Rimrock setback areas of 200 and 500 feet
Prineville Code Table 155.2 sets a 200 ft top-of-rimrock setback area and a 500 ft rimrock slope setback area, measured from the top of the cliff or a significant break in slope (about 25%).
You bring the plans; we file the county building permit and respond to Crook County. A real person calls you within 24 business hours.
Building permit package submittals: from $750. Includes a SiteFacts Report. The site plan is not included.
Submitted within 5 business days of complete information, including your SiteFacts Report. Every correction round is at no added fee.
Building permits inside Prineville are issued by Crook County, not the city. The City of Prineville does site plan review, a zoning review, plus system development charges (SDCs), sewer and water, and street work. Confirm with Crook County and the City.
| Permit | Office | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical | Crook County Building Department | Oregon ePermitting |
| Site plan review: new home, ADU or addition | City Planning | City application |
| SDCs, sewer and water connection, meter | City | SDC page |
| Street cut or excavation | City | Excavation Permit Form |
| Fill or grading, when triggered | City Engineer | Fill/Grading application |
Optional, preliminary and non-binding (Pre-Application form).
Required before building a structure that needs it (Prineville Code 153.008). Confirm with the City.
It requires your land use approval (Crook County).
Where the City requires improvements, no building permit is issued until they are in place and approved and connection fees paid, or the cost is bonded (Prineville Code 153.198(A)). Confirm with the City.
The City approves forms before you pour (Prineville Code 92.21, 92.22). Confirm with the City.
Required improvements must be completed or bonded before sale or occupancy (Prineville Code 153.198(B)).
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water SDC | $6,560.85 |
| Sewer SDC | $5,471.56 |
| Transportation SDC | $6,114.80 |
| Park & Rec. SDC | $4,683.25 |
| Site plan review fee | $177.00 |
| Total estimate, including connection and meter fees, as printed by the City | $25,425.66 |
Fees change. Confirm current amounts with the City of Prineville and Crook County before you budget.
Prineville Code Table 155.2 sets a 200 ft top-of-rimrock setback area and a 500 ft rimrock slope setback area, measured from the top of the cliff or a significant break in slope (about 25%).
Development on slopes greater than 18% is subject to a registered engineer's geotechnical study recommendations, plus a recorded hold-harmless waiver (Prineville Code 155.120(D)(1)).
Alterations over three feet from natural grade, or over one foot within ten feet of a property line, need a City Engineer grading permit (Prineville Code 153.089(A)(2)).
Confirm each item with the City: (541) 447-5627.
Rimrock lots can need a Type III City review. Under Prineville Code 155.080, moving the mapped rimrock line needs a surveyor's map, and building in the last 300 feet of the 500 foot slope setback on slopes under 18% needs an engineer's geotechnical study; additions and new accessory structures may skip it with a recorded hold-harmless waiver.
In our experience across Central Oregon, old approvals and permit history changed the path on several projects, so pull the lot's records first.
In our experience, research for Central Oregon lots often lands on the wrong office. Check which office issues each permit before you apply.
Before you buy in Prineville, order a SiteFacts Report on the lot's zoning, environmental and soils findings, with every claim sourced.
IronHorse, inside Prineville, has an Architectural Review Committee. Its approval and a signed conformance agreement come before construction (IronHorse Design Guidelines). Our Central Oregon HOA design review guide explains them. Confirm with your HOA.
We file building permits in Prineville, part of Crook County. Conditional uses, variances, partitions and Type III rimrock reviews are outside our service.
Prineville's "site plan review" is a City zoning review, not our site plan service. Availability depends on the lot; we confirm at intake.
Before we file in Prineville, plan for:
"I am so grateful Don was available to assist us with the permitting process for our new home and shop."
Builders who work with us: Simplicity Homes, HiLine Homes and JF Homes.
Permit fees are paid to the county or city.
Sand and Sage SolutionsTerrebonne, OR(541) 316-0371Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PMLast reviewed: October 2026
Fees and rules change. Confirm with Crook County Community Development, (541) 447-3211, and the City of Prineville, (541) 447-5627.