Gresham building department

The City of Gresham’s Building Permits and Inspections program issues structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and related permits inside Gresham city limits. Gresham is in Multnomah County, but properties in Portland, Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village, or unincorporated county areas follow other permitting arrangements, so confirm the property is in Gresham before you apply.

When Gresham requires a permit

Gresham requires a permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or change the occupancy of a building, and to install, alter, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system. The city’s residential page lists common triggers:

• Adding a room, or finishing an attic, garage, or basement into living space
• Building, demolishing, or moving a carport, garage, or shed over 200 sq ft
• Cutting new window or door openings, or moving, removing, or adding walls
• Re-roofing when all old roofing is removed and new sheathing is installed
• Building a stairway, a deck more than 30 inches above grade, or a fence over 6 feet
• Moving more than 50 cubic yards of earth, or any cut/fill on sites affected by waterways or slope hazards

Gresham also states that Oregon law requires a plumbing permit to replace a water heater.

Projects that don’t require a permit

For single-family homes only, Gresham exempts many minor projects if they don’t encroach over a drain system, a public utility easement, or required setbacks. Highlights from the city’s list:

Project	Exempt when…
Detached accessory building	One story, non-habitable, 200 sq ft or less, walls 10 ft or less (up to 400 sq ft on parcels of 2 acres or more if 20 ft from all property lines)
Deck or porch	Floor no more than 30 in. above grade within 3 ft horizontally
Patio or porch cover	200 sq ft or less and supported by an exterior wall
Concrete flatwork	Private-side walkways, slabs, and driveways adding less than 1,000 sq ft (right-of-way work needs a permit)
Windows and doors	Replacement where no structural member changes
Re-roofing	Within 30% of required live-load capacity and not fire-resistive

The list also covers like-for-like electrical repairs, minor plumbing and mechanical work, and finish work. Exempt projects must still meet construction and zoning codes.

Applying and plan review

Permits are applied for through Gresham’s EnerGov Self Service portal. Projects that need plan review upload plans directly through the same system. Submissions coordinators answer plan review questions at 503-618-2845. In-person building permit services are available at Gresham City Hall, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Key points from the city’s permit FAQ:

• Plans: Structural plans are required for new construction, additions, and alterations. A change of use may require plans even with no structural work.
• Zoning first: Land use and zoning approval is required before you apply for any new structure, any work that adds area or height, or any change of use. The Planner on Duty answers zoning questions at 503-618-2780 or [email protected].
• Design professionals: An architect or engineer is not required for single-family dwellings and their accessory buildings, agricultural buildings, or any building with a ground area of 4,000 sq ft or less and 20 ft or less in height.
• Homeowners: An owner who owns and occupies the house may do any or all of the building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work. Otherwise, Oregon law makes the electrical contractor responsible for the electrical permit, and electrical permits are non-transferable. See owner-builder permits.
• Expiration: A permit expires if work does not start within 180 days of issuance, or if work stops for 180 days. One 180-day extension may be requested in writing.

Residential submittals use the city’s new construction checklist and an erosion prevention and sediment control plan. Public facility, right-of-way, and system development charge requirements are handled through the city’s public works standards.

Fees

Gresham’s Master Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026) sets separate valuation tables for residential (ORSC) and commercial (OSSC) work. Residential highlights:

ORSC valuation	Fee
$1 – $500	$61.00
$501 – $2,000	$61.00 for the first $500 plus $4.86 per additional $100
$2,001 – $25,000	$135.00 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000
$25,001 – $50,000	$413.00 for the first $25,000 plus $9.72 per additional $1,000
$50,001 – $100,000	$657.00 for the first $50,000 plus $7.30 per additional $1,000
$100,001 – $500,000	$1,022.00 for the first $100,000 plus $7.91 per additional $1,000

Structural plan review adds 65% of the permit fee, and fire/life safety review adds 40% when it applies. Other listed fees include $184 per reinspection, $276 per site visit for after-hours inspections, $93 to reinstate an expired permit, and $62 for a certificate of occupancy when no new permit is required. Local school and Metro construction excise taxes and the state surcharge are added separately.

Inspections

Schedule or cancel inspections in the EnerGov portal. Inspections are performed daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and requests submitted before midnight are scheduled for the next day. The permit and stamped “Approved” plans must be on the job site for the inspector. Gresham issues a certificate of occupancy for new homes, commercial new construction, commercial tenant improvements, and changes of use.

Permit records

No account is needed to search records. Permits and applications from January 1, 2021 onward are in EnerGov. 2005–2020 records are in GreshamMap, and 1992/1995–2005 records are in the legacy PITS system. For building permits before July 1992, email [email protected].