Frequently Asked Questions - Planning
The short answer is "yes" because public streets are owned by everyone and don't belong to any one person. Please call YCOM at 503-434-6500 if you are concerned about a vehicle that has been there too long, or is inoperable, and/or has expired tags.
Yes, some things can...
- Architectural features such as cornices, canopies, sunshades, chimneys, and flues can project up to 18 inches into a setback.
- Eaves can extend up to 30 inches into a setback.
- An unenclosed covered patio or a covered deck (enclosed only by railings) can be placed in a rear yard of a residence as long as it is no closer than 10 feet to the rear property line.
- An uncovered deck can be located in a rear or side yard setback behind the back building line of the house and no closer than five feet to a property line.
- Stairs may encroach up to five feet into a required front yard, provided that they are not enclosed or covered.
Generally, the answer would be yes, as long as the addition does not encroach into any required setbacks or extend more than 35 feet in height, and that all other required building code requirements are met. In the multi-family zones (R-4 and R-5), that height limit is 60 feet. You are encouraged to contact the McMinnville Building Division for further information regarding such plans.
A fence may be located up to, but not over, your property line(s).
Only following approval from the City, and only if the tree is dead, dying, severely damaged, or creating a public hazard. If you have a specific question about the removal of a tree in a planting strip, please call the city's Public Works Superintendent (503-434-7316). An application to remove a tree located in a planting strip must be submitted to the Planning Department. The request will be reviewed by the Landscape Review Committee at the next available meeting. You may also call the Planning Department (503-434-7311) if you have further questions regarding tree removal.
The keeping of certain animals in McMinnville is regulated, in part, by Section 17.54.140 of the McMinnville Zoning Ordinance, which can be accessed on this website. Under certain circumstances, it is permitted to keep chickens, rabbits, horses, goats and/or other livestock. It is not permissible, however, to keep exotic, dangerous or wild animals as determined by the Yamhill County Animal Control Office and the City Planning Department. For further information on this subject, please contact the Planning Department.
No signage is permitted, other than that which is permitted by Section 17.62.040 (Signs) of the Zoning Ordinance.
It is possible, but only in limited circumstances. Please contact the McMinnville Planning Department for further information (503-434-7311).
No. The City of McMinnville does not require a business license.
Yes. Businesses operated, or based, from home are required to obtain a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Department. An application form for this permit is available in the Planning Department. Further information regarding Home Occupation Permits and the conditions under which they must operate are found in Chapter 17.67 of the McMinnville Zoning Ordinance.
Any pool 48 inches in height above ground level is considered to be its own fence provided that certain conditions are met. You may contact the McMinnville Building Department at (503) 434-7314 for fence requirements for in-ground pools.
First, obtain a copy of your property's legal description (if you don't have a copy, you may be able to get this from the Yamhill County Assessor's office located in the Yamhill County Courthouse at NE 5th and Evans Streets), or copy of the plat map for your subdivision. Using this information, try to locate your property pins - iron rods inserted into the ground in each corner of your property (you may need to use a metal detector to find them). Stringing a line (or laying a garden hose) between those pins will give you a fairly accurate idea of where your property lines are.
You may also want to hire a surveyor to determine your property corners and property lines
The easiest way to find out your property's zoning is to either call the Planning Department (503-434-7311) or stop by our office (231 NE Fifth Street) for a quick look at our zoning maps. You may also want to pick up a zoning map to take with you. They are available for a small charge.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has maps available on their website that can help you to determine if your property is within a floodplain. Floodplain maps are also available for review at the Planning Department. The City restricts most all development from occurring within the 100-year floodplain. Further information regarding the City's Flood Plain ordinance can be found in Chapter 17.48 of the zoning ordinance.
Bushes at intersections can become a safety hazard when they grow too tall or grow out over the sidewalk. To help keep residential intersections safe, all plants should be limited to no more than three feet in height within an area called a "vision clearance triangle." This triangle is found by measuring 30 feet down each curb, starting at the intersection. Then connect those two 30-foot points with an imaginary line. This forms the vision clearance triangle, and helps to ensure that anyone approaching the intersection can clearly see any oncoming traffic. The only exception to this rule is that trees planted within this area are permitted as long as they are free of limbs for the bottom eight feet of the tree.
Setbacks are required minimum distances between a building and the related front, side, exterior side (the street side of a corner lot), or rear property line. These distances determine how far construction must be set back from the property line. Setbacks for your particular property may be determined by calling the Planning Department office at (503) 434-7311 or stopping by the office at 231 NE Fifth Street.
