Local building department directory is here - July 2009

Your handy Local Building Department Directory (LBDD) is now available to help you locate the right building department to ask your permitting questions. This efficient new directory is simple to use; you just enter the city and zip code or select the jurisdiction for the address and the directory delivers a page full of information for your specified location. It provides you with building department phone numbers and addresses, as well as staff contact information, any permit services available online for the address, and much more. Try it and see what you think!

Oregon Smart Guides - March 2009

In its ongoing effort to help consumers understand their options when building and renovating, the Building Codes Division has released the first two guides in a series. Called "Oregon Smart Guides," the first two focus on the promotion of green building in Oregon, giving information on rainwater harvesting and water conservation systems.

Oregon-ePermitting.info - December 2008

With the emergence of a new statewide ePermitting system on the horizon, the information Web site for the Building Codes Division’s ePermitting program has been given a new look. There are all sorts of new and interesting pages available.

The Web site is divided into three different sections: Local Building Departments, Property Owners, and Contractors. Each segment has its own “home page,” which has all the links pertinent to the group highlighted. What a great bookmark for your one-stop shopping in ePermitting! Please check out the new look and let us know what you think. www.Oregon-ePermitting.info

Greening the building codes - August 2008

The division has approved two new statewide alternate methods that allow homeowners to harvest rainwater and reuse wastewater. The first method involves reusing certain wastewater in homes when the owner installs water conservation systems. The water conservation systems treat water drained from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and laundry tubs, and then stores the water for use in flushing toilets. The second method gives both homes and commercial buildings the ability to collect rainwater from roofs to be used for gardens, flushing toilets, washing clothes, and in heating and air conditioning units.

BCD has also been working toward more energy-efficient buildings through upgrading the energy code provisions (chapter 11) of the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code. The upgrades, which took effect April 1, 2008, require certain components be put in a building, including new upgrades to building insulation and an increase in the thermal efficiency rating for windows. Also, there is a new feature in which builders choose at least one of nine energy efficiency options to include in the structure.