Salem-area real estate broker Don Sturgeon has been confirmed to a four-year term on the Oregon Residential and Manufactured Structures Board, adding a local housing-market voice to a state panel that helps shape how homes are built, regulated and inspected across Oregon.
Sturgeon, of Aumsville, is affiliated with HomeSmart Realty Group in Salem. His term on the board runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. State appointment records list him as a new appointment to the board, with the Oregon Senate confirming the appointment.
Sturgeon joins a board tied directly to Oregon’s residential building code system, giving a Salem-area housing professional a role in statewide discussions over how homes are built, regulated and inspected. The board helps the director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services administer the state’s low-rise residential dwelling program and the Small Home Specialty Code. It also reviews recommendations and amendments involving residential and manufactured housing codes, including the Oregon Residential Specialty Code.
That work affects the rules behind construction, reconstruction and repair of one- and two-family homes and townhouses. The board also advises on standards, qualifications and training for building officials and inspectors.
The appointment comes as Salem continues to face long-term housing pressure. The city’s Housing Needs Analysis projects that nearly 60,000 more people are expected to live within Salem’s portion of the urban growth boundary by 2035, creating demand for more housing and more diverse housing options. Salem has also adopted its first Housing Production Strategy, a plan built around encouraging housing development, reducing barriers and improving the permitting process.
Sturgeon said he hopes to bring a practical perspective from working directly with both sides of the housing market.
“I am honored to have been appointed to serve on this board,” Sturgeon said. “As a real estate broker who works closely with both homebuilders and homebuyers, I hope to bring a balanced perspective that considers the needs of the construction industry while keeping housing affordability, safety and consumer interests at the forefront.”
Jim Sparkman said Sturgeon’s industry experience makes him well suited for the position.
“We couldn’t be more excited to see Don in this position,” Sparkman said. “Don has extensive knowledge in our industry and we have no doubt that he will be a huge advocate.”
The appointment does not give Salem direct control over state housing code decisions, and it does not change local zoning or permitting rules on its own. But it does put a Salem-area professional in a statewide conversation that can influence how residential construction standards are reviewed and applied.
For a city trying to add housing while keeping affordability, safety and consumer protection in view, Sturgeon’s seat gives the Mid-Willamette Valley another connection to the policy discussions behind Oregon’s residential construction system.
Sources: Oregon Legislative Information System; Oregon Legislative Policy and Research Office; Oregon Building Codes Division; City of Salem; Willamette Valley MLS.
