Development Services Newsletter | April 2026

Business Use of Right-of-Way (BROW) Applications Open 4/1/26

It’s that time of year again – time to grab a snack or beverage outdoors and soak in the warm(er) weather in downtown Corvallis. The 2026 Business Use of the Right of Way (BROW) program is coming back for another season. Applications are available on April 1. The program begins on May 1 and runs through October 31.

The BROW program allows restaurants to apply for permits to use a portion of the on-street parking adjacent to their business as an outdoor dining area. Up to three parking spaces may be requested per application. Permits must be renewed each year. Read more about the BROW program and start an application online by visiting the City website: Outdoor Dining Programs | Corvallis Oregon.

Development Services Fee Update

Development Services is funded mainly through fees paid by applicants for permitting and inspection services related to building projects. Development Services also reviews and permits some additional programs and services including permitting and inspecting some sidewalks, driveways, as well as private streets and alleys. Development Services annually evaluates the fees we charge to determine if a fee increase, or other fee adjustments need to be proposed.  This year Development Services evaluated our fees and will be proposing to raise some of our permit fees pertaining to installing driveways, sidewalks, private streets, and alleys. The increases being proposed will align our fees closer with other cities, as well as with similar types of permits issued by our Public Works Department.  The proposed fee modification request will be considered by City Council on May 4^th.  For questions regarding our proposed fee changes, please contact Kevin Russell at (541) 766-6709 or email kevin.russell@corvallisoregon.gov.

Historic Design Guidelines Open House - April 14, 2026

Come join City planning staff and our consulting team from the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement for a sneak peek at the Historic Design Guidelines project that is currently underway. The Guidelines are intended to be a user-friendly document to help homeowners, contractors, and preservation enthusiasts navigate the City’s Historic Preservation Program. Want to know what we are working on and have an opportunity to provide feedback? We will be hosting an open house at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 SW Madison Ave., on Tuesday, April 14, from 5-6:30 p.m. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions and gather input. The regularly scheduled Historic Resources Commission meeting will take place at the same location immediately following the open house.

City Warns of Financial Scams Targeting Land Use Customers

The City of Corvallis is investigating several attempted financial scams that targeted customers engaged in land use services at the City. 

In the scams, victims were identified using information associated with open land use cases. Scammers contacted those individuals and sent fake invoices under the names of City building officials requesting payment as part of a land use process. The fake invoices included instructions to send the payment via wire transfer.

City officials are reminding the public that payments will never be requested via wire transfer.

Keep in mind these tips to ensure you don't fall victim to a financial scam.

• Carefully examine emails to ensure they are coming from legitimate City email addresses. Sophisticated scams often use names of actual City employees, together with generic email address or unfamiliar phone numbers.
• Look for grammatical errors, improper punctuation, or unfamiliar department names.
• For land use services, payments are processed through a secure online service using your existing account information. If you're not asked to log in, do not make the payment.

If you have fallen victim to an online financial scam, call the Police Department at 541-766-6911 to file a report.