getting around building codes in Josephine County

I am being harassed for a natural building w/o permit. There was never a complaint filed, it just came to their attention, then they are insisting that I let them beyond my locked gate on the end of a private road. I am the owner / builder. I went to the North American School of Natural Building. I need a lawyer to find out my rights.

Hazel,

I found this discussion here at permies that you should look at, it may lead to a lawyer or a solution.
https://permies.com/mobile/t/30003/cascadia/Cob-code-Oregon?foo=a I remember watching a YouTube video of natural building designs, and a woman talked about getting her home approved. This is a sample of what she said to the code department, "My home will be made with natural cement."
What is that?..... Then she explained the materials she used and the history of using those materials. She did have to have an architect approve her plans.

Here is a really good link that may help, https://permies.com/t/38170/cascadia/Experience-Buying-House-Land-PNW#298350 Jami McBride really gives a fantastic answer to workarounds.

Hazel - please keep us updated. We're in Jo Cty as well, and looking at the different zonings and such before we buy another place.

There is an ORS that says an Agricultural building no matter what size is exempt from building permit

Hazel - I would sure love to see the statute reference for that! It would be a huge help!

Hazel Reagan wrote:There is an ORS that says an Agricultural building no matter what size is exempt from building permit

The only exemption I'm familiar with it is:
ORS 455.315 Exemption of agricultural buildings, agricultural grading and equine facilities

Which really means that you can "request" and exemption before building something and go ahead if the exemption is "approved". It doesn't start out exempt just because you say so, and there is likely to be a lot less flexibility if you went and built something without an approval.

If it is a dwelling, this is all much more trouble... The handy satellite maps are making unapproved buildings much more obvious now - they don't need a complaint to have it show up as a red mark on a computer image to be investigated as an unapproved untaxed structure..

I think you're right about needing a lawyer -- you're probably far beyond the "good graces" of the county..