2013 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 11 - Public Health, Housing, Environment
Chapter 455 - Building Code
Section 455.610 - Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code; adoption; changes; compatibility of other codes; alternative methods of construction; rules.

(1) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall adopt, and amend as necessary, a Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code that contains all requirements, including structural design provisions, related to the construction of residential dwellings three stories or less above grade. The code provisions for plumbing and electrical requirements must be compatible with other specialty codes adopted by the director. The Electrical and Elevator Board, the Mechanical Board and the State Plumbing Board shall review, respectively, amendments to the electrical, mechanical or plumbing provisions of the code.

(2) Changes or amendments to the code adopted under subsection (1) of this section may be made when:

(a) Required by geographic or climatic conditions unique to Oregon;

(b) Necessary to be compatible with other statutory provisions;

(c) Changes to the national codes are adopted in Oregon; or

(d) Necessary to authorize the use of building materials and techniques that are consistent with nationally recognized standards and building practices.

(3) Notwithstanding ORS 455.030, 455.035, 455.110 and 455.112, the director may, at any time following appropriate consultation with the Mechanical Board or Building Codes Structures Board, amend the mechanical specialty code or structural specialty code to ensure compatibility with the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code.

(4) The water conservation provisions for toilets, urinals, shower heads and interior faucets adopted in the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code shall be the same as those adopted under ORS 447.020 to meet the requirements of ORS 447.145.

(5) The Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code shall be adopted and amended as provided by ORS 455.030 and 455.110.

(6) The director, by rule, shall establish uniform standards for a municipality to allow an alternate method of construction to the requirements for one and two family dwellings built to the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code in areas where the local jurisdiction determines that the fire apparatus means of approach to a property or water supply serving a property does not meet applicable fire code or state building code requirements. The alternate method of construction, which may include but is not limited to the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems, must be approved in conjunction with the approval of an application under ORS 197.522.

(7) For lots of record existing before July 2, 2001, or property that receives any approval for partition, subdivision or construction under ORS 197.522 before July 2, 2001, a municipality allowing an alternate method of construction to the requirements for one and two family dwellings built to the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code may apply the uniform standards established by the director pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. For property that receives all approvals for partition, subdivision or construction under ORS 197.522 on or after July 2, 2001, a municipality allowing an alternate method of construction to the requirements for one and two family dwellings built to the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code must apply the uniform standards established by the director pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. [1987 c.604 §2; 1991 c.366 §1; 1991 c.558 §1; 1991 c.945 §6; 1993 c.419 §1; 1993 c.744 §97; 2001 c.702 §1; 2003 c.675 §§31,32; 2005 c.435 §1]