Clackamas planning: new land-use permits go online

Clackamas County Planning and Zoning handles land use in unincorporated parts of the county. It reviews residential, commercial, and industrial permits and does long-range planning. Cities inside the county still run their own planning. If the lot is inside a city, start with that city.

The county page says that beginning September 1, 2026, planning stopped taking paper, email, or fax applications. New permits go through the Development Direct self-service system, or in person at the office with an appointment. The page says to schedule the appointment online or call 503-742-4400. It also says to use Chrome or Edge for Development Direct. That browser note is easy to miss and is the kind of fact that saves a reader a failed upload.

Older files are split. The county says you can look up permits and land-use applications submitted after January 1, 2016, in one place, and older ones in another. A records-request form is linked for files that are not online. Do not tell readers every old file is in Development Direct.

The zoning and development ordinance is the rulebook for unincorporated land. A proposed ordinance amendment is not the same as a permit for one lot. The board page is where policy hearings show up. The planning page is where an application is filed. Link both, and do not merge them.