Oregon Statutes 455.010 – Definitions for ORS chapter 455

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 455.010

Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
Department: means the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
Director: means the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
local government: means all cities, counties and local service districts located in this state, and all administrative subdivisions of those cities, counties and local service districts. See Oregon Statutes 174.116

(1)(a) ‘Advisory board’ means the board with responsibility for assisting in the adoption, amendment or administration of a specialty code, specifically:

(A) The Building Codes Structures Board established under ORS § 455.132;

(B) The Electrical and Elevator Board established under ORS § 455.138;

(D) The Board of Boiler Rules established under ORS § 480.535;

(E) The Residential and Manufactured Structures Board established under ORS § 455.135;

(F) The Mechanical Board established under ORS § 455.140; or

(G) The Construction Industry Energy Board established under ORS § 455.492.

(b) ‘Appropriate advisory board’ means the advisory board that has jurisdiction over a particular code, standard, license, certification or matter.

(2) ‘Department’ means the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

(3) ‘Director’ means the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

(4) ‘Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code’ means the adopted specialty code that, subject to section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, prescribes standards for the construction of residential dwellings that are three stories or less above grade and have an exterior door for each dwelling unit, but are not facilities or homes described in ORS § 443.400 or transient lodging.

(5) ‘Municipality’ means a city, county or other unit of local government otherwise authorized by law to administer a building code.

(6) ‘Prefabricated structure’:

(a) Means a building or subassembly that has been in whole or substantial part manufactured or assembled using closed construction at an off-site location to be wholly or partially assembled on-site.

(b) Does not mean a manufactured dwelling or a small home as defined in section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019.

(7) ‘Small Home Specialty Code’ means the specialty code adopted under section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019.

(8) ‘Specialty code’:

(a) Means a code of regulations adopted under ORS § 446.062, 446.185, 447.020 (2), 455.020 (2), 455.496, 455.610, 455.680, 460.085, 460.360, 479.730 (1) or 480.545 or section 2, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019.

(b) Does not mean regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to ORS Chapter 476 or ORS § 479.015 to 479.200 and 479.210 to 479.220.

(9) ‘State building code’ means the combined specialty codes.

(10) ‘Structural code’ means the specialty code prescribing structural standards for building construction.

(11) ‘Unsafe condition’ means a condition caused by earthquake which is determined by the department or any representative of the department to be dangerous to life and property. ‘Unsafe condition’ includes but is not limited to:

(a) Any portion, member or appurtenance of a building that has become detached or dislodged or appears likely to fail or collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property; or

(b) Any portion, of a building or structure that has been damaged by earthquake, or by fire or explosion resulting from an earthquake, to the extent that the structural strength or stability of the building is substantially less than it was prior to the earthquake. [Formerly 456.750; 1991 c.227 § 1; 1991 c.310 § 1; 1993 c.18 § 112; 1993 c.744 § 85; 1997 c.259 § 3; 1999 c.484 § 1; 1999 c.1045 § 12; 2003 c.655 § 75; 2003 c.675 10,11; 2009 c.567 4,13; 2019 c.401 § 3; 2019 c.422 § 16]

The amendments to 455.010 by section 10, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, become operative January 2, 2026. See section 18, chapter 401, Oregon Laws 2019, as amended by section 1c, chapter 422, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 6, chapter 54, Oregon Laws 2022. The text that is operative on and after January 2, 2026, is set forth for the user’s convenience.