Salem, Oregon
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Community Planning and Development Department
555 Liberty St. SE
Room 320
Salem, OR 97301
503-588-6173
communitydevelopment@cityofsalem.net
Development Services Division
555 Liberty St. SE
Room 320
Salem, OR 97301
503-584-4646
developmentservices@cityofsalem.net
Urban Development Division
350 Commercial St NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-588-6178
urbandev@cityofsalem.net
Community Planning and Development Department
The Community Planning and Development Department addresses our community's planning and development needs by streamlining services to support housing production and economic vitality in Salem.
The department includes functions related to planning, developing, and building within Salem as well as the City's economic development and urban renewal programs, compliance services and parking enforcement, federal entitlement and housing incentive programs, and affordable housing production and management under the Salem Housing Authority.
Divisions and Functions
The Community Planning and Development Department provides a wide variety of services to assist residents in developing a dynamic and livable city.
Building and Safety: Construction Plans Review, Permitting, and Inspection
The Building and Safety Division under the direction of the Building Official operates the City of Salem’s Permit Application Center and is responsible for the consistent application of building codes in construction and remodeling including:
- Construction plans review
- Inspection services
- Permitting, including parking permits and business licenses.
In 2012, Salem’s Building and Safety Division became the first in the State of Oregon to achieve International Accreditation Service (IAS) Building Department accreditation. A subsidiary of the International Code Council, IAS provides an independent assessment and verification that the department is operating at the highest legal, ethical, and technical standards.
For more information about building in Salem contact us at baspac@cityofsalem.net.
Code Compliance: Public Safety through Prevention, and Code Compliance
The division focuses on the City Council goals related to quality of life, as well as public safety through prevention and code compliance.
Program areas include:
- Enforcing nuisance, housing, and property maintenance codes.
- Inspecting multifamily properties to insure building safety by the application of building, fire, and housing codes.
- Parking enforcement
For more information about compliance issues, contact complianceservices@cityofsalem.net.
Development Services: Infrastructure Planning, Permitting, and Connection
The Development Services Division provides vital expertise regarding availability, location, and coordination of City infrastructure for new development projects in Salem. The division offers a variety of reviews and permits, including but not limited to:
- New construction and public improvements.
- Connections to City water, sewer, stormwater, and streets.
- Land use and new development proposals such as:
- New Commercial Development
- Land Divisions
- Multi-Family and Middle Housing
- Repairs to existing driveway approaches, sidewalks, and utility connections.
- Work in City right-of-way necessitating closure of sidewalks, alleys, lanes, and streets.
- Floodplain development.
- Development agreements.
For more information, contact developmentservices@cityofsalem.net.
Planning: Future Community Growth and Development
The Planning Division aims to enhance the quality of life for residents and to promote a livable, vibrant city by facilitating and implementing the community’s vision for Salem. The division does this through a variety of services, including:
- Reviewing development proposals and ushering customers through the land use process
- Conducting long-range projects to guide future growth and development patterns
- Promoting and protecting Salem’s historic resources
- Educating and engaging the community in planning projects and processes
- Acting as liaisons to the Salem Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, and Hearings Officer
For more information about planning, contact planning at planning@cityofsalem.net.
Urban Development: Economic Growth and Development
Urban Development staff administers programs and services that promote awareness of economic and community development programs, services, and economic incentives offered by the City of Salem and Urban Renewal Agency (URA); leverages (URA)/City funds against available area sources for economic development activities; and works with economic development partners and the development community to actively promote investment in the Salem community.
In addition, the division:
- Invests in economic empowerment for individual prosperity and small business growth
- Issues commercial loan and grant programs
- Performs real property management, acquisition, sales, and leasing services for the City
- Manages downtown revitalization
- Provides loans and grants to finance activities that create emergency, transitional, and permanent affordable rental housing for low and moderate income families in Salem and Keizer
- Allocates funds to non-profits who provide emergency services to homeless and families at-risk of being homeless
- Functions as the liaison to:
- Community organizations
- Businesses
- City Council
- Agency Board appointed advisory groups
Boards and Commissions
- Urban Renewal Agency
- Downtown Advisory Board
- North Gateway Redevelopment Advisory Board
- West Salem Redevelopment Advisory Board
For more information, contact urbandev@cityofsalem.net.