Oregon Administrative Code

918-098-1000 Purpose and Scope (1) These rules establish minimum training, experience, certification, and certification renewal requirements for building officials and persons who perform specialty code plan review and inspections in this state. (a) The certification requirements…

918-098-1005 Definitions As used in OAR chapter 918, division 098, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “A-level structures” means structures regulated by the Oregon Structural Specialty Code that require a state fire and life safety plan review or are required to be design…

918-098-1010 Certification Exemptions (1) Plan review certification is not required for individuals reviewing one- and two-family dwelling permit applications for the following: (a) First floor decks attached to a dwelling that: (A) Extend not more than 12 feet from the dwelling …

918-098-1012 Scope of Work Allowed for Persons with an Oregon Inspector Certification and a Nationally Recognized Certification This rule is repealed effective November 1, 2016. After November 1, 2016, this rule will no longer be necessary because individuals may not perform insp…

918-098-1015 Scope of Work Allowed for Persons with an Oregon Inspector Certification and Oregon Code Certifications Persons who possess a valid Oregon Inspector Certification and a valid Oregon Code Certification may perform inspections and plan reviews based on the class design…

918-098-1020 Expanded Scope of Work for Oregon A- or B-Level or Commercial Mechanical Inspectors Unless stated otherwise within this rule, this rule is applied retroactively from July 1, 2010. (1) Persons may conduct inspections of brazing or welding work related to the installat…

918-098-1025 Certification Requirements (1) Unless otherwise stated in this rule, every person who performs building official duties, building code inspections, or plan reviews must possess an active Oregon Inspector Certification and either an active appropriate Oregon specialty…

918-098-1028 Oregon Inspector Certification and Oregon specialty code certification Renewal and Expiration Process (1) Renewal of an Oregon Inspector Certification is required to renew any associated Oregon specialty code certifications. To renew an Oregon Inspector Certification…

918-098-1100 2016 Certification Transition (1) Notwithstanding OAR 918-098-1025, the division may issue an equivalent Oregon Code Certification to a person with a valid Oregon Inspector Certification, a valid appropriate International Code Council Certification, or an appropriate…

918-098-1210 Residential Plumbing Inspectors (1) A person possessing an Oregon "One and Two Family Dwelling Plumbing Inspector" certification is considered a "Residential Plumbing Inspector" for the purpose of these rules. (2) A person issued a residential plumbing inspector cert…

918-098-1215 Residential Electrical Inspectors (1) A person possessing an Oregon "One and Two Family Dwelling Electrical Inspector" certification is considered a "Residential Electrical Inspector" for the purpose of these rules. (2) A person issued a residential electrical inspec…

918-098-1300 Certifications Related to Manufactured Structures and Parks Scope. The rules in OAR 918-098-1300 to 918-098-1330 relate to certifications for inspectors and plans examiners dealing with manufactured dwellings, manufactured dwelling parks, organizational camps, recrea…

918-098-1305 Manufactured Structure Installation Inspector Certification (1) Scope of Activities and Authority. (a) A manufactured structure installation inspector conducts onsite field inspections of manufactured dwelling installations including site preparation, setbacks, drain…

918-098-1315 Manufactured Structure Construction Inspector Certification Unless stated otherwise within this rule, this rule is applied retroactively from July 1, 2010. (1) Scope of Activities and Authority. A manufactured structure construction inspector conducts field, dealer l…

918-098-1320 Park and Camp Inspector Certification Scope of Activities and Authority. (1) A park and camp inspector conducts field inspections, reviews plans, and provides other technical services for manufactured dwelling parks, recreational parks, organizational camps, and picn…

918-098-1325 Requirements for Alteration Inspection and Plan Review of Manufactured Dwellings (1) Scope of Work. Manufactured dwelling alteration inspections and plan reviews include on-site field inspections of alterations including structural, fire and life safety, electrical, …

918-098-1330 Manufactured Structure Accessory Structure or Accessory Building Inspection Unless stated otherwise within this rule, this rule is retroactive to July 1, 2010. (1) Scope of Work. Manufactured structure accessory structure or accessory building inspections and plan re…

918-098-1410 Cross-Training Programs for Residential Certifications (1) A building inspection program that elects to administer, use or participate in a cross-training program for residential inspectors shall follow a division approved standardized cross-training program that can…

918-098-1420 Education Program Requirements (1) Educational institutes may submit a written application to the division for approval of their education program. (2) Programs shall be resubmitted for review and approval every three years following initial approval. (3) Classroom a…

918-098-1430 Timeline for Education Program Approval (1) To be approved for a school year beginning in September, new education programs shall be submitted to the division by June 1 of the prior year for review. (2) The division shall request any needed additional information by …

918-098-1440 Approval of Inspector Continuing Education and Educational Programs (1) Applications for approval of continuing education and educational programs must be filed at least 45 days prior to the date of the proposed class or beginning date of training. The 45-day period …

918-098-1450 Continuing Education Requirements (1) When the division determines that a code change requires training for individuals to maintain their Oregon Inspector Certification or associated Oregon specialty code certification they must complete division-approved continuing …

918-098-1455 High Priority Training In addition to the continuing education requirements in 918-098-1450, the division may require building officials, inspectors, and plans examiners to take high priority training when the division identifies new technologies or specific problem …

918-098-1460 Waiver of Continuing Education Requirements Due to Hardship or Illness The administrator may extend the period to comply with code-change continuing education requirements in case of hardship or illness. Requests for extension shall: (1) Be in writing; (2) Describe t…

918-098-1470 Duties and Responsibilities of Certified Building Officials, Inspectors, and Plans Examiners Persons who hold an Oregon Inspector Certification or an Oregon Code Certification must act in the public interest in performing their duties as a building official, inspecto…

