Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Beaverton, Oregon

Beaverton’s own rules

• Septic permitLimited

  Separate sewage systems and septic tanks inside Beaverton city limits.

  • A separate sewage system or septic tank may be allowed only by special permit authorized by Council motion.
  • The City-operated sanitary sewage disposal system must be unavailable to the tract.

  “A special permit for a separate sewage system or septic tank may be allowed by motion of the council whenever there is no sanitary sewage disposal system operated by the City available to the tract of ground involved.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal inside Beaverton city limits.

  • Private sewage disposal is allowed only through a special permit authorized by Council motion when no City-operated sanitary sewage disposal system is available to the tract.
  • Where a property is required to connect to City sanitary sewer, septic tanks and other sewage disposal means are prohibited unless there is a valid permit for use of an existing private system.

  “No person shall install, use or cause to be installed or used any cesspool, septic tank or other means of sewage disposal upon any property within the City limits (other than by connecting to the City sanitary sewage system), if such property by the terms of this ordinance would be required to connect to the City sanitary system, unless the person has a valid permit for use of an existing private system as provided in BC 4.04.055.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  City sanitary-sewer connection permits inside Beaverton city limits.

  • The applicant must pay permit, inspection, and connection fees at the rates and charges in effect when the permit is issued.
  • Rates and charges are established by the City and the Unified Sewerage Agency of Washington County.
  • Council establishes the sewer inspection fee by resolution.

  “Any person desiring a permit to connect a building or structure to the sanitary sewer system of the City is required to apply to the City for the permit and shall pay permit, inspection and connection fees in accordance with the rates and charges established by the City and the Unified Sewerage Agency of Washington County and in effect at the time the permit is issued.”

• Permit processPartial

  Connection of a building or structure to the City sanitary sewer system.

  • The applicant must apply to the City.
  • The process is limited here to sanitary-sewer connection permits; a complete process for all building and land-use permits was not established.

  “Any person desiring a permit to connect a building or structure to the sanitary sewer system of the City is required to apply to the City for the permit and shall pay permit, inspection and connection fees in accordance with the rates and charges established by the City and the Unified Sewerage Agency of Washington County and in effect at the time the permit is issued.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Beaverton or Washington County directly.

• Building permit — Building work inside Beaverton city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Beaverton city limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Beaverton city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Beaverton city limits.
• Local zoning — Land inside Beaverton city limits.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Beaverton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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