How will the new Single Family Home Zoning Ban Change Oregon?

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

Do you have a source for that? Because I see additions get built onto houses all the time. Here is the process for Portland. You get a building permit, pay the fee, notify the neighbors, have a construction engineer draw up the plans, get them approved, and you start building. I see nothing about upgrading the whole structure. But even if the whole structure does require upgrades, I don't see how that is going to stop it from happening.


https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/38152

mraa_info_guide_111518

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/chapter/10133

If you ever get around to developing a project, your engineer will have a copy.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/chapter/10133

If you ever get around to developing a project, your engineer will have a copy.

OK, you need building plans. I think I mentioned that. I see nothing in that you need to upgrade the part of the structure that is already built. But even if builders do have to upgrade their structure before adding an addition, I fail to see how that will stop property owners from converting single family homes to duplexes. This law gives them the right.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

OK, you need building plans. I think I mentioned that. I see nothing in that you need to upgrade the part of the structure that is already built. But even if builders do have to upgrade their structure before adding an addition, I fail to see how that will stop property owners from converting single family homes to duplexes. This law gives them the right.

So read the code. I spent years working in code enforcement. It's in there. You will either have to order a paper copy of the code or upgrade to premium access. Building codes are user funded, not tax funded. If you don't pay, you don't play.

Or you could call your county building official and ask.

[ccjarider]

All this legislative "busywork" will not change Oregon for the better to any measurable degree. What this busywork does is increase Government role in decision making and thus increase costs/risks to accomplish goals which will factor into business decisions. If the goal is make Oregon more "housing friendly" to lower income people, certainly nothing about the legislation will statistically make any difference.

If state Government in Oregon truly wanted to help put roof's over people's heads, they would do exactly the opposite and remove barriers/fees/regulations that make low income housing impossible today.

However, I think the "Problem" will solve itself over the coming decade. The Oregon Legislature's continued attacks on livability (Increasing regulations, fees, business costs,nuisance regulations like silly bag bans, bad schools,etc) will drive people of means away. Further new Federal tax codes that no longer subsidize citizens of high tax states like Oregon drive up Cost of Living - more incentive to leave.

I think Oregon's will see a reduction in the rate of new residents and at worst case, may start to see small outflow. The only wild card is CA. IF CA exodus to OR continues, it will offset the negatives I mention. Everyone views things from their personal point of reference and while current OR legislative priorities are insane; CA people will not see that and may continue moving here.

To summarize response to OP question: How will the new Single Family Home Zoning Ban Change Oregon?
Response: Oregon will continue to have expensive housing relative to wages and there will be no significant change to #'s of homeless. Some folks will figure out how to game the rules and will get rich.

[Folks3000]

Originally Posted by harrishawke

This wouldn't surprise me if it was just Portland proper, but towns with populations as little as 10,000?

https://reason.com/2019/07/01/oregon...family-zoning/
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/01/73779...-family-zoning

The issue brief below on America's housing crisis could be relevant here as it puts some zoning reforms in context:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d176a56eui...olicy.pdf?dl=0

Here's another related one on transportation issues you all might find of interest:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/shkn3yxegx...oning.pdf?dl=0