918-098-1475 Conflicts of Interest (1) A building official, a contract building official, an inspector, a plan reviewer or another person that provides building inspection services under contract with a municipality is a public official for the purposes of ORS chapter 244. (2) Th…

918-098-1480 Additional Responsibilities for Building Officials In addition to the responsibilities outlined in these rules, all certified individuals who are performing the duties of the building official must also: (1) Ensure a person is properly certified under these rules or …

918-098-1500 Building Official and Inspector Sanctions Process (1) Failure to act in the public interest in the performance of their duties in accordance with ORS 455.740 shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Providing or having knowledge of, false education, work experience …

918-098-1505 Oregon Inspector Certification Sanctions When the Director is authorized to deny, condition, suspend, immediately suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any building inspection program certification held by an individual, the Director may also deny, condition, suspend, …

918-098-1510 Purpose and Scope (1) The specialized inspector certification program, in OAR 918-098-1510 through 918-098-1591, establishes a program for training, qualifying and certifying individuals as specialized building inspectors authorized to perform inspections and enforce…

918-098-1520 Specialized Inspector Qualifications (1) All applicants for specialized certifications must have: (a) A valid Oregon Inspector Certification; (b) A valid Oregon Code Certification to perform inspections, as identified in the rule requirements for the specialized cert…

918-098-1525 ORS 455.732 Inspector Certifications (1) A building official or a person seeking a certification under ORS 455.732 must submit a request to the division. A request may include, but is not limited to: (a) Any relevant experience or training; (b) Any relevant licenses …

918-098-1530 Training Programs (1) Approved applicants must complete an appropriate division-approved training program and pass a division-approved examination for the desired specialized certification. Training program requirements are stated in 918-098-1570 for the Specialized …

918-098-1540 Specialized Inspector Examination (1) Examinations for a specialized inspector certification must be approved by the division. (2) Applicants for specialized inspector certifications who fail the examination may reapply to retest by submitting a reapplication form an…

918-098-1550 Specialized Inspector Certification Issuance and Expiration (1) Upon receiving proof of completion of all requirements listed in these rules, the division may issue the appropriate specialized inspector certification. (2) The scope of a certification may be tailored …

918-098-1570 Specialized Plumbing Inspector Certification (1) Specialized plumbing inspectors may inspect plumbing and piping systems conveying potable water, storm, or domestic sanitary sewage in new commercial buildings: (a) Less than 75 feet above grade in height as defined in…

918-098-1580 Specialized Electrical Inspector Certification (1) Scope of Activities and Authority. (a) Specialized Electrical Inspectors may conduct electrical inspections in buildings less than 75 feet above grade as defined in the Oregon Structural Specialty Code where the buil…

918-098-1590 Specialized Finals Inspector Certification (1) Scope of Activities and Authority. Specialized finals inspectors may upon receipt of this certification conduct final inspections of one- and two-family dwellings constructed under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code a…

918-098-1591 Specialized Finals Inspector Certification Scope of Authority (1) Specialized finals inspectors may upon receipt of this certification conduct final inspections of one- and two-family dwellings constructed under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code as provided in th…

918-098-1900 Corrective Notices — Cite-it Write-it Requirement In addition to any other requirements set forth in statute and rule, all building officials, inspectors and plans examiners certified under Division 098, OAR 918-225-0540, 918-281-0020, 918-695-0400, and ORS 460.055 m…

918-098-4002 Flexibility after COVID-19 and the 2020 Wildfires, and in Anticipation of Future Emergencies (1) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to provide greater flexibility to building departments to meet demand and provide services without compromising safety throughout the…

918-100-0000 Applicability of Rules (1) The rules in OAR 918-100-0000 to 918-100-0120 implement the statewide minor installation label, master permit and special alternative inspection programs. (2) Nothing in these rules shall prohibit a person from purchasing a regular permit i…

918-100-0010 Definitions The following definitions are adopted: (1) "Accessible" means the structural, mechanical, and plumbing installations can be easily inspected because the work is in the open or because there is a designed permanent physical access such as an access panel, …

918-100-0020 Scope of Minor Installation Label Programs (1) The statewide minor installation label program is a mandatory statewide program for which labels are sold by the division and used within any jurisdiction. (a) The division administers the residential, commercial, and in…

918-100-0030 Minor Label Fees Minor labels sold by the division for installations governed by these rules shall be sold in lots of ten at a cost of $125. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 447.072, 447.076, 447.095, 455.020, 455.144(7), 455.154, 455.155, 455.627, 455.844, 455.846, 46…

918-100-0040 Issuance of Minor Labels The following persons are eligible to purchase minor labels: (1) Commercial and industrial structural and mechanical minor labels. Building owners, the owner's agent or the contractor doing the work, who holds a Construction Contractors Board…

918-100-0050 Requirements for Persons Using Minor Labels (1) A person making a minor installation under either a statewide or optional minor label program shall: (a) Fill in the information required on a minor label and attach it to the electrical panel, or near the installation …

918-100-0060 Minor Labels Requirements for Municipalities At least ten percent of each minor label lot shall be inspected. (1) For optional programs, the authority having jurisdiction shall inspect within 30 days of return of a minor label log sheet, or of lot completion in an on…

918-100-0065 Scope of Work for Master Permits For the purpose of this rule, “commercial and industrial installations” mean any structural, mechanical and plumbing work involving any occupancy in the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, except one-and two-family dwellings and associa…

918-100-0070 Issuance of Master Permits Master permits shall be issued to the following persons electing to be inspected under the master permit program, if the jurisdiction offers this program: (1) Structural and mechanical master permit. Contractors having a verified Constructi…