Planning & Permits
The National Scenic Area Act requires each of the six counties in the Gorge to adopt land use rules, called ordinances, that align with the Management Plan. Each county planning department uses these rules to make land use decisions in their counties. County land use decisions are also known as “permits.”
Decisions are made through a review process consistent with the Management Plan’s land use designations, landscape settings, and recreational intensity class maps. These decisions help protect and enhance the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Gorge.
You can use our NSA Lookup Tool to help determine if your property is within the National Scenic Area. Contact your county planning department before starting any development:
- Clark County: Community Planning
- Skamania County: Community Development
- Klickitat County: see below
- Multnomah County: Land Use Planning
- Hood River County: Planning Department
- Wasco County: Planning Division
The Gorge Commission staff administers the National Scenic Area land use ordinance for Klickitat County. Development application information for Klickitat County can be found on this page.
For questions related to planning, please contact:
- Bryce Guske, Senior Land Use Planner, Bryce.Guske@gorgecommission.org
- Joanna Kaiserman, Senior Land Use Planner, Joanna.Kaiserman@gorgecommission.org
- Mackenzie Aamodt, Land Use Planner, Mackenzie.Aamodt@gorgecommission.org