Krista Appleby takes on new role as Deschutes County building official

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Krista Appleby began her new role as the Deschutes County building official on March 10. She is responsible for ensuring construction projects in the county and the cities of La Pine and Sisters comply with Oregon statewide building codes.

As the building official, Appleby oversees plan reviews, permitting, and inspections for a variety of work. Her oversight includes projects ranging from residential home remodels to new commercial construction.

Appleby has worked within the Deschutes County Community Development Department since April 2017. During her tenure with the county, she served as a fire and life-safety commercial plans examiner and as a lead plans examiner. Most recently, she served as an assistant building official.

Before joining the county staff, Appleby worked for various architectural firms located in Montana, Ore. and Washington. She is a licensed architect in both Oregon and Washington and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

Community Development Director Peter Gutowsky said Appleby was selected for the role following a recruitment process that included a large number of applicants. Gutowsky noted her existing professional network within the industry as a factor in her selection.

"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," Gutowsky said.

Beyond her responsibilities with Deschutes County, Appleby maintains a leadership role in professional advocacy. She currently serves as the board president of the Oregon Building Officials Association.