Mass Timber Code-UP | Oregon Mass Timber Coalition

Why a mass timber code update?

The Code-Up initiative seeks to create markets for modular mass timber housing by updating state and local planning and development codes to remove regulatory barriers to new housing types.

With this investment, the DLCD will work directly with cities and Economic Development Districts to increase development and technical capacity by modernizing planning and development codes to accommodate modular mass timber homes in rural and wildfire-impacted communities.

Download the original project PDF

Planned Actions

Development streamlining: Code-Up project partners will provide technical assistance for updating planning and development codes in approximately thirty (30) Oregon cities, prioritizing jurisdictions that lost critical housing stock to wildfire events, ten (10) in the first two years.

Technical assistance: DLCD will contract with specialized planning consultants to provide technical support amending local planning and building codes to allow and encourage the development of mass timber modular housing in those communities.

Increased local capacity: Because many smaller cities lack staff capacity, DLCD’s Code-UP project will provide for subawards to participating cities and Economic Development Districts to engage in the work.

Equitable engagement: The Code-Up engagement team will ensure that underserved community members benefit equitably from the provision of mass timber modular housing and related employment opportunities. The DLCD team and culturally responsive outreach partners will provide information, collect data on community needs and customize siting and design approaches for each participating community.

Industry engagement: In addition, the team will present webinars and fact sheets at industry events, such as with the Oregon Homebuilders, League of Oregon Cities, Association of Oregon Counties, and the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association. Information will be hosted on a public website.

Progress Updates

Prefabricated and Modular Housing Model Code
‍DLCD created a model code local governments may implement to facilitate the construction of all factory-built housing, including prefabricated, modular, and manufactured housing. The code is formatted as a self-guided workbook that helps local governments identify and solve regulatory barriers to factory-built housing in their development codes.

Local Development Code Direct Assistance
‍DLCD is providing technical assistance to ten local governments in Oregon by directly reviewing local development codes and drafting recommended amendments to facilitate factory-built housing development in these communities. The participating local governments are: Clatsop County, Chiloquin, Creswell, Gates, Lincoln City, Mt. Vernon, Phoenix, Rufus, Sandy, and Talent. These jurisdictions reflect Oregon’s diverse residents and represent regions around the state in primarily rural communities.

Community Engagement
DLCD engaged community members in rural areas on local housing need and opportunities in the mass timber and modular/prefabricated housing industries. Opportunities and challenges for rural communities are addressed as recommendations in a StoryMap summarizing what the OMTC learned from these communities.

Industry engagement
‍DLCD is funding four of Oregon’s Economic Development Districts (EDDs) to engage with industry to support factory-built housing. This work is focused on providing capacity to under-resourced regions of the state and in communities needing new housing investment. The EDDs will convene local housing developers to learn about opportunities for factory-built housing solutions and educate local governments on the model code. The EDDs participating in this project are the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, Cascades West Economic Development District, Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation, and Northeast Oregon Economic Development District.

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Mass Timber Code-UP

Why a mass timber code update?

Planned Actions

2025 Project Update

Progress Updates