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.
Incorporated within the Public Works & Community Development Department are various City divisions including; Building Codes, Codes Enforcement, Planning, and Economic Development.
Get To Know
Carolyn Johnson
Helpful Links
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Coos Bay Municipal Codes
The Coos Bay Municipal Codes are available online.
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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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Egyptian Theatre
The historic Egyptian Theatre is a vibrant entertainment complex operated for the benefit of the greater Coos Bay Area community. The non-profit Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association (ETPA) , in cooperation with the city's Urban Renewal Agency, works to preserve, restore and operate the Egyptian on behalf of the city and the community. The theatre plays current and classic movies and hosts community events. A superb example of the Egyptian Revival style popular in the 1920's, the Egyptian Theatre remains much as it did in 1925. The operational Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra organ is the only theater organ in the state of Oregon that is still in use at the theater where it was originally installed. Due to the Theatre’s historical significance, the Egyptian Theatre was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 2010.
FAQs
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× Are there business organizations in the area?
The Coos Bay Downtown Association (541-266-9706) and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (541-266-0868) support local businesses.
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× Can a permit be issued before the plan review is approved?
Plan review must be complete before a permit can be issued. After you apply for a permit and the plans are approved, the permit will be issued to you and you can begin work.
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× When does my permit expire?
Building permits expire if there are no inspections for 180 days. The best way to keep your permit from expiring is to make progress and have regular inspections as you work. If you can't work within a 180-day period and don't wish to abandon the project, you may submit a written request to the Community Development Department to extend your permit for an additional 180 days.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Comprehensive Plan
Applications
Land Use Development Review Pre-Application
Land Use Development Review Application
Design Standards
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.