(2) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall adopt construction standards for small homes for incorporation into the state building code. The construction standards for small homes must include, but need not be limited to, standards that:
(a) Allow sleeping lofts; and
(b) Allow the use of ladders or alternate tread devices as the primary means of egress from a sleeping loft. [2019 c.401 §9]
Note: 455.616 becomes operative January 2, 2026. See section 18, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, as amended by section 1c, chapter 422, Oregon Laws 2019.
Note: 455.616 was added to and made a part of ORS chapter 455 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
Note: Sections 1 and 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:
Sec. 1. Sections 2 and 9 [455.616] of this 2019 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 455. [2019 c.401 §1]
Sec. 2. (1) As used in this section, "small home" means a single family residence that is not more than 400 square feet in size.
(2) Notwithstanding ORS 455.020 and 455.030, the 2018 International Residential Code, including but not limited to Appendix Q of that code, is adopted as a Small Home Specialty Code applicable to the construction of a small home.
(3) Notwithstanding ORS 455.035 and 455.110, the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services shall amend the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code as necessary to ensure that for a small home the technical provisions of the Small Home Specialty Code adopted under this section supersede any conflicting technical provisions of the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code.
(4) Notwithstanding ORS 455.020 and 455.030, and subject to section 9 of this 2019 Act [455.616], the director may not adopt rules amending the Small Home Specialty Code. The director may report recommendations for amendment of the Small Home Specialty Code to an interim or regular committee of the Legislative Assembly related to business, in the manner provided under ORS 192.245.
(5) A small home must be constructed with at least one listed photoelectric smoke alarm. The alarm must be installed and located in accordance with the listing requirements specified by the manufacturer, as determined by the Department of Consumer and Business Services or the State Fire Marshal.
(6) Each small home shall be considered a single compartment for purposes of residential fire sprinkler design. The design calculation for a small home sprinkler system shall consider a maximum of two fire sprinklers. The fire sprinklers shall have a maximum combined design flow that is less than 20 gallons per minute and be served by a water meter of the standard default size for the area where the home is being sited. The residential fire sprinklers in a small home shall, for coverage purposes, be located according to the location requirements of the installation standard referenced in the 2018 International Residential Code.
(7) A municipal building official may allow increased detection and occupant notification, including the installation of heat detector unit alarms, in lieu of a fire sprinkler head for coverage purposes or in lieu of a fire sprinkler system. A building official may allow a replacement under this subsection without establishing that the increased detection and occupant notification is equivalent to a replaced sprinkler head or sprinkler system.
(8) A building official may alter, modify or waive any specialty code requirement for a small home when strict adherence to the Small Home Specialty Code is impractical or infeasible.
(9) The building permits and zoning permits for a small home shall designate the small home as a single family project. The certificate of occupancy for a small home may allow occupancy of the home only for residential use as a single family dwelling. [2019 c.401 §2]
Note: Section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, is repealed January 2, 2026. See section 17, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 18, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, as amended by section 1c, chapter 422, Oregon Laws 2019.
Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 13 - Housing, Games, Environment
Section 455.010 - Definitions for ORS chapter 455.
Section 455.015 - Legislative findings.
Section 455.020 - Purpose; scope of application; exceptions; scope of rules; fees by rule.
Section 455.022 - Appropriation of program fees established by department rule.
Section 455.028 - Interagency agreements.
Section 455.030 - Rulemaking; notice; content; code distribution; amendment process.
Section 455.035 - Effective date of rules.
Section 455.040 - State building code preempts local ordinances and rules; exemptions; criteria.
Section 455.042 - State building code administrative regions.
Section 455.044 - Tri-County Building Industry Service Center; fees.
Section 455.050 - Building permits; content.
Section 455.055 - Uniform permit, inspection and certificate of occupancy requirements; rules.
Section 455.058 - Investigation fee for work commenced without permit; rules.
Section 455.062 - Provision of typical drawings and specifications.
Section 455.065 - Alternative regulatory options for emerging technologies; rules.
Section 455.068 - Applicability of construction standards to winery.
Section 455.070 - Report of suspected code violation; rules; form; appeal.
Section 455.080 - Inspector may require proof of compliance.
Section 455.083 - Enjoining violations of state building code.
Section 455.085 - Publication; readability; funding.
Section 455.090 - Building codes information and services system or network.
Section 455.093 - Definition for ORS 455.095, 455.097 and 455.185.
Section 455.098 - Minimum standards and statewide consistency in electronic processes; rules.
Section 455.110 - Other duties of director; rules.
Section 455.112 - Elimination of unclear, duplicative, conflicting or inadequate provisions; rules.
Section 455.117 - Adoption of rules governing licensing, certification or registration.
Section 455.122 - Combinations of licenses; rules.
Section 455.132 - Building Codes Structures Board; duties; membership.
Section 455.135 - Residential and Manufactured Structures Board; duties; membership.
Section 455.138 - Electrical and Elevator Board; duties; membership.
Section 455.140 - Mechanical Board; duties; membership.
Section 455.144 - Terms; compensation; positions; quorum; rules; removal of members; confirmation.
Section 455.146 - Frequency of board meetings.
Section 455.152 - Objections to municipal assumption of building inspection program.
Section 455.154 - Alternative permit and inspection program.
Section 455.155 - Statewide permit and inspection system for minor construction work.
Section 455.157 - Process for municipal imposition of monetary penalties.
Section 455.158 - Verification of required license prior to issuance of permit.
