The Excavation Permit Process Step by Step (Oregon)

Quick Verdict

The excavation permit process in Oregon follows a predictable path: confirm which jurisdiction has authority, prepare a site or grading plan, submit it with an erosion-control plan and pay fees, go through plan review and any revisions, receive the permit, then pass the required inspections before final sign-off. County and city processes differ, and on some sites a DEQ stormwater permit or a DSL waterway review runs in parallel. Knowing the steps up front keeps a project from stalling, because an inspection hold or a missing plan can pause the work until it is resolved.

Step 1: Confirm the Jurisdiction

Before anything, figure out who issues the permit. In Oregon that depends on where the property is:

• Inside city limits - the city's building or planning department usually has authority.
• Unincorporated county land - the county handles it.
• Special cases - work near roads, waterways, or wetlands can bring in additional agencies.

This matters because requirements, fees, and timelines vary between jurisdictions. The same dig can be reviewed differently in a city versus the surrounding county. Confirming the right office first avoids submitting to the wrong place and starting over. The companion question of who actually files is covered in who pulls the excavation permit.

Step 2: Prepare the Site or Grading Plan

Most excavation and grading permits require a plan showing what you intend to do. Depending on the project's scale, this can range from a simple sketch to an engineered grading plan. It typically shows:

• Property lines, existing and proposed grades.
• The limits of disturbance and the volume of cut and fill.
• Drainage patterns and how water is handled.
• The erosion and sediment control measures.

Larger or steeper projects may need a licensed engineer's stamped plan. For a small residential job, the requirements are lighter. Getting the plan right the first time is the biggest factor in a smooth review.

Step 3: Submit With Erosion Control and Pay Fees

The application goes in with the plan, the erosion-control plan, and the fees. Oregon's wet climate means erosion and sediment control is a standard part of the package, jurisdictions want to see how you will keep mud out of storm drains and streams during the work. Fees vary by project size and jurisdiction and are paid at submittal or issuance.

Step 4: Plan Review and Revisions

The jurisdiction reviews the submittal for code compliance, drainage, slope, setbacks, and erosion control. This is where a back-and-forth often happens:

• The reviewer may request changes, more detail, or engineering.
• You revise and resubmit.
• The cycle repeats until the plan is approved.

The cleaner and more complete the initial submittal, the fewer revision rounds and the faster the approval. How long this takes varies widely; see how long excavation permits take.

Step 5: Issuance, Then Inspections

Once the plan is approved and fees are paid, the permit is issued and work can begin. But the permit is not the finish line, inspections are. Excavation and grading permits typically require inspections at key stages:

Stage	What is checked
Pre-construction / erosion control	Controls in place before disturbance
During grading / fill	Compaction, fill placement, depths
Footing / subgrade (where applicable)	Bearing and grade before the next phase
Final	Everything complete and to plan

An inspection hold means work cannot proceed past that point until the inspector signs off. Failing an inspection, or skipping a required one, stops the job and can require uncovering work to verify it. Final sign-off closes out the permit.

Parallel Reviews: DEQ and DSL

On some Oregon sites, the local permit is not the only one. Two state-level reviews can run alongside it:

• DEQ stormwater - larger sites that disturb soil may need a construction stormwater permit governing erosion control and discharge.
• DSL waterway review - work in or near wetlands, streams, or other waters of the state can require Department of State Lands review and authorization.

These run in parallel with the local permit, not after it, so identifying them early keeps them from becoming a late surprise. For where permits fit in budgeting, see our excavation cost and hiring guide.

When You Do and Don't Need a Permit

Not every dig requires a permit, and knowing where the line falls saves time and avoids both unnecessary paperwork and costly violations. Thresholds vary by jurisdiction, but the common triggers are:

• Volume of cut or fill - many jurisdictions set a threshold (a number of cubic yards) above which a grading permit is required.
• Depth or height - deep excavations or tall fills and cut banks trigger review.
• Slope and proximity to hazards - work on steep ground, near waterways, or in landslide-prone areas is more tightly regulated.
• Structural work - a foundation or retaining wall dig usually falls under a building permit regardless of volume.

Small jobs, planting holes, a short shallow trench, minor yard regrading, often fall below the threshold and need no permit. But guessing wrong is risky: doing permit-required work without one can mean a stop-work order, fines, and being made to uncover or undo finished work for inspection. When in doubt, a quick call to the jurisdiction confirms whether your project needs a permit before you start, which is always cheaper than finding out afterward.

Current Market Reality

Permit costs are usually a small part of a project, but real Oregon timelines and fees climb when a job needs engineered plans, when plan review goes through multiple revision rounds, when DEQ or DSL reviews apply, and when revisions or failed inspections stall the schedule. A simple residential permit is modest and quick; a complex or waterway-adjacent project takes longer and costs more in plan prep and review.

Permit Cost Context

Item	Baseline Range
Residential permit pull	$100 - $600+ (varies by jurisdiction)
Plan preparation (simple to engineered)	varies widely with scope
Mobilization fee	$250 - $800+ flat

Industry Baseline Range: a straightforward residential excavation or grading permit fee is modest, while engineered plans, multiple reviews, and parallel state permits add meaningfully to both cost and time. These are industry baseline ranges for planning only -- actual pricing depends on site conditions, soil, access, depth, haul-off, and current market conditions. Get a site-specific quote.

The Bottom Line

The Oregon excavation permit process is a clear sequence: confirm jurisdiction, prepare the plan, submit with erosion control and fees, clear plan review, get issuance, and pass inspections to final sign-off, with DEQ or DSL review running in parallel on some sites. A complete first submittal and the right inspections at the right times keep the job moving. For the full picture, read the Oregon excavation contractor guide, browse our excavation services, and request a free estimate.