January 30, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

At their weekly business meeting this week, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved a board order presented by Human Resources Director Michael Kurtz officially appointing Phil McAfee as the new Douglas County Building Official.

A county release said McAfee’s appointment will take effect February 1st, as he steps into the role following the retirement of current Building Official Bill Clemens. Clemens is retiring after 11 years of service to the county. Under Oregon law, counties that administer their own building inspection programs are required to appoint a certified Building Official to manage, enforce and oversee compliance with state building codes.

Clemens worked in similar roles in Crook County, with the City of Bend, in Linn County, and for the cities of Salem and Corvallis before accepting the position of Building Official for the Douglas County Building Department in February 2015.

Phil McAfee grew up in Douglas County and began his career in the light industrial field, building cell towers. After graduating from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science, he returned home and spent 11 years running his own construction company. McAfee joined the Douglas County Building Department in 2014 as a Plans Examiner. He was promoted to Building Inspection Supervisor in August 2016. Over the past year, he has trained under Clemens in preparation for the Building Official role.

The Douglas County Building Department, a division of Douglas County government, first opened its doors in 1974, with the enactment of Senate Bill 73, which later became ORS 456. This legislation effectively created the Oregon State Building Code. The department remains fully fee supported with all operating costs being derived from permit fees collected.