Unofficial Guide to Permits for Metal Buildings and Carports in Central Oregon

1. Who do I call?

Inside city limits, start with the city. Outside city limits, call the county.

• Bend (city limits): City of Bend. The city has its own Building Safety and Planning divisions. (City of Bend)
• Redmond (city limits): City of Redmond. The city issues its own building permits.
• Sisters (city limits): Deschutes County Building Safety issues the building permit and does inspections; the county took over Sisters' building program in 2013. (Deschutes County work plan) Check with the City of Sisters about zoning first.
• La Pine (city limits): the city handles zoning and planning; Deschutes County Building Safety handles the building permit and inspections. (City of La Pine)
• Rural Deschutes County (Tumalo, Terrebonne, Sunriver area, Deschutes River Woods): Deschutes County Community Development. (Deschutes County Planning)
• Prineville (city limits): City of Prineville Planning does the zoning review and signs off on building permits; the city's Building Permits page sends you to Crook County for the permit itself. (City of Prineville)
• Rural Crook County (Powell Butte, Juniper Canyon): Crook County Community Development. Every structure needs county planning approval, even if it turns out not to need a building permit. (Crook County accessory structure form)
• Madras (city limits): City of Madras zoning review first. Jefferson County then issues the building permit; the city's form says "Jefferson County will not issue building permits within the City of Madras without approval from the City." (City of Madras zoning review form)
• Rural Jefferson County: Jefferson County Community Development. Culver and Metolius are separate cities, so call city hall there first.

2. Planning vs. building vs. code compliance

HOAs and CC&Rs can be stricter than the county. Check them too.

4. Snow load, wind and frost

Snow: there is no single number per town. It depends on your exact address and elevation.

Wind: the 2023 Oregon Residential Specialty Code county table lists a basic design wind speed of 99 mph for Deschutes County, 100 mph for Crook County and 99 mph for Jefferson County. (BCD, 2023 ORSC amendments) The current commercial code (2025 OSSC) dropped its county wind table and looks wind speed up by site, so use the Hub for your lot and confirm with your building department.

Frost depth and soil: the Hub reports frost line depth for the residential code. Deschutes County lists one value the Hub doesn't: soil bearing capacity of 1,500 psf. (Deschutes County) Crook County's minimum criteria sheet lists a local frost depth of 18 inches and points to the Hub for snow and wind. (Crook County, 2026)

5. Certified buildings, the simple version

1. Find out if you need a permit and who to ask (section 1).
2. Ask: "What snow load does a building at my address need to be designed for?" Write it down.
3. Tell us the number. We match you to a certified building rated for 40, 50, 60 or 80 psf snow load.

Certified buildings made simple →

6. Do I even need a permit?

• Small accessory buildings: the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code exempts nonhabitable one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet and 15 feet tall (measured to the average height of the highest roof surface). On a parcel of 2 acres or more, the size limit can go up to 400 square feet. The exemption doesn't excuse you from the code itself or from local ordinances. (2026 ORSC Chapter 1, R105.2)
• Deschutes County's older accessory building brochure uses a 10 foot height limit. (county brochure, 2015) If you're near either limit, ask the county which applies.
• City of Bend: a structural permit is required if the structure is more than 200 square feet, the ridge is over 15 feet, or it has a kitchen, full bath, toilet or sleeping space. Setbacks apply either way. (City of Bend)
• Carports: the 2023 ORSC defines a carport as "entirely open on two or more sides" and lists it as a nonhabitable accessory structure. We found no separate carport exemption, so the same size rule applies. (2023 ORSC) Ask your building department.
• Agricultural buildings: Oregon law (ORS 455.315) exempts agricultural buildings on a farm or forest operation (for example, storing or repairing farm equipment, raising crops, or livestock) from the structural code. It doesn't cover dwellings or buildings used by the public, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical work still need permits. Your local planning department decides whether you're a farm or forest operation. (BCD interpretation 13-03) (ORS 455)
• Deschutes County: only buildings in areas zoned EFU, F1, F2 or MUA10 and receiving farm or forest tax deferral are considered for the agricultural or equine exemption. (Deschutes County)
• Crook County: every structure must get planning approval; depending on size, use and zone it may then be exempt from the building permit. The county's agricultural exemption request is only available in EFU (Exclusive Farm Use) zones, and a building in the flood plain does not qualify. Converting an exempt farm building to a garage later needs a building permit. (site plan form) (ag/equine exemption form)
• Crook County fee schedule: carports and garages are priced by valuation. Exterior lighting spec sheets (dark skies) are required with the planning application, even if no electrical is going in now. (fees FY 2026-27) (site plan form)
• City of Prineville: the land use code defines a carport as a roof with its supports and "not more than two walls, built to match the existing dwelling in color and architecture." Ask city planning about colors before you order. (Prineville Land Use Code ch. 153)

Anything else: ask your building department.

7. Wildfire country and steel buildings

Steel framing and panels are noncombustible. They don't add fuel, and there's no wood siding or wood roof for embers to light. But what's stored inside can burn, embers can get in through openings like vents and gaps around doors, and defensible space around the building still matters. Oregon State Fire Marshal: defensible space

Code status: in 2025 the Legislature passed SB 83, which repealed the statewide wildfire hazard map. (Oregon DFR) The wildfire section of the residential code (ORSC R327) now applies only where a city or county adopts it, and only to new buildings under the residential code, including some accessory structures. (BCD adoption guide) Noncombustible exterior wall coverings, such as metal, are one way to meet it. (BCD home hardening guide)

• Deschutes County (unincorporated) and City of Sisters: adopted. Mandatory for new dwellings and new accessory structures since April 1, 2026. Not required for nonhabitable detached accessory structures under 400 sq ft and no more than 15 ft tall. (Deschutes County)
• City of Bend: adopted, for permit applications submitted on or after May 15, 2026, covering new dwellings and residential accessory structures. (City of Bend)
• City of Redmond: listed by the state as adopted, effective April 1, 2027. (Oregon BCD)
• Crook County, Jefferson County, Prineville, Madras, La Pine: not on the state's list of adopters when we checked. Ask your building department whether wildfire standards apply to your lot.

Want active protection too? See wildfirewatchdog.com.

9. FAQ

Town pages: Bend · La Pine · Redmond · Prineville · Sisters · Madras

Customer resources: Certified Buildings · Site Prep · Colors · Central Oregon