Overview of the City Code
The City Code of Silver Falls contains the laws, regulations, and administrative rules adopted by the Common Council to guide public safety, environmental protection, land use, business licensing, and community standards. The City’s ordinances reflect both local priorities and state requirements, ensuring that Silver Falls remains a safe, well-governed, and environmentally responsible place to live.
The code is updated throughout the year as new ordinances are adopted or existing chapters are amended. Residents, businesses, and developers should consult the City Code when planning projects, operating regulated activities, or requesting municipal approvals. The City Clerk’s Office serves as the official custodian of the legislative archive and provides certified copies upon request.
The City Code is organized into chapters that cover major areas of municipal regulation. These chapters provide clear standards for building safety, zoning, police and fire authority, infrastructure maintenance, and quality-of-life protections. While the full code includes many specialized provisions, the following chapters represent core areas of governance:
- Chapter 1 – General Government: Council procedures, public meetings, ethics.
- Chapter 6 – Public Safety: Police powers, Fire & EMS standards, hazard mitigation.
- Chapter 10 – Building & Construction: Permits, inspections, code enforcement.
- Chapter 14 – Zoning & Land Use: Districts, conditional uses, site standards.
- Chapter 18 – Public Works: Streets, snow removal, stormwater management.
- Chapter 22 – Environmental Protection: River corridor protection, trees, lighting.
- Chapter 30 – Licensing & Permitting: Alcohol, events, vendors, short-term rental rules.
A full chapter-by-chapter index is available through the City Clerk’s online code repository.