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Building department asks county to re-adopt ordinance language removed from state code to preserve enforcement and safety
Summary
County building staff asked commissioners to reinsert previously adopted code language the state has removed from its enforcement focus, citing public-safety gaps and the need for interagency coordination; the board will have staff vet the draft with county counsel and return in a few weeks.
Klamath County Board of Commissioners — The county building department told commissioners it has identified gaps after state code changes and is proposing to re-adopt local ordinance language to preserve enforcement authority and public-safety protections.
A building department official said the county's historic ordinances incorporated commentary and provisions from model codes and that the state’s building-codes division has shifted focus toward new construction and remodels, leaving some enforcement areas unaddressed locally. The official cited the county's existing code references and described the draft as largely restoring previously adopted language rather than creating new rules.
On specific risks, staff said that if the county does not retain certain ordinance elements, unsafe electrical work or construction without permits could pose safety hazards — and that multiagency coordination (for example, with fire and city code enforcement) is part of the proposed approach. The official said the proposed ordinance material references ORS chapter 455 in staff notes.
Commissioners asked for time to review the draft and consult county counsel; the board agreed to take the proposal under advisement and directed staff to return after legal review.
Next steps: staff will share the draft ordinance language with county counsel and return to the board in a few weeks for further consideration.
