City of Hillsboro, OR

Common application types

• Building Permit
• Demolition Permit
• Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Permits
• Manufactured Dwelling Permit
• Fence Permit
• Grading and Erosion Control Permit
• Public Infrastructure Permit
• Pre-Application Meeting Request
• Universal Land Use Application (Type I, II, III)

New homes and additions

A building permit is required for new homes, additions, repairs, renovations, demolitions and changes of use or occupancy. The city publishes a One & Two Family Dwelling Checklist and Residential Site Plan Requirements for residential submittals, and a Private Utility Permit applies to ground disturbance of 1,000 sq ft or more.

ADUs and middle housing

ADUs have been allowed on single-family lots since the 1990s, and early 2020 amendments eased architectural standards and removed off-street parking requirements. The Housing Hillsboro middle housing amendments to comply with HB 2001 were approved by City Council at its May 17, 2022 meeting and took effect June 30, 2022 in Subchapter 12 of the Community Development Code. Duplexes are two units on a lot with separate entrances; two-unit townhouses follow duplex rules, while triplexes, quadplexes and larger townhouse projects may be built through the Planned Unit Development process in the SFR-10, SFR-8.5, SFR-7, SFR-6, SFR-4.5 and SCR-LD zones. The city's code amendments page states cottage clusters are not currently recognized in the Community Development Code.

Decks, retaining walls and accessory structures

Building a new shed or structure, or adding onto one, requires a building permit. A demolition permit is needed for complete removal of a residential structure over 200 sq ft, while partial removal is treated as an alteration under a building permit. Fences use a separate Fence Permit application through Land Use Planning.

Commercial tenant improvements and change of use

A building permit is required for new commercial buildings, additions, renovations and changes in use or occupancy. Commercial fire alarm and emergency alarm work (plus a low-voltage electrical permit), fire sprinkler work and medical gas piping each need their own permits, and the city publishes commercial building and trade permit checklists.

Land use review

Land use applications follow three procedure types, each with its own review requirements and timeline, and the Universal Land Use Application covers Type I, II and III. Emergency Super Siting is listed as a separate process. Land division applications cover partitions, subdivisions and Planned Unit Developments, and free pre-application meetings are offered before submittal.

Corrections and review

The city provides a Revised Plan Submittal Form for plan revisions, and ProjectDox submittals must follow the naming and formatting rules in the city's ProjectDox User's Guide with a blank area on each sheet for review stamps. Published review time targets were not confirmed on the city's site.

Tips from SASHKOV

• Pre-application meetings are free and help identify site constraints early.
• Use the Hillsboro Maps tool to see what housing types are allowed at a specific address.
• Leave a blank area on each sheet for City plan review stamps in ProjectDox submittals.

Where to apply

Permitting authority: Development Services & Permitting Center. Online submittals: ePlans (ProjectDox).