Arlington

1. Pre-application call to Arlington City Hall (~5d)
   Call (541) 454-2743 or email cityofa@gorge.net to discuss ADU eligibility, lot, setback compliance, and which forms to request. No online intake exists; staff reviews Arlington Zoning Ordinance on a per-parcel basis.
2. Submit zoning intake to City of Arlington (~14d)
   Deliver site plan, dimensional drawings, owner declaration, and Utility Services Agreement to City Hall, 500 W 1st Street. Arlington reviews against its Zoning Ordinance (last updated 2025-07-16) and confirms zoning compliance.
3. Forward complete package to City of Boardman Building Department (~5d)
   Per the 2021 Gilliam County IGA, OSSC plan review (structural / MEP / energy / fire) and inspections are administered from Boardman. Arlington forwards the building-code packet and applicant works directly with Boardman thereafter.
4. Boardman OSSC plan review (~28d)
   Boardman building department applies the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (2021 IRC base + state amendments) and the 2022 OSSC. Climate Zone 5B rules apply (eastern Oregon). Plan review covers foundation, framing, MEP, energy, egress.
5. Permit issuance and fee payment (~5d)
   Permit issues from Boardman after fees paid (typically by mailed check or in-person). Arlington stamps zoning compliance separately.
6. Construction inspections (Boardman inspectors traveling to Arlington)
   Foundation, framing, MEP rough, insulation, drywall, final inspections performed by Boardman building staff; ~75-mile drive each way means inspection scheduling lead time is longer than urban Oregon norms.
7. Certificate of occupancy (~7d)
   After final inspection passes and any utility hookups (Arlington water/sewer, PacifiCorp electric, Cascade Natural Gas) are confirmed, Boardman issues the certificate of occupancy.

• Long-term rental: yes (Arlington Zoning Ordinance) Long-term rental of an ADU is permitted; Oregon landlord-tenant law (ORS Chapter 90) governs tenancy.
• Short-term rental: with-restrictions (Arlington Zoning Ordinance) Arlington has no published STR ordinance; STRs are generally allowed in residential zones but transient lodging tax compliance is required.
  • No formal STR registration program in Arlington
  • Transient lodging tax may apply per ORS 320.305
• Office rental: no ADUs limited to residential dwelling-unit use; commercial office tenancy not permitted.
• Home office: yes Home occupation permitted under Arlington Zoning Ordinance with limits on signage and customer traffic.
• Studio / workshop: yes Personal artist/workshop use is a permitted accessory residential use.
• Agriculture: with-restrictions Arlington's residential zones permit limited backyard agriculture; livestock keeping varies by district.
• Relative support: yes Family-occupancy ADU is a primary use case; multigenerational housing supported.

• Below-HB-2001-threshold flexibility — Because Arlington is under 2,500 population, it is not subject to OAR 660-046 ADU model code requirements. The city has historically processed ADU plans without SDCs (Arlington does not maintain an SDC fee schedule).

Staff: Arlington Public Works (Public Works Department), Stephanie Case (Gilliam County Planning Director (under IGA with Morrow County / City of Boardman))

• Water: City of Arlington Water Utility (Columbia River-sourced municipal supply) · 21d connect · $3,500
• Sewer: City of Arlington Sewer / Wastewater (municipal collection, treatment plant on Columbia River) · 21d connect · $4,200
• Electric: PacifiCorp / Pacific Power (regulated investor-owned utility serving Gilliam County) · 21d connect · $1,600
• Gas: Cascade Natural Gas Corporation (regional natural gas distribution; propane is the alternative in many Arlington parcels) · 28d connect · $1,900

Realistic total: best 7mo · typical 11mo · worst 16mo

Arlington has minimal local GC capacity; most work is done by trades commuting from The Dalles, Hermiston, or Tri-Cities WA. Travel time and lodging premiums add to schedule and cost.

Modular pathway Oregon Building Codes Division - Manufactured / Prefabricated Structures (Recreational Vehicle and Manufactured Dwelling Standards) · inspectors are rare with modular

I-84 truck route is the practical delivery corridor; no width / weight constraints between staging sites and Arlington. Local cranes are scarce; rigging contractors travel from Hermiston or Tri-Cities.

State ADU loans:

• Oregon Housing and Community Services - rural housing assistance (OHCS)

Lower-than-Oregon-average insurance delta reflects rural risk pool, no WUI exposure, and lower replacement-cost-new on ADU dwellings.

Arlington has minimal HOA prevalence; subdivision covenants are uncommon in town. Oregon's ADU preemption (ORS 197.312(5)) addresses only municipal/county regulation and does not override private CC&Rs.

• flood-zone — FEMA Zone AE along the Columbia River (Arlington riverfront and lower-elevation parcels); much of the relocated upper-Arlington townsite is outside the SFHA · +14d · +6% cost
  Arlington was relocated to higher ground when John Day Dam reservoir flooded the original townsite in 1968; most current parcels are above SFHA, but riverfront and waterfront parcels remain Zone AE. (map)
• wind-zone — Columbia River Gorge wind corridor - Arlington exposed to sustained west-wind events; ASCE 7 Vult ~110 mph in this band · +4% cost
  Wind-rated assemblies and properly rated roofing fasteners are essential. Wind-loading higher than coastal Oregon. (map)
• seismic-zone — Eastern Oregon Seismic Design Category D1 per ASCE 7-22 (lower than Cascadia subduction zone west of the Cascades) · +2% cost
  Cascadia subduction zone influence is minimal in Gilliam County; SDC D1 standards apply. (map)