Build a custom home in Happy Valley, OR, with a builder based here
J Roderick Young Custom Homes is based in Happy Valley, OR, and has built custom homes here for years. If you want to build a custom home in Happy Valley, on a hillside lot below Mount Scott, on former Damascus land the city has annexed, or on an infill lot in town, you'll work directly with the owner, Jeremy Young, who knows the city's permit desk and its hillside rules first-hand.
Public permit records list our new homes in Happy Valley in 2017, 2021 and 2022.
Our record in Happy Valley
Happy Valley is where the company is based and where much of its recent work has been. Public building permit records list J Roderick Young Custom Homes on a replacement home in 2017, two new homes in 2021 (about 4,100 and 4,700 square feet) and another new home in 2022. Our Houzz profile also shows a custom home build in Happy Valley.
Home buyers have noticed the work too. A family house-hunting in Happy Valley walked through one of our new homes on Evening Star and wrote to Jeremy afterward: “After over an hour in the home we could find absolutely nothing wrong with the home! Unheard of as far as we are concerned.”
What's different about building in Happy Valley
Happy Valley spreads over the slopes of Mount Scott and Scouters Mountain and east into land that used to be Damascus. That shapes what a lot costs to build on.
Steep slopes have their own rules
Many hillside lots fall under the city's Steep Slopes Development Overlay (Happy Valley Municipal Code chapter 16.32). Expect extra review, and sometimes a geotechnical report, before a permit is issued.
The city issues its own permits
Inside city limits, new-home permits come from the City of Happy Valley's Building Division, through its online HVWorks system, not from Clackamas County.
Check the jurisdiction first
Some addresses with a Clackamas (97015) ZIP code are inside Happy Valley, and some nearby lots are unincorporated county land. The parcel decides which rules apply.
Former Damascus land
Happy Valley has annexed more than 1,000 acres of the former City of Damascus. Lots there are permitted by Happy Valley, with city zoning and fees.
Fees belong in the budget early
New homes pay system development charges and construction excise taxes. For rates set July 1, 2025 the city lists transportation SDCs of $12,779 and parks SDCs of $10,479 per home, before water and sewer.
Views come with grading
The lots with the best views are usually the steepest. Driveway grade, retaining walls and foundation design can cost more than the kitchen.
Homes we've built and finished
A selection from our projects. See them grouped by home on the projects page.
In a Happy Valley buyer's words
Sent to Jeremy by a family who toured one of our new homes on Evening Star in Happy Valley. Published on the company's testimonials page.
“Good Morning Mr. Young! Last weekend we were once again driving thru Happy Valley looking for a home. We stumbled across your new construction on Evening Star. Wow! Your construction and attention to detail is simply amazing. After over an hour in the home we could find absolutely nothing wrong with the home! Unheard of as far as we are concerned. In a nutshell, we are very impressed with your skill and craftsmanship. We even returned with our 4 year old to get his opinion on the home. He too loved the home and especially the fenced yard. Thanks for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you.”
Building in Happy Valley, step by step
STEP 1
Walk the lot with Jeremy
We check slope, soil, access and where sewer and water connect, and confirm the parcel is inside city limits.
STEP 2
Design for the slope
Placement, foundation and driveway are designed around the grade, with your designer or from a published plan.
STEP 3
City review and permits
We prepare the submittal for the Building Division, including any steep-slope review the lot needs.
STEP 4
Build and hand over
Construction managed on site every day, then a joint walk-through before move-in and our one-year warranty.
Questions people ask before they call
Who issues building permits in Happy Valley?
Inside city limits, the City of Happy Valley's Building Division issues new-home permits through its HVWorks system. Lots outside the city, even with a Clackamas address, are permitted by Clackamas County. We confirm which applies to your parcel before design starts.
Can you build on a steep lot in Happy Valley?
Yes. Many Happy Valley lots are on slopes, and some fall under the city's Steep Slopes Development Overlay. These lots can need a geotechnical report, more excavation and retaining walls, so we price the site work in detail before you commit.
What fees does Happy Valley charge on a new home?
New homes pay system development charges and construction excise taxes. For rates set July 1, 2025 the city lists $12,779 for transportation SDCs and $10,479 for parks SDCs per home, plus water and sewer charges set by the providers. Rates change, so we confirm current figures for your estimate.
Are you actually based in Happy Valley?
Yes. J Roderick Young Custom Homes is based in Happy Valley, Oregon 97086, and the owner, Jeremy Young, is on his job sites every day.
Where to go next
- Clackamas
Unincorporated Clackamas County and former Damascus lots.
- Oregon City
Our Alan Mascord plan home there.
- Land, lots and permits
The lot checklist we use before you buy.
Ready to talk about your house?
Bring your lot, your plans or just an idea. Jeremy Young meets you, walks the land and prices the house in detail, with option pricing. The consultation costs nothing.