and all related planning and development work.

Review Application Timelines with Salem's Development Application Dashboard

In addition to processing permits, the City of Salem provides transparency on how long development applications take to review and issue. The Development Application Dashboard publishes updated performance metrics each month, including:

• Average review times for planning applications, commercial projects, subdivisions, multifamily housing and residential permits
• Total number of active applications by type (e.g., new home construction, civil site work, Type 1 Planning Applications)
• Approval rates and the average number of applications reviewed within target timelines
• Number of review cycles for certain application types

While review times vary depending on project complexity, reviewer workload and how quickly applicants respond to comments or pay fees, this dashboard can help you estimate your project’s timeline and prepare accordingly.

Submitting a complete application with all required documents and fees is the best way to reduce delays, minimize revisions, and keep your project on track.

Have questions about how this data is collected or how to use the dashboard? Contact us at developmentservices@cityofsalem.net or call 503‑589‑4649. We're happy to help!