Improving Our Community
The goal of the Public Works & Community Development Department is to work with the community in achieving and maintaining a better quality of life by providing professional guidance and coordination of all land planning and development activities, and by fairly and consistently implementing the City's regulations and policies.
The Public Works & Community Development Department includes Building Codes, Codes Enforcement, Planning, and Economic Development divisions.
Get To Know
Carolyn Johnson
Helpful Links
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Oregon International Port of Coos Bay
The Port of Coos Bay is Oregon’s largest deep-draft port and is the trade and commercial center of the Oregon Southern Coast. The Port operates the Charleston Marina, North Spit Barge Slip, and owns the rail line between Coos Bay and Eugene.
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Business Oregon
Business Oregon is the state's economic development agency and serves both the business and infrastructure needs across the state. Business Oregon works to create, retain, expand, and attract businesses. The Coos Bay office of provides information and assistance to local business owners with the State’s economic development programs as well as offering counseling, market research, and evaluation of international partners and other services to help companies develop and expand their products and services in key overseas markets.
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Business Development Center
The Business Development Center is operated by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay and Southwestern Oregon Community College. The Center assists new and existing businesses, small business management program, workshops, and offers free, confidential business counseling. The Center is utilized as a business incubator for those who are striving to start their own business or need assistance in taking their business to the next level.
FAQs
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× How can I find out about work being done on a property?
Current building permit records are availble online at the State of Oregon’s ePermitting website. Just enter the property address to find all current permits; if you search by address, be sure to include the city or ZIP code or you'll get results from across the state.
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× Where can I go for assistance with opening a new business?
Contact the City of Coos Bay Public Works and Community Development Department at 541-269-8918 for information on business license requirements, zoning, urban renewal, and façade improvement grant program. Local agencies include the Business Development Center (541-756-6866), Business Oregon (541-267-4651), Coos Curry Douglas Business Development Corp (CCD) (541-756-4101), and South Coast Development Council (SCDC) (541-888-7003).
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× What animals can I have? Are chickens allowed?
Certain animals require a special Animal Control permit to be kept in the city limits. The permit must be renewed annually. Chickens, ducks, geese and other poulty are allowed with a permit, however, rooster are not permitted due to noise ordinances.
Animal Control permits are required for any: horse, mule, donkey, pony, cow, pig, goat, sheep, llama, poultry, rabbit, animal raised for fur-bearing purposes, cat other than the Felis catus, nonhuman primate, wolf, coyote, canine other than Canis familiaris, poisonous reptile or any reptile whose average adult length is greater than two feet, bat, bear, bees kept in a collection of hives or colonies, or any mammal, reptile or amphibian not native to North America.
Building Codes Division
Ensuring the safety and structural integrity of buildings and other structures.
Building permits ensure that construction meets minimum building standards to ensure safe workmanship. You need a permit if you’re making structural, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical changes to an existing building or if you're building something new. Permits are also required for any work in the right of way (ROW), demolition, sewer connections and repairs, curb cuts, site development, and signs.
Additional information and applications. To reach the City's Building Codes Division, call 541-269-8918 or email permits@coosbay.org
All electrical and plumbing permits are processed and issued by the Oregon State Building Codes Division (BCD). The Coos County BCD office is located in Coos Bay City Hall, phone is 541-266-1098, fax is 541-266-1146.
Codes Enforcement Division
Fostering a healthy and attractive community
The Codes Enforcement Divsion is dedicated to working in cooperation with city officials, property owners and citizens to preserve the beauty and value of property and lands as well as promoting the safety, health and general well-being of all citizens and visitors to our city. Codes Enforcement provides information to the general public and to individuals affiliated with specific development projects. We investigate complaints and enforce compliance in the areas of nuisance standards, including:
- Accumulation of junk
- Animal permits
- Dismantled and junk vehicles
- Encroaching vegetation
- Personal storage on a public right-of-way
- Shrubbery and vision obstructions
- Signs
- Substandard dwellings
- Unauthorized dumping of garbage
- Zoning
We rely primarily on requirements from the City's Municipal Code, which is available online. Public health and safety are priorities as we work to gain compliance with existing code and administrative rules. We aim to provide exceptional customer service by emphasizing a cooperative, problem-solving approach with professionalism and respect.
