Curious about what's going on with Urban Growth Strategies? These regular updates provide relevant project information, milestones, and upcoming opportunities for engagement. For March 2025, project updates include:

• Urban Growth Strategies – Adoption Process Preview: Urban Growth Strategies is set to begin the adoption process in Spring of 2026. Eugene City Council will consider adoption of a package of land use code and plan amendments by the end of 2026.

• Housing and Jobs Actions – Review Draft Concepts: Review proposed actions to meet the city’s housing, compact development, and jobs needs for the next 20 years.

• Comprehensive Plan Updates: Planning Commission reviewed five new draft chapters of the Comprehensive Plan. Next in the adoption process, Planning Commission’s feedback will be incorporated into hearings-ready draft chapters for the official adoption and public hearing process.

• Advancing Racial Equity Through Housing Planning: The City of Eugene was selected to participate in a national community planning cohort supported by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and Race Forward; throughout 2026, the project team will receive technical and financial support to identify and prioritize actions that promote equitable growth.

•  Recent and Upcoming Public Meetings: If you missed any recent Urban Growth Strategies meetings, you can find an archive on the project webpage, and visit the City’s Public Meetings webpage for information on upcoming meetings.

Read the full project update for March 2025 here.

Curious about duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, or cottage clusters—but not sure where to begin? Planning a Middle Housing project can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to help. Join us for a free, practical, plain‑language workshop that breaks down the basics of Middle Housing in Eugene.

We’ll cover where Middle Housing is allowed within city limits, the regulations that apply, and the tools and resources available to support your project. Whether you’re a homeowner considering adding housing on your property, a small builder, a neighborhood leader, or simply a resident curious about how Middle Housing fits into our community, you’re welcome to join us.

You’ll see local examples, learn how Middle Housing Land Divisions (MHLDs) can support separate unit ownership, and get practical tips for evaluating zoning, site feasibility, and permitting steps.

This workshop is part of the Permit & Information Center’s new series designed to make the permitting process more accessible and transparent while strengthening our connection with the community.

Date & Time: Thursday, May 14^th at 12:15pm

Location: Atrium Building – 1^st Floor in Sloat Room

Cost: FREE

Register here: Upcoming Community Workshops

The City of Eugene’s Building and Permit Services offers express permit programs that help residents, contractors, and business owners move qualifying residential and commercial projects forward more quickly. These services provide coordinated, same‑day plan review for smaller‑scope projects such as modest home additions, interior remodels, decks, and certain commercial tenant improvements.

To maintain consistent service levels, a limited number of express appointments are offered each week. In 2025, the City completed 115 Residential Express Permits (48% of available slots) and 75 Commercial Express Permits (78% of slots), reflecting strong and growing community use of expedited permitting options.

A Faster Path to Project Approval

Express permitting supports the City’s commitment to timely, customer‑focused service. By offering real‑time, multi‑discipline plan review, the City helps customers begin construction sooner while maintaining safety and code standards.

Residential Express Permits

Available Tuesdays and Thursdays, these appointments allow homeowners and qualified contractors to obtain permits for small projects in a single session.

Eligible work includes:

• Interior remodels
• First‑story additions under 500 sq. ft.
• Single‑story accessory structures under 500 sq. ft.
• Garage conversions that do not create a dwelling unit
• Non‑engineered solar PV/thermal systems
• Decks

Applicants upload plans through eBuild before scheduling. For questions, call 541‑682‑5611.

Commercial Express Permits

Commercial Express appointments, offered Mondays and Wednesdays, provide same‑day review for qualifying tenant infill and improvement projects. Applicants submit plans through eBuild and must have a design professional or authorized representative available during the appointment by phone. When all requirements are met, permits may be issued at the end of the appointment. For questions, call 541‑682‑5613.

Visit eBuild Help: Express Permits for application tutorials.

Supporting Community Goals

These growing programs support several goals in the City's Strategic Plan, including stabilizing housing costs, strengthening the business environment, and improving economic opportunities. Faster, more predictable permitting helps residents and businesses invest in their homes, storefronts, and future.

In response to concerns from residents living near industrial areas within Eugene, the City Council initiated the Public Health Standards project to identify possible changes to Eugene's land use regulations to prevent future impacts and health risks. 

