When You Need an Engineer
When the Building Department Says You Need an Engineer — What Now?
Many homeowners feel blindsided when their building department suddenly stops a project and says:
“You need an engineer for this.”
If that just happened to you, you’re not alone — this is extremely common throughout Oregon and Washington.
Even simple residential projects can trigger engineering requirements if they fall outside the prescriptive limits of the building code.
The good news:
This is exactly what we do.
Ogren Engineering specializes in helping homeowners move stalled projects forward with clear communication, fast turnaround, and permit-ready structural engineering.
Why the Building Department Requires Engineering
Local building officials are required to enforce state building codes. When your project includes conditions that the building code does not fully cover, the inspector must defer to a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
Common reasons include:
1. Online or stock house plans
Most online plans are designed generically — they usually lack:
- Seismic design
- Wind design
- Lateral bracing details
- Foundation engineering
- Prescriptive path compliance
In the Pacific Northwest’s high-seismic environment, engineering is often required.
2. Decks and patio covers
Larger decks, elevated decks, heavy coverings, and unusual soil conditions typically exceed prescriptive design limits.
When that happens, you need structural engineering.
3. Removing or altering load-bearing walls
Any change to a structural wall triggers engineering to ensure:
- The home remains structurally sound
- Beams, posts, and supports are properly sized
- Loads transfer safely to the foundation
4. Additions, large remodels, or unusual geometry
Cathedral ceilings, large window openings, asymmetric rooflines, and open-concept layouts often require engineering.
5. Steep slopes, soft soils, and unusual site conditions
Soil issues and geography can trigger engineering even if the structure itself is simple.
Building departments often require engineering when a project falls outside prescriptive code limits.
How Ogren Engineering Helps Get Your Project Moving Again
We make this process fast and straightforward.
Step 1 — Send Us Your Existing Plans or Sketches
PDFs, hand drawings, AutoCAD files — whatever you have, we’ll review it.
Step 2 — We Determine What the Building Department Is Asking For
We interpret correction notices and tell you exactly what’s required.
Step 3 — We Provide Permit-Ready, PE-Stamped Structural Plans
This typically includes:
- Beams, posts, and headers
- Shearwalls and lateral design
- Foundations and footings
- Connections, hardware, and details
- Structural notes and specifications
Step 4 — You Resubmit to the Building Department
Our drawings integrate cleanly with your architectural plans so you can move forward confidently.
Common Projects That Suddenly Require Engineering
You may find the detailed pages below helpful:
- Engineering for Online House Plans
- Deck Engineering
- Patio Cover Engineering
- Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Removing structural walls requires engineering to size beams, posts, and supports correctly.
How Much Does Residential Engineering Cost?
Costs depend on:
- Project size
- Structural complexity
- Whether AutoCAD files are available
- How much your building department has requested
Most residential projects fall within predictable ranges, and we provide clear pricing before any work begins.
Fast Turnaround for Homeowners Under Pressure
We know stalled permits are stressful.
That’s why we prioritize:
- Fast communication
- Clear, concise structural drawings
- Real-world buildability, not over-engineering
- Smooth building department approval
If the jurisdiction has issued corrections, we often resolve them in a single submittal.
Get Your Project Moving Again
If the building department just told you:
“You need an engineer”
We can help you get approved and back on track.
Contact Ogren Engineering today — you’re closer to approval than you think.
Ogren Engineering produces clear, buildable, permit-ready structural plans.
FAQ — When You Need an Engineer
Your project likely falls outside prescriptive code limits. That means the plan reviewer must require structural engineering to ensure safety and compliance.
Yes. Our region’s high seismic requirements mean even simple residential projects often need engineering.
Online or stock house plans, decks, patio covers, load-bearing wall removals, additions, and homes with unusual geometry.
Yes — all our structural sheets for residential projects are stamped by a licensed Professional Engineer.
Most projects move quickly depending on size and complexity. We prioritize stalled permits and homeowners under deadlines.