How to Access Union County Taxes, Permits, Elections Services
Find the exact office, phone number, and deadline for the most common county tasks — from paying property taxes to filing for permits, registering to vote, or signing up for emergency alerts.
Header: Quick lede and what matters now
Cody Vavra, Union County Assessor and Tax Collector, is the first call for missing tax statements, payment balances, and appeals; reach his office at 1001 Fourth Street, Suite A & B, La Grande, or by phone at 541-963-1002. Property tax timing drives many interactions with county government: Oregon law sets statutory installment due dates of November 15, February 15, and May 15, and the county warns online payments must be completed before midnight Pacific on those dates to avoid interest.
Header: Property taxes and the assessor/treasurer offices
Union County’s taxation work is split across the Assessor/Tax Collector and the Treasurer, with Cody Vavra listed as Assessor/Tax Collector and Camee Jensen as Treasurer, 1108 K Avenue, La Grande, phone 541-963-1003. If you have not received a statement you can print one from the county portal or pay in person at 1001 Fourth Street, Suite A; the Assessor’s office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Oregon permits three equal installments, and paying the full bill by November 15 may qualify for a 3 percent discount, or a 2 percent discount if two-thirds is paid by that date; interest accrues at 1.333 percent monthly after due dates. Union County uses a third-party processor, Point & Pay, for card and e-check transactions and posts a Point & Pay phone line for payments, 866-840-0545, but warns that convenience fees apply.
Steps to confirm and pay your property tax balance
- Tip: If you think you qualify for the Oregon Property Tax Deferral program for seniors or people with disabilities, begin the county filing process early; the state allows applications after January 1 and accepts late filings through December 1 with a fee, and if approved the state pays county taxes on November 15 and places a lien on the property.
Header: Permitting, planning, and land-use steps
Union County Planning and Public Works handle building permits, zoning, and subdivisions from the planning office at 1001 Fourth Street, Suite C; call the Planning Department at 541-963-1014 and ask for Planning Director Inga Williams or Assistant Planner Philip Tracy. Simple projects such as sheds, fences, and some accessory dwelling units may follow streamlined permit checklists, while larger developments require site plans, soils reports, and certified application packets; the Planning Department publishes sample site-plan examples and checklist templates to reduce back-and-forth. Quasi-judicial land-use hearings fall under state rules and applicants should ensure applications are deemed complete well ahead of hearing deadlines; written testimony deadlines are strict, typically received by the Planning Director before 5:00 p.m. on the hearing day.
Use the county parcel and mapping tools before you apply
Header: Elections, voter registration, and ballots
Lisa Feik serves as Union County Clerk and Recorder and oversees elections and voter services; for voter status, ballot tracking, and drop-box locations call the Clerk’s elections line at 541-963-1006. Oregon is a vote-by-mail state: ballots are mailed in advance and the state requires new registrations by 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific time on the 21st calendar day before an election, or postmarked by that date if mailed. The county’s elections calendar lists the May 19, 2026 Primary Election, and the county posts secure ballot drop sites ahead of statewide elections; the state’s voter tools provide precinct maps and a drop-box locator 20 days before an election.
How to update registration and return a ballot
Header: Public safety, sheriff’s office, and emergency services
Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen heads the sheriff’s office at 1109 K Avenue, La Grande, phone 541-963-1017, which manages patrols, corrections, civil process, and Concealed Handgun License applications. CHLs processed by the sheriff are valid for four years and may take up to about 45 days to process; the sheriff’s office also provides firearms-safety classes and a public jail roster. For county emergency management, Union County moved to Everbridge for opt-in emergency alerts in 2021 and publishes an Emergency Operations Plan, with resources for wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, and volunteer firefighting and search-and-rescue coordination.
Header: Why this local detail matters and how to use this guide
Knowing the exact office, name, phone number, and physical address shortens wait times and reduces processing errors: call Cody Vavra for tax balances, Camee Jensen for treasurer questions, Inga Williams for planning, Lisa Feik for elections, and Cody Bowen for sheriff or CHL business. The county’s Summary of Assessments and Levies shows property taxes fund schools, cities, fire districts, special districts, and county operations, so understanding levy totals and taxable assessed value helps residents evaluate the line items on their bill. For business permits or event planning, the Union County Chamber and the county’s business resources provide complementary support.
Header: Additional local context and final point
Union County spans roughly 2,038 square miles and had 26,196 residents in the 2020 Census, which shapes service footprints and response times across the rural county. County commissioners Paul Anderes, Matt Scarfo, and Jake Seavert set board agendas and are the formal public contact for policy or budget questions. Keep this guide saved: when a deadline arrives or an unexpected emergency hits, you will save time and potential fees by dialing the right office, bringing your parcel number, and following the county’s published steps exactly.
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