The Eugene City Council discussed the proposed land use code amendments on March 9, 2026. At the meeting, the Council directed staff to draft an ordinance and schedule a public hearing on Version 3 of the code amendments. The public hearing on the updated ordinance is scheduled for April 20, 2026.

How to Submit Testimony & Attend the Public Hearing

• Written Testimony: Submit a written statement to the City Council, c/o CA 25-3 Planning Division, 99 W. 10^th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97401 or by e-mail to RVerner@Eugene-or.gov. Written testimony will be provided to the City Council in batches as it is received.
• Spoken Testimony: Attend the public hearing, scheduled for April 20, 2026, and provide spoken testimony, which will be recorded. Instructions for providing spoken testimony will be provided during the hearing. The City Council may limit the time for each speaker to a few minutes.

Issues which may provide the basis for an appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals must be raised in writing with sufficient specificity to enable the decision maker to respond to the issue prior to the expiration of the comment period.

More information for options to attend, watch, and participate in the public hearing will be available at: www.eugene-or.gov/3360/Webcasts-and-Meeting-Materials.

Learn more and stay engaged on the project’s Engage Eugene page.

As part of our ongoing commitment to open and transparent communication, we wanted to share that Building & Permit Services will be migrating to a new telephony system beginning April 7, 2026. The transition will occur over a two-week period and is expected to be completed by April 16, 2026.

While we do not expect any phone outages, there may be brief interruptions as we make this change. If you are unable to reach us by phone, please email the appropriate workgroup so we can assist you. For ongoing projects, you may also contact your project coordinator directly by email.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We remain committed to improving our processes and communication to better serve you and the Eugene community.

The City of Eugene is seeking a Building and Permit Services (BPS) Director to lead a large, dynamic team responsible for complex operations that are vital to our community’s livability and economic prosperity.

As a key member of the Planning and Development Leadership Team, this position oversees the operations of the Building and Permit Services Division, including plan checking and building permit approval, field inspection, business license, code compliance, the rental housing program, and administrative support and operations of the City’s Permit and Information Center.

The position partners closely with other City Divisions and Departments and outside agencies and organizations to help achieve strategic City objectives in service to our community. 

For additional information see our BPS Director Brochure and to apply visit the job posting.

The PIC at the Atrium Building is open for in-person, drop-in service Monday–Friday, 12:00–4:00 p.m. City services remain available Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. by phone, email, or appointment.

Need help? Use the contact list below:

• Permit Intake & Support – Project consultations, eBuild help

📞 541-682-5505 | ✉️ permitinfo@eugene-or.gov

• Commercial Permits – Code questions, plan review

📞 541-682-5613 | ✉️ commercialpermitinfo@eugene-or.gov

• Residential Permits – Code questions, plan review

📞 541-682-5611 | ✉️ residentialpermitinfo@eugene-or.gov

• Land Use / Planning / Zoning – Zoning, height/setbacks, signs, parking

📞 541-682-8336 | ✉️ landuseinfo@eugene-or.gov

• Public Works – Stormwater, easements, SDCs, floodplain

📞 541-682-8400 | ✉️ publicworksinfo@eugene-or.gov

• Inspection Support – Schedule inspections, certificates of occupancy

📞 541-682-5283 | ✉️ inspectionsupport@eugene-or.gov

• Code Compliance – Report code violations

📞 541-682-5819 | ✉️ codecompliance@eugene-or.gov

• Erosion Prevention – Permit requirements for land disturbance

📞 541-682-8498 | ✉️ erosioninfo@eugene-or.gov

• Business Licensing – Licensing, certification, registration

📞 541-682-5379 | ✉️ businesslicense@eugene-or.gov

• Rental Housing – Standards and complaint process

📞 541-682-8282 | ✉️ rentalhousing@eugene-or.gov

• General Info & Payments – Applications, documents, payments

📞 541-682-5692

Want to change your subscription?

You can decide which email lists to be a part of by clicking update profile below. This will allow you to unsubscribe from this email list while remaining on other City of Eugene Planning and Development email lists. If you would like to unsubscribe from all City of Eugene Planning and Development emails, please click unsubscribe. Thanks!