Jackson County, Oregon Building Permit Guide

Jackson County Development Services, Building Division, is at 10 South Oakdale Ave., Room 100, Medford, Oregon 97501; phone (541) 774-6927. Business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This guide covers the county Building Division, the cities it serves and the City of Medford’s office. Fees are from the county’s fee sheet titled Building Fees Effective APRIL 2026, whose fee table says the fees have been effective since October 1, 2025.

What requires a building permit in Jackson County?

The county says Planning Division review is the first step in any land development or construction project, and many zoning approvals expire after two years and cannot be renewed. For development within 200 feet of federal land, the county consults the federal agency, because many federal tracts have never been accurately surveyed. The county’s fee sheet lists a farm/equine/forestry building exemption certificate. A road approach (driveway) permit from Jackson County Roads is needed before modifying or making a new connection to a county road; a concrete driveway along a gravel-shoulder road needs an encroachment permit instead.

Oregon’s building code and its exemptions are the same in Jackson County as everywhere in the state, and an exemption from the building permit is not an exemption from zoning, land use or a trade permit. Site snow, wind and seismic values come from the state’s Oregon Design Criteria Hub. How Oregon’s statewide code works

Who handles permitting in Jackson County?

Onsite septic permits and inspections go to Oregon DEQ’s Medford office, 221 Stewart Avenue, Suite 201, Medford, OR 97501, (541) 776-6010. In Medford, the county seat, Building Safety is in the Lausmann Annex, 200 South Ivy, 97501 (541-774-2350, building@cityofmedford.org), open Monday to Friday 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM.

Jackson County permit costs and fees

• Structural permit: $507.69 for the first $50,000 plus $5.19 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $767.19 for the first $100,000 plus $4.40 per additional $1,000 above that.
• Plan review 65% of the structural permit fee; Oregon state surcharge 12% of the structural permit fee.
• Community Development Fee: 1.95% of the value of construction.
• Reinspection (more than 3 of the same type) $106.22; farm/equine/forestry building exemption certificate $94.00.

New buildings are valued from the county’s building valuation table effective April 1, 2026: R-3 one- and two-family dwellings of construction type VB at 175.92 per square foot, for example, and an unfinished basement at $31.50 per sq. ft.

Oregon fixes the method rather than the price: new construction is valued with the ICC building valuation data under OAR 918-050-0100, Jackson County applies its own schedule, and a 12 percent state surcharge is added to every permit fee. How Oregon permit fees are set

How to get a building permit in Jackson County

An Oregon building permit expires if work does not start within 180 days of issue or stops for 180 days; the building official can extend it in writing, 180 days at a time. Oregon’s statewide code rules

Inspections in Jackson County

Inspections are scheduled online through Oregon ePermitting or its app; the county’s IVR and SelecTXT phone and text options have been retired. Inspectors and plans examiners are usually in the office from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Non-complex inspections, such as underground conduit or water lines or a reinspection, may be done by video call; the inspector decides whether an inspection qualifies. In Medford, inspections can be requested online, by smartphone or at 541-774-2350, and Remote Virtual Inspections are offered for some residential inspection types only.

Official Jackson County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Jackson County Building Division
• Jackson County permit information by city
• Jackson County inspection information
• Jackson County plumbing and septic permits
• Jackson County road approach permits
• Medford Building Safety

Frequently asked questions

Does Jackson County issue septic permits?

No. Onsite septic permits and inspections go to Oregon DEQ’s Medford office, (541) 776-6010.

Who issues building permits in Shady Cove?

Jackson County, by contract; zoning clearance comes from the city (541-878-2225).

Can I schedule a Jackson County inspection by phone?

The IVR and SelecTXT options have been retired; schedule online through Oregon ePermitting or its app.

Simplify Jackson County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm whether the county, a contract city or a city department issues the permit
• Clear Planning review, DEQ septic and road approach before filing
• Submit electronic plans through ePermitting and book inspections online

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Oregon. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jackson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.