Section 455.170 - Director delegation of certain duties; fees.
Section 455.180 - Restriction on city or county refusal to issue building permit.
Section 455.185 - Agreements for full, divided, mutual or joint administration and enforcement.
Section 455.188 - Fee revenue generated under agreement.
Section 455.192 - Staffing and other resources for building code administration and enforcement.
Section 455.198 - Fee surcharge use.
Section 455.200 - Policies and procedures; rules; consultation with boards; reports.
Section 455.204 - Ratification of contract building official’s discretionary decision.
Section 455.208 - Requirements for continued procurement of contract building official’s services.
Section 455.210 - Fees; appeal of fees; surcharge; reduced fees; rules.
Section 455.220 - Surcharge on building permit fees; collection; deposit; use.
Section 455.230 - Use of Consumer and Business Services Fund moneys.
Section 455.240 - Revenues from sales of building codes publications; use.
Section 455.312 - Exemption from code of structures for out-of-state delivery; loss of exemption.
Section 455.325 - Definitions for ORS 455.325 to 455.350.
Section 455.335 - Rural areas to be mapped; building permit issuance for exempt dwellings limited.
Section 455.340 - Code requirements to which exemption may not apply.
Section 455.350 - Purchaser’s remedies.
Section 455.355 - Rules governing mercury thermostats.
Section 455.360 - Carbon monoxide alarms.
Section 455.365 - Radon mitigation standards.
Section 455.380 - Department as final authority on agriculture workforce housing; rules; fees.
Section 455.390 - Definitions for ORS 455.020, 455.390, 455.395 and 455.400.
Section 455.400 - Effect of seismic rehabilitation provisions on exclusive remedy.
Section 455.405 - Recreational vehicle conversion to structure.
Section 455.410 - Relocated buildings; substantial compliance required; permits.
Section 455.415 - Identification badges.
Section 455.422 - New construction; recycling containers.
Section 455.425 - Low-income elderly housing multiservice rooms required; standards; exceptions.
Section 455.427 - Prohibition of certain refrigerants.
Section 455.445 - Indoor air quality standards for public areas and office workplaces.
Section 455.446 - Tsunami inundation zone; rules.
Section 455.447 - Regulation of certain structures vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis; rules.
Section 455.448 - Entry and inspection of earthquake-damaged structures; warrant enforcement.
Section 455.449 - Unsafe condition resulting from earthquake damage; abatement of nuisance; rules.
Section 455.450 - Prohibited acts.
Section 455.453 - Additional prohibitions.
Section 455.455 - Building inspection and plan review; license required; exception.
Section 455.457 - Licensing specialty code inspectors and plan reviewers; rules; contents.
Section 455.459 - Specialty code inspection and plan review; conflict of interest.
Section 455.461 - Specialty code inspectors and plan reviewers; quality control; rules.
Section 455.466 - Rapid approval assessment for essential projects.
Section 455.468 - Electronic submission of application materials.
Section 455.469 - Municipal building inspection program to include certain policies and ordinances.
Section 455.473 - Disposition of certain fees received by department.
Section 455.475 - Appeal of decision of building official.
Section 455.477 - Requirement for suit filed by licensed specialty code inspector or plan reviewer.
Section 455.479 - Application to specialty inspections identified by department.
Section 455.481 - Application to inspection and plan review for prefabricated structures.
Section 455.483 - Electrical and plumbing code plan review; rules.
Section 455.490 - Legislative findings.
Section 455.492 - Construction Industry Energy Board.
Section 455.500 - Reach Code; applicability; amendment.
Section 455.505 - Uniform energy conservation standards; rules.
Section 455.511 - State Building Code energy efficiency goals and standards.
Section 455.530 - Authority to receive money and to contract.
Section 455.560 - Definitions for ORS 455.560 to 455.580.
Section 455.570 - Maximum lighting standards for new public buildings; exemptions.
Section 455.573 - Outdoor shielded lighting fixtures; waiver by municipality.
Section 455.595 - Energy Efficient Construction Account.
Section 455.612 - Building code standards for wildfire hazard mitigation; rules.
Section 455.614 - Mapping tool for wildfire hazard mitigation.
Section 455.616 - Construction standards for small homes.
Section 455.622 - Certification of inspectors; rules.
Section 455.625 - Rules for permits; schedule of inspections.
Section 455.626 - Rules for accommodating technology.
Section 455.627 - Minor electrical installation inspection program; rules.
Section 455.628 - Plan review exemption.
Section 455.630 - Enforcement.
Section 455.640 - Definitions for ORS 455.640 to 455.645.
Section 455.642 - Application.
Section 455.645 - Certain plans for structures of public assembly to be certified.
Section 455.675 - Authorized substitutions in codes adopted by reference.
Section 455.680 - Plan approval and permits for recreation or picnic park or camp; license; rules.
Section 455.715 - Definitions for ORS 455.715 to 455.740.
Section 455.720 - Standards and qualifications for personnel; rules.
Section 455.723 - Specialized building inspectors; rules.
Section 455.725 - Certification of personnel training programs.
Section 455.735 - Issuance and renewal of certificates; fees; rules.
Section 455.737 - Experience and training outside Oregon; examination; rulemaking.
Section 455.740 - Denial of certificate; disciplinary action against certificate holder; rules.
Section 455.800 - Definitions for ORS 455.800 to 455.820.
Section 455.805 - Criteria for granting of master builder status.