Quick answer
In West Linn, the city's Building Division issues residential mechanical permits, but electrical permits come from Clackamas County. HVAC Repair Guys repairs furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners in West Linn. Look up any contractor's Oregon CCB license before work starts. If your home is a historic landmark, ask Planning before adding outdoor equipment.
Key facts
| County | Clackamas County |
|---|---|
| HVAC permits issued by | City of West Linn Building Division, 503-742-6055 (electrical permits: Clackamas County, 503-742-4240) |
| Electric utility | PGE, per the city's utility page (gas: NW Natural) |
| Contractor license check (Oregon CCB) | Search the contractor's CCB number on the state's online lookup |
| Incentives to ask about | Energy Trust of Oregon offers on new equipment. You may qualify; we'll confirm. |
| Historic homes | Exterior changes to landmarks may need design review. Planning: 503-656-3535 |
Who issues HVAC permits in West Linn?
The City of West Linn Building Division handles residential mechanical permits, and Clackamas County handles the electrical ones.
Licensed contractors apply through the state's Oregon E-Permitting system. That system asks for a professional license on new applications.
Doing the work on your own house? The city has you download its Residential Mechanical Permit Application and email it to contactbuilding@westlinnoregon.gov with your construction plans and a site plan. You also send a signed property owner statement about construction responsibilities.
- Inspections are requested only through the Oregon E-Permitting portal. West Linn does not take inspection requests by email.
- The Building Division counter is open 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, and closed Fridays. Phone: 503-742-6055.
- Electrical permit questions go to Clackamas County at 503-742-4240.
Can West Linn's historic design review affect a new outdoor unit?
It can, if your house is a West Linn historic landmark or a contributing resource in a historic district and the work changes the outside.
The city requires design approval for exterior projects on those homes. Interior renovations are exempt. The rules sit in Chapter 25 of the Community Development Code.
One exemption matters for heating and cooling. A 2023 city staff report quotes the Chapter 25 list: replacing or installing mechanical equipment is exempt when a building, fence, or landscaping screens it completely from view from any street.
Some reviews go to the Historic Review Board, and staff decide others. The city says decisions are typically made within 120 days of a complete application, so plan early if a replacement is coming.
Not sure if your house is on the West Linn Historic Landmarks list? Call Planning at 503-656-3535 before you choose a spot for a heat pump or AC condenser.
Not sure what's wrong yet?
Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.
- Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
- You approve the price before work starts
- Sources listed for outside facts
Which utilities serve West Linn, and what incentives can you ask about?
The city's utility services page lists PGE for electricity and NW Natural for natural gas. Your own bill is the final word for your address.
Both companies take part in Energy Trust of Oregon, the program to ask about when you replace heating equipment. You may qualify, and we'll confirm before you count on it.
- Energy Trust wants applications within 60 days of installation.
- The installing contractor has to sign the application.
- Save the install date, the model and serial numbers, the efficiency rating, and a paid-in-full invoice.
How do you check a West Linn contractor's Oregon license?
Oregon's Construction Contractors Board runs a free lookup, and a license number search gives the most accurate match.
- If a job goes wrong later, the CCB's consumer pages explain contract disputes and mediation.
- 1Ask the contractor for their CCB number before they quote. Oregon requires it on their ads, website, and business cards.
- 2Type that number into the CCB's online license search.
- 3Check that the business name in the result is the same one printed on your written quote.
What should you do about a gas smell or CO alarm in West Linn?
Safety comes before any repair call. These two situations are for 911 first, not for us.
- Carbon monoxide alarm going off? Get everyone outside into fresh air, then call 911.
- EPA notes that CO affects people differently depending on age and health. Don't wait for someone to feel sick before you leave.
Smell gas, inside or out? Leave right away. Outdoors, get clear of the whole area. Don't touch switches, use a phone, or light anything, and don't hunt for the leak. Once you're safely away, call 911 and NW Natural at 800-882-3377.
What should you have ready when you call about a West Linn home?
A few details help us plan the visit and tell you which office handles any permit.
- Your street address. A West Linn mailing address does not always mean the house is inside city limits, and that decides which permit office applies.
- Whether the house is a designated historic landmark.
- The brand and model from the equipment label, if you can see it safely.
- What you noticed: no heat, no cooling, a new noise, or a code on the thermostat.
- Whether the house heats with NW Natural gas, a heat pump, or both.
Common questions
Who do I call for an electrical permit on a West Linn heat pump job?
Clackamas County, not the city. West Linn's Building Division handles the mechanical side and sends electrical permits to the county at 503-742-4240.
Can I request a West Linn building inspection by email?
No. The city takes inspection requests only through the Oregon E-Permitting portal. Emailed requests are not accepted.
When can I reach the West Linn Building Division in person?
The public counter is open 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. It is closed Fridays. You can also call 503-742-6055.
Does interior HVAC work on a West Linn historic landmark need design review?
No. The city exempts interior renovations. Historic design review is about changes to the outside, such as where a new outdoor unit will sit.
Can a West Linn homeowner apply for their own mechanical permit?
Yes. Email the Residential Mechanical Permit Application, your plans, a site plan, and the signed property owner statement to contactbuilding@westlinnoregon.gov.
What utilities does the City of West Linn list for homes?
PGE for electricity and NW Natural for natural gas. Check your own bill to confirm which accounts serve your address.
Not sure what's wrong yet?
Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.
- Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
- You approve the price before work starts
- Sources listed for outside facts
Sources
- Communities — Clackamas County. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Residential Mechanical Permit — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Building Permit — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Building Division Hours — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Utility Services — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Historic Design Review — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Staff Report Planning Manager Decision (HDR-23-04) — City of West Linn. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Residential: Heating Solutions — Energy Trust of Oregon. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Contractor license search — Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board — State of Oregon. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Smell natural gas or rotten eggs in your home? Smell. Go. Let us know. — NW Natural. Checked 2026-09-24.
- Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality — U.S. EPA. Checked 2026-09-24.
Last updated: · Reviewed by: HVAC Repair Guys