Deschutes County Hires New Building Official

Krista Appleby brings extensive experience to the role, overseeing construction projects and enforcing building codes.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:04pm

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Deschutes County has hired Krista Appleby as its new Building Official. Appleby will be responsible for overseeing plan reviews, permitting, and inspections for a variety of construction projects in the county and the cities of La Pine and Sisters to ensure compliance with Oregon's statewide building codes.

Why it matters

As the Building Official, Appleby will play a critical role in protecting public safety by making sure all construction work in the region meets the necessary building codes and standards. Her experience and relationships with local industry groups will help facilitate smooth permitting and inspection processes for builders and developers.

The details

Appleby was selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates for the Building Official role. She has worked in the Building Safety Division of Deschutes County's Community Development Department since 2017, serving as a fire and life safety commercial plans examiner, lead plans examiner, and Assistant Building Official. Prior to joining the county, Appleby worked on various building projects at architectural firms in Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

  • Appleby started in her new role as Deschutes County Building Official on March 10, 2026.
  • She has worked in the county's Building Safety Division since April 2017.

The players

Krista Appleby

The new Building Official for Deschutes County, Oregon. Appleby is a licensed architect in Oregon and Washington with extensive experience in the building industry.

Peter Gutowsky

The Community Development Director for Deschutes County, who oversaw the hiring process for the new Building Official.

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What they’re saying

“Krista was selected from a highly competitive field of candidates. She has strong relationships with building officials in the region, Central Oregon Builders Association, and the State's Building Codes Division, among others.”

— Peter Gutowsky, Community Development Director

The takeaway

Appleby's appointment as Deschutes County's new Building Official underscores the importance of having experienced professionals overseeing construction projects to ensure public safety and compliance with building codes. Her background and industry connections will be valuable assets as she takes on this critical role.