Fencing can be placed up to the property line. In a front yard, fences can be no taller than three feet in height. A fence exceeding this height must conform with front yard setbacks of that zone or must be set back to the front building line. In an exterior side yard (the street side of a corner lot), a fence can be no taller than three feet, unless otherwise approved by the Planning Director. Fences in interior side yards and rear yards may be no taller than seven feet in height. For the construction of a fence on a slope, please contact the Planning Department. Additionally, private covenants may exist for your particular subdivision that would otherwise limit a fence's height or location. You are encouraged to research these documents prior to starting construction of any fence.
An accessory structure may be placed anywhere on your property, provided you meet the required setbacks. If the accessory structure is no larger than 100 square feet in area, and no more than 10 feet in height (as measured from the ground to the highest point), you may locate it within the rear-yard or side-yard setback and/or up to the property line behind the back building line of the house. Only one accessory structure may be placed within the setback area. If your property is located on a corner lot, please contact our office for additional setback requirements.
As long as the play structure is less than six feet tall, it can be placed anywhere in the rear or interior side yard. If the structure is taller than six feet, it needs to be located at least five feet from the rear and interior side property lines. For any structure over 10 feet in height, contact the Building Division (503-434-7314) for permit requirements.
A swimming pool can be located within a rear and/or side setback behind the back building line of the house and no closer than five feet to a property line.
- Applications & Fees
- Community Development Center Staff Contact Information
- Code Compliance & Community Relations
- Committees & Meetings
- Planning Projects Underway
- City Initiated Projects
- Natural Hazards
- G 1-23 - Short-Term Rental Standards Amendment
- G 2-22 - Short-Term Rental Re-Evaluation
- G 1-22 - Fox Ridge Road Area Plan Project
- G 7-21 - Three Mile Lane Area Plan (3MLAP) Comprehensive Plan Amendment
- G 5-21 - Yamhill County Transit Area (YCTA)/Transit Development Plan (TDP)
- G 4-21 - McMinnville OR 99W Active Transportation Concept Plan
- G 3-21 - Annexation Requirements & Procedures
- G 2-21 - City Center Housing Overlay & Nonconforming Dwellings in C-3
- G 1-21 - McMinnville Municipal Code - Chapter 17
- Shaping Up: Missing Middle Housing & Residential Design Standards
- City Center Housing Strategy
- Growing McMinnville Mindfully
- Urbanization Study Phase 1: Residential Buildable Lands Inventory, Housing Needs Analysis, and Housing Strategy
- Urbanization Study Phase 2: Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) Update and Urbanization Report
- Great Neighborhood Principles
- 2020 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2019 Comprehensive Plan (Goals & Policies) and/or Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
- 2018 Comprehensive Plan (Goals & Policies) and/or Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
- 2017 Comprehensive Plan (Goals & Policies) and/or Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments
- G 9-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Chapter 17.72
- G 8-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Chapter 17.62
- G 6-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Chapter 17.12
- G 5-17 - Comprehensive Plan Text Amendments - Chapter X (Citizen Involvement)
- G 4-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Chapter 17.55
- G 3-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Chapters 17.59, 17.65, and 17.72
- G 2-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Chapter 17.53
- G 1-17 - Zoning Ordinance Amendments - Chapters 17.57 and 17.58
- Development Projects
- Appeals
- Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2024 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2022 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2021 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2020 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2019 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- Zone Change (ZC 4-19) and Conditional Use Permit (CU 4-19) - 1945 NW 2nd Street
- Zone Change (ZC 3-19) and Subdivision (S 2-19) - R4409DC01100
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment/Zone Change/Planned Development Amendment/Conditional Use (CPA 2-19/ZC 2-19/PDA 1-19/CU 2-19) - 1901 NW Baker Creek Road
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment/Zone Change/Planned Development/Planned Development Amendment/Subdivision/Landscape (CPA 1-19/ZC 1-19/PD 1-19/PDA 2-19/S 1-19/L 12-19) - 1755 NW Baker Creek Road
