The Lincoln County Building Division issues permits and performs inspections for all of unincorporated Lincoln County and for the cities of Depoe Bay, Siletz, Toledo, Waldport and Yachats. Planning & Development is at 210 SW 2nd Street, Newport, 541-265-4192.
This guide covers the county Building Division’s area: unincorporated Lincoln County and the five cities it serves.
What requires a building permit in Lincoln County?
Demolition permits are required as of 1/1/2026. Manufactured homes need footing, blocking and final inspections plus separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. A new driveway, or a change in use of an existing access, needs a Public Works Permit to Construct Road Approach.
Oregon’s building code and its exemptions are the same in Lincoln 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
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Lincoln County?
| For | Office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building permits and inspections | Building Division, Planning & Development, 210 SW 2nd Street, Newport | 541-265-4192 |
| Septic | On-Site Waste Management Division | Specialists in about 8 am to 9:00 am |
| Road approaches | Public Works, 880 NE 7th Street, Newport | lcpw@co.lincoln.or.us |
The Building Department is open Monday through Thursday 7 am to 4 pm and Friday 7 am to 11 am (onsite and planning start at 8 am), closed 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm daily.
Zoning Clearance, septic and floodplain in Lincoln County
Zoning Clearance
Since June 2, 2025 every building permit application begins with a Planning Division Zoning Clearance review before applying in Oregon E-Permitting. After a missing-items notice, applicants have 30 Days to complete the packet or the application is withdrawn. In Depoe Bay, Waldport, Yachats, Toledo or Siletz, land use approval comes from the city first.
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Get a free quote →Septic
The On-Site Waste Management Division runs the DEQ septic program as DEQ’s contract agent. A favorable site evaluation stays valid indefinitely; construction, repair and alteration permits are valid one year. Adding bedrooms or a new use on an existing system needs an Authorization Notice.
Floodplain
Floodplain development is governed by Ordinance #537, the Flood Hazard Management Code, with the Flood Insurance Study dated October 2019. The county has its own V Zone Certification Form for coastal high-hazard areas.
Lincoln County permit costs and fees
- Zoning Clearance review: $250 deposit.
- Plan review fees are due when documents are submitted, effective July 1st, 2026.
- Permit to Construct Road Approach: $100.
Oregon fixes the method rather than the price: new construction is valued with the ICC building valuation data under OAR 918-050-0100, Lincoln County applies its own schedule, and a 12 percent state surcharge is added to every permit fee. How Oregon permit fees are set
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in Lincoln County
In Depoe Bay, Waldport, Yachats, Toledo or Siletz, get the city’s land use approval.
Submit to the Planning Division with the $250 deposit; answer any missing-items notice within 30 Days.
Pay plan review fees when documents are submitted.
On-Site Waste Management permit; Public Works road approach permit for a new driveway.
Schedule with at least 24 hours notice.
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 Lincoln County
Schedule inspections in Oregon E-Permitting or at 541-265-4192 with at least 24 hours notice; after-hours inspection requests go to 541-265-4195. Inspectors take code questions between 7 am and 8 am Monday through Friday.
Rather not deal with the Lincoln County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Lincoln County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Lincoln County Building Division
- Zoning Clearance for building permit applications
- Lincoln County inspections
- On-Site Waste Management Division
- Lincoln County Public Works permits
- Lincoln County floodplain development
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Which areas does the Lincoln County Building Division cover?
All of unincorporated Lincoln County and the cities of Depoe Bay, Siletz, Toledo, Waldport and Yachats.
What is the Zoning Clearance review?
Since June 2, 2025, the Planning Division review every building application starts with, before Oregon E-Permitting; it carries a $250 deposit.
How long is a Lincoln County septic permit valid?
Construction, repair and alteration permits are valid one year; a favorable site evaluation stays valid indefinitely.
Simplify Lincoln County permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Get city land use approval where needed and file the Zoning Clearance review
- Prepare the Oregon E-Permitting application and plan set
- Coordinate septic, road approach and floodplain forms and book inspections
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →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.
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Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Lincoln County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Oregon permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lincoln County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.