ORS 455.720: Standards and qualifications for personnel; rules.

(1) In accordance with applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, to promote effective and uniform enforcement of the state building code by improving the competence of building officials and inspectors, the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, with the advice of the advisory boards, shall: (a) Establish for building officials and inspectors reasonable minimum training and experience standards, including but not limited to courses or subjects for instruction, facilities for instruction, qualification of instructors and methods of instruction. The standards must include provisions for determining a practical experience equivalent that may consist of completion of an apprenticeship program. (b) Establish a procedure to be used by municipalities to determine whether a person meets minimum standards or has minimum training to be appointed or employed as a building official or inspector. The procedure must allow for a field examination of a person to determine if the person meets the practical experience equivalent of a minimum standard. (c) Subject to such terms, conditions and classifications as the director may impose, certify building officials as being qualified, and revoke such certifications in the manner provided in ORS 455.740. (d) Require an applicant for a certificate as a building official or inspector to demonstrate knowledge of the laws governing accessibility to buildings by persons with disabilities by passing an examination prescribed by the director. (2) The director shall maintain and, upon request of municipalities, furnish information on applicants for appointment or employment as building officials or inspectors. (3) Pursuant to ORS chapter 183, the director shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the certification programs provided by subsection (1) of this section. (4) The director, by rule, may require evidence of completion of continuing education covering any certification created under this section as a condition of maintaining the certification. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the director from delegating any of this power to a municipality. (5) The director, with the advice of the appropriate advisory boards, may adopt rules for certifying inspectors as being qualified to enforce one or more particular specialty codes, subject to any terms, conditions and classifications the director may impose, and for revoking those certifications in the manner provided in ORS 455.740. [Formerly 456.810; 1989 c.224 §119; subsection (4) enacted as 1991 c.361 §5; 1999 c.527 §1; 2001 c.104 §197; 2005 c.758 §21b; 2007 c.70 §257; 2025 c.241 §2] Sec. 1. (1)(a) The Department of Consumer and Business Services shall assist and provide staff support to the Oregon Building Officials Association for the purpose of developing and submitting to the State Apprenticeship and Training Council a proposal to establish an apprenticeship program for building inspectors that meets the requirements set forth in ORS 660.002 to 660.210 and qualifies as the practical experience equivalent of the training and experience standards described in ORS 455.720 (1)(a). (b) At the association’s request, the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall provide technical assistance for the development and submission of the proposal described in paragraph (a) of this subsection. (2) After the council approves the proposal described in subsection (1) of this section, the department shall within 90 days after the date of the council’s approval establish and provide technical assistance to a state joint apprenticeship committee for building inspectors. [2025 c.241 §1] Sec. 3. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027. [2025 c.241 §3]