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..