New Development Project Planner

City of Canby Summary of Land Use Building Process For Commercial/Industrial Buildings

1. Getting started: Please contact the Economic Development Director and City Planning Director early in your search. We can advise and guide you on available sites and buildings, infrastructure, resources, and next steps. We will provide you with more specific information after we’ve learned more details. For instance, you may need to hold a neighborhood meeting and attach a meeting summary with your application. Also, permit costs and approval times could be reduced by 30+ days if your project is in the Canby Pioneer Industrial Park or Downtown, and it can meet all code review standards and criteria for the Type II process.

2. Zoning: Industrial and Commercial buildings need to fit in the correct zoning. Here is a link to the Zoning Map. For more details on zoning requirements see:

• Industrial: There are two categories: Light Industrial and Heavy Industrial. In the Canby Pioneer Industrial Park the Industrial Overlay.
• Commercial (Retail and Office) there are four categories: Downtown Commercial (see the Downtown Canby Overlay Zone); Highway Commercial; Convenience Commercial, and Commercial/Manufacturing.

PLANNING FORMS & APPLICATIONS

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3. Pre-application Conference: We strongly recommend you take advantage of our pre-application meeting. Here you can talk to all of Canby’s utility and service providers and get the information you need to draw up your site and utility plans. Before the meeting we’ll need to know where you’re locating, review a preliminary concept drawing of your proposal, understand how your site will be laid out, and what your utility and service needs will be. We can almost always hold this meeting in two weeks after you file the application.

4. Site and Design Review application: Most new commercial or industrial building of any size (except accessory structures and Type II applications) requires a public hearing and approval from the Planning Commission. This process is called the Site and Design Review. The application contains the information you’ll need. The timeline on the Site and Design Review depends on how many other applications have been filed, but generally your hearing will be at least five weeks after your application is filed. If the Commission issues an oral decision for approval at the hearing, it will still take about a month more to adopt a written decision and to wait for the appeal period to end. At the end of the appeal period, the City will issue you an approval letter which you can take to Clackamas County to obtain a building permit.

5. Pre-construction Conference: Prior to construction, you will need all of the utility and service providers to sign off on your site and construction plans. Planning staff will help you identify the agencies that will be involved in your project. For small projects, we encourage you to work directly with them throughout the process to make sure your plans are acceptable. For large projects we strongly encourage you to schedule a pre-construction meeting to have your complete plan reviewed, stamped and approved. This meeting can be held any time after your plan is approved.

6. City Approval/Clackamas County Building permits: You may submit your building permit application to Clackamas County at any time following the Planning Commission’s initial approval of your project. However, your building permit will not be issued until the City has given you an approval letter and all City fees are paid. A copy of the City’s approval letter and an approved site plan must be taken to Clackamas County for release of the building permit.

7. Business license: You’re almost there! You’ll need a business license to operate your business in Canby. The Business License application package is available at City Hall or at canbyoregon.gov. The application needs to be signed by the Planning Department, Building Department, Police Department, and the Fire Department. Your building must pass its final inspection before a Business License is issued.

Project Planner

The following is a list of the most common steps required to construct a new building in Canby. Details and timelines may vary depending on your specific project.