- 2018 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- 2017 Comprehensive Plan Map and/or Zone Change Applications
- Planned Development/Planned Development Amendment
- Dunn Place Subdivision & Townhomes (S 1-23, PDA 1-23 & TML 5-23)
- Norton Landing Apartments (PDA 5-23, TML 4-23, VR 3-23 & L 38-23)
- Baker Creek North Commercial (PDA 3-23)
- Stratus Village (PDA 2-23, TML 1-23, and L 25-23)
- Planned Development Amendment (PDA 1-20)
- 2019 Planned Development/Planned Development Amendment Applications
- 2018 Planned Development/Planned Development Amendment Applications
- Planned Development Amendment (PDA 6-18)
- Planned Development Amendment (PDA 3-18/PDA 4-18) & Subdivision (S 3-18)
- Planned Development Amendment (PDA 2-18) (Ordinance 4990) & Subdivision (S 2-18)
- Planned Development Amendment (ZC 3-18) - Ordinance 5021
- Planned Development Amendment (ZC 2-18) - Ordinance 5021
- 2017 Planned Development/Planned Development Amendment Applications
- Subdivision Applications
- Conditional Use Permit Applications
- Variance Applications
- Minor Partition Applications
- Minor Partition (MP 5-20) - 2185 & 2191 NW 2nd Street
- Minor Partition (MP 3-21) - 902 & 988 NW Baker Crest Court
- Minor Partition (MP 2-21) - 2755 NE Highway 99W
- Minor Partition (1-21) - 1206 NE 10th Avenue
- 2020 Minor Partition Applications
- 2019 Minor Partition Applications
- 2018 Minor Partition Applications
- 2017 Minor Partition Applications
- Minor Partition (MP 8-17) - 1301 NW Michelboook Lane
- Minor Partition (MP 7-17) - 1730 SW 2nd Street
- Minor Partition (MP 6-17) - 2880 NE Lafayette Avenue
- Minor Partition (MP 5-17) - Baker Creek East
- Minor Partition (MP 4-17) - NE Miller Street/NE Riverside Drive
- Minor Partition (MP 3-17) - 1600 NE McDonald Lane
- Minor Partition (MP 2-17) - 802 & 804 SE Davis Street
- Minor Partition (MP 1-17) - 2950 NE Hembree Street
- Administrative Variance Applications
- Historic Landmarks Applications
- Gwendolyn Hotel (HL 6-22, HL 7-22, HL 8-22, and DDR 2-22) - 609, 611 and 619 NE Third Street
- Certificate of Approval for Alteration (HL 4-21) - 300, 303, 406, & 546 NE 3rd Street
- Certificate of Approval Demolition (HL 2-21) -415/423 SE College Avenue
- Certificate of Approval Demolition (HL 1-21) - 900 SW Baker Street "Mac" Hall
- 2020 Historic Landmarks Applications
- Certificate of Approval Alteration (HL 7-20) - 608 NE 3rd Street
- Certificate of Approval Demolition (HL 6-20) -826 SW Gilson Street
- Certificate of Approval Alteration (HL 5-20) - 225 NW Adams Street
- Certificate of Approval Alteration (HL 4-20) - 806 SE Davis Street
- Certificate of Approval Alteration (HL 3-20) - 835 NW Birch Street
- Certificate of Approval Demolition (HL 2-20)
- Historic Resource Inventory Amendment (HL 1-20) - 404 NE Irvine Street
- Historic Landmarks Committee Meeting
- 2019 Historic Landmarks Applications
- 2018 Historic Landmarks Applications
- Downtown Design Review/Waiver Applications
- Three Mile Lane Development Review
- Recent Decisions
- City Initiated Projects
- Long Range Planning Projects
- Economic Development
- Frequently Asked Questions - Planning
- Informational Brochures
- Historic Preservation
- Uncover: McMinnville Historic Preservation
- Pioneer Hall, Linfield University, Built 1883
- Samuel Cozine House: Home of McMinnville Downtown Association
- McMinnville Public Library, Carnegie Library
- Schilling Building, (Boss Saloon), Built prior to 1884
- The Oregon Hotel, Hotel Elberton, McMenamins Oregon Hotel, Built 1905
- United Presbyterian, First Presbyterian Church, Built 1897, updated 1909
- McMinnville, Southern Pacific Train Depot, Built 1913
- Old City Powerplant, Built 1926-1927
- First Baptist Church, Built 1926
- Wright Building, Built 1893
- McMinnville City Hall, Built post 1928
- McMinnville Bank, Built 1885
- City Park, Est. 1908
- Star Mill Way, Built 1882
- Malone Cemetery
- Buchanan Cellars - Built 1888
- Mac Market - Built 1929
- Knights of Pythias Building - Built 1886
- Cooks Hotel/Mack Theater
- Linfield Observatory - Built 1894
- Grissen House - Built 1889
- Frank E Rodgers House
- 535 NE Cowls St - Built 1912
- Chinese Laundry - Dates Unknown
- Shadden House - Built 1859
- Dielschneider House 610 NE Cowls St – Built 1900
- Hodson House - Built 1895
- Masonic Building - Built 1913
- 135 NE Irvine St – Built 1895
- Newby-Cook House - Built 1879
- Uncover: McMinnville Historic Preservation
- Plans & Ordinances
- Urban Renewal
- Zoning & Maps
- RFPS
Contact Information
Community Development Director:
Heather Richards
Phone: 503-434-7311
Planning Email
Community Development Department
Community Development Center
231 NE Fifth Street
McMinnville, OR 97128
Hours
Monday-Friday - 8am - 5pm
Lobby Hours - 12pm - 5pm