Josephine County, Oregon Building Permit Guide

Josephine County Building Safety, part of Community Development, handles plan review, permits and inspections from 700 NW Dimmick St., Suite C, Grants Pass, OR 97526; phone (541) 474-5405. The counter is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. is by appointment only. The City of Cave Junction states that the county Building Safety Department issues its building permits.

This guide covers the county program, the Grants Pass city office and the septic, water and road offices. The county’s building fee schedule was not checked for this guide, so ask Building Safety.

What requires a building permit in Josephine County?

Agricultural buildings and equine facilities exempt from building permits under ORS 455.315 still need a development permit from Planning and an exempt structure permit from Building Safety, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspections are still required for work on them. Residential plans must clearly show the prescriptive wall-bracing requirements (ORSC R106.1.1).

Oregon’s building code and its exemptions are the same in Josephine 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 Josephine County?

The Planning Division checks land-use compliance for building and septic permit applications, and planning fees must be paid at the Planning Division. Onsite septic permits are handled by Oregon DEQ; residents can apply and ask basic questions on Fridays at the Health Dept. office.

Grants Pass, the county seat

The Grants Pass Building Division enforces the state codes within the city’s jurisdiction, including the urbanizing area, so property there goes to the city: 101 NW A Street, Room 202, Grants Pass, OR 97526, 541-450-6060, with plan submittal hours Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Building Official is Ken Sandlin. Structural permits are applied for online, inspections are requested one business day ahead through the city’s E-Permitting system, and inspectors take consultations Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Josephine County permit costs and fees

Public Works fees as of January 1, 2026: driveway access permit $275, road encroachment permit $200, and paving security (future access paving) $300.

Oregon fixes the method rather than the price: new construction is valued with the ICC building valuation data under OAR 918-050-0100, Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine County

The county inspects building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work Monday to Friday, except in the Illinois Valley, which is currently served on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Request inspections at (541) 474-5408 or in the online portal, by 6 a.m. for a same-day inspection; no appointment times are given, but an estimated arrival is usually available by 8 a.m. from (541) 474-5405. Rough inspections should be requested together: a single one, such as framing, is held until the rest are requested. Only the applicant or a listed project contact can request inspections.

Official Josephine County permitting resources

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

• Josephine County Building Safety
• Josephine County inspection requests
• Josephine County Planning Division
• Josephine County Public Works permits
• Cave Junction building permits information
• Grants Pass Building Division

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Cave Junction?

The Josephine County Building Safety Department, as the City of Cave Junction states; phone (541) 474-5405.

When are inspections done in the Illinois Valley?

Currently on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Does an exempt farm building in Josephine County need any permit?

Yes: a development permit from Planning, an exempt structure permit from Building Safety, and any electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.

Simplify Josephine County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm whether the county or Grants Pass has the property, and clear Planning
• Coordinate the DEQ septic application and the Public Works driveway permit
• Request grouped rough inspections by 6 a.m. through the county portal

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 Josephine County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.