Furnace & Heat Pump Repair in Oregon City, OR

Quick answer

Since Jan. 1, 2025, Oregon City permits, including mechanical permits for heating and cooling work, go through the city's own Citizen Self Service portal instead of the state ePermits site. HVAC Repair Guys repairs furnaces, heat pumps, and AC in Oregon City. The city won't accept a contractor's application until its licenses are verified.

Key facts

County	Clackamas County
HVAC permits issued by	City of Oregon City Building Division, 503-722-3789
Electric utility	PGE (the city lists NW Natural Gas for gas)
Contractor license check (Oregon CCB)	CCB license plus a city business license or Metro license
Incentives to ask about	Energy Trust of Oregon; you may qualify and we'll confirm
Historic homes	Designated Historic Structures need review for exterior changes

How do Oregon City permits for heating and cooling work?

The City of Oregon City Building Division issues mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trade permits through its Citizen Self Service portal. The state ePermits portal stopped taking Oregon City applications on Jan. 1, 2025.

For one- and two-family homes, the city does not require a mechanical plan review. Plan review applies to multi-family, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Inspection requests can go in online, by phone at 503-496-1551, or by fax. Requests made before midnight are normally done on the date requested, and inspectors work 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Walk-in hours at 695 Warner Parrott Road are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fridays are by phone, email, or appointment only.
Call 503-722-3789 or email permits@orcity.org.
Phone inspection requests need the permit number, the date you want, and the three-digit inspection code. The line is touch-tone only.
The city doesn't inspect on major holidays. Clackamas Fire marshals, who help with some final inspections, are only available Monday through Thursday.

What licenses does Oregon City verify before taking a contractor's application?

Oregon City won't accept a permit application until the contractor's licenses check out.

The one exception is a homeowner doing work on their own property that isn't for rent, lease, or sale. Everyone else needs all three of these:

An Oregon Construction Contractors Board license
Any state specialty licenses the trade requires
Either a City of Oregon City business license or a Metro license

1Before you sign, search the contractor's CCB number on the state's lookup yourself.
2Ask which local license they carry: the city's or Metro's.
3If someone is working without a license, the CCB's consumer pages explain how to report illegal construction activity.

Not sure what's wrong yet?

Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.

Find your symptom Compare repair vs. replace

Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
You approve the price before work starts
Sources listed for outside facts

Does Oregon City's historic review cover HVAC equipment?

It covers outside changes to houses the city has designated as Historic Structures. The city names windows, doors, siding, and additions as examples, and says interior changes don't go to the Historic Review Board.

A new outdoor unit changes the outside of the house. If your home is designated, ask Planning before you place one: ocplanning@orcity.org or 503-722-3789.

Houses that aren't designated don't go through historic review.
The city notes houses over 50 years old may be looked at in future inventories.
New construction or demolition in the McLoughlin Conservation District or the Canemah National Register District needs Historic Review Board review.

Which utilities serve Oregon City, and what incentives apply?

The city's utility providers page lists PGE and NW Natural Gas. Both take part in Energy Trust of Oregon, so you may qualify for an offer on a new system. We'll confirm the details with you.

Energy Trust's heat pump offer is aimed at homes replacing an electric forced-air furnace.
Its ductless offer requires the new unit to replace electric resistance heat in the main living space.
The federal home improvement tax credit ended for equipment placed in service after Dec. 31, 2025. Don't plan a purchase around it.

Gas or CO emergency in Oregon City: what should you do?

Leave first. Call from outside.

When a CO alarm sounds, get everyone into fresh air and call 911.
EPA lists back-drafting furnaces, gas water heaters, and fireplaces among indoor CO sources. After any alarm, have the system checked before you run it again.

Smell gas? Walk out now. No switches, phones, flashlights, or flames. Call 911 and NW Natural at 800-882-3377 once you're outside. If escaping gas has caught fire, don't try to put it out. Call the fire department, then NW Natural.

What should you tell us about your Oregon City address?

The city portal only covers homes inside Oregon City limits. Knowing where you are helps us point you to the right permit office.

Whether you're inside city limits or in unincorporated Clackamas County.
Whether the house is a designated Historic Structure, or sits in the McLoughlin or Canemah district.
Your heat type: gas furnace, heat pump, or a mix.
Any recent permits or past work on the system.
What changed, and roughly when it started.

Common questions

Can I still use Oregon ePermits for an Oregon City mechanical permit?

No. Since Jan. 1, 2025, Oregon City takes permit applications only through its Citizen Self Service portal.

Does a furnace swap in an Oregon City single-family home need mechanical plan review?

No. The city's plan review rules exempt one- and two-family dwellings. Plan review applies to multi-family, commercial, and industrial buildings.

What does an Oregon City contractor need besides a CCB license?

A City of Oregon City business license or a Metro license, plus any state specialty licenses the work calls for. Homeowners working on their own non-rental property are the exception.

What hours do Oregon City building inspectors work?

From 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Requests made before midnight are normally done on the date you ask for.

Are the McLoughlin and Canemah districts treated differently in Oregon City?

Yes. New construction and demolition there need Historic Review Board review. For heating and cooling changes on a designated house, ask Planning first.

Where is the Oregon City Building Division?

At 695 Warner Parrott Road. Walk-in hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fridays are by phone, email, or appointment.