Through education and enforcement, we work with community members to:
- Maintain and improve community livability
- Support healthy neighborhoods
- Enhance community beautification
- Protect natural resources
- Ensure compliance with state and local codes, policies and goals
To report a concern, please call the Codes Enforcement Officer at 541-269-1181 extension 2267 or email codes@coosbay.org
Planning Division
Assisting the community with land use and development
The Planning Division provides a range of responsive services for the citizens of Coos Bay and the development community for matters pertaining to land development and community planning. We are the primary source for public information on development in the City. Although not all development activity necessarily requires direct involvement with the planning staff and support services, we can usually guide inquiries and questions to the right person or entity. To reach the Planning Divison, call 541-269-8918 or email permits@coosbay.org
We implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Code. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the community's land use vision. The Development Code implements the community vision by identifying the regulatory side of land use and development activity. For example, we give information on where to build or add on to structures to ensure compliance with zoning, property setbacks, lot coverage, parking, and other regulations. This helps the City develop in a coordinated and organized manner that benefits not only individual property owners but adds to our community’s vitality. The Development Code is available online as Title 17 of the Coos Bay Municipal Code.
The Planning Division is responsible for project management on land use applications that propose new or modified development in the City. This includes conducting pre-application conferences, the in-take of proposed development applications, providing public notification and information on proposed development projects, reviewing projects for compliance with the adopted Development Code, making decisions or recommendations on those projects (depending on their level of review), and scheduling and conducting public hearings. Ultimately, our purpose is to guide each project through the approval process in a timely manner when all development requirements are satisfied.
The City of Coos Bay is also a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program since areas within the City have been subject to periodic flooding. We have adopted land use control measures to reduce flood hazards and assure that city residents will continue to benefit from the national program.
sPECIAL PROJECTS
Programs and Projects of city-wide significance and value can be found here.
notable projects
When the City receives large or unusual land development or land use law amendment applications, we strive to share this information with the public. Below is information on the following upcoming project applications:
LONG RANGE PLANNING
The City Council at their November 17, 2020 public hearing adopted amendments to the City's land use regulations to streamline the development application process and encourage new development. The amendments can be found in Ordinance 532. Questions? Contact Carolyn Johnson at 541-269-8924 or cjohnson@coosbay.org.
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
New applications will be posted in December, 2020. Questions? Contact Debbie Erler at 541-269-1811 ex. 2259 or derler@coosbay.org.
FREQUENT LAND USE INQUIRIES
Accessory Dwellings - The City provides a process for securing authorization for an Accessory Dwelling Unit, commonly referred to as an ADU. An ADU is an interior, attached, or detached residential structure in a single-family residential neighborhood. An application for an ADU begins in the Planning Division, and a building permit is also necessary. This printable brochure provides additional information.
RVs and/or Tiny Homes on wheels (less than 400 square feet) - RVs and Tiny Homes (on wheels and less than 400 square feet) are only allowed in RV or mobile home parks, as shown on this map and contact information list.
Comprehensive Plan
Volume 1; Volume 2; Volume 3 - Estuary Management Plan, Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan Map, Comprehensive Plan Map, 2020 Transportation System Plan Volume 1, 2020 Transportation System Plan Volume 2
Development Code
Development Code, Title 17 of the Coos Bay Municipal Code
PLANNING Applications
Accessory Structure Application
Business License Home Occupation Application
Facade Improvement Grant Program Pre-Application
Land Use Development Review Pre-Application
Design Standards
Empire Waterfront Settlement Design Standards
CITY DATA AND REGIONAL INFORMATION
Economic Development
Partners with other public and private entities to expand and diversify our local economy
Economic Development promotes and revitalizes the Downtown and Empire Urban Renewal Districts by coordinating with the city’s economic development partners to attract, retain, and promote expansion of local business opportunities, managing the façade improvement grant program, and coordinating urban renewal projects.
The goal of economic development is to create a downtown that is a quality of life asset for the entire community, bringing unique spaces, recreation, excitement, history, social opportunities and cultural resources to all residents and visitors.
Economic Development includes programs for Urban Renewal, Façade Improvement, and specific development and re-development projects. A Request for Development Proposals to city property at 150 S 4th Street is available, the deadline to submit is 5 PM on Friday, February 19, 2021. Questions? Contact Carolyn Johnson at 541-269-8924 or cjohnson@coosbay.org.