Empowered Communities Program

Program
Supporting Black, Indigenous, people of color and persons with disabilities with the building permit process. Get one-on-one support from an Empowered Communities Team member today.
Colorful mural depicting people.

Featured content

Print by Avantika Bawa entitled "Coliseum Build B"

Arts & Culture Empowerment Program

Volunteer paints the outside of a house

Empowered Neighborhoods Program

Interior of a local Brazilian restaurant with the two owners posing behind the counter.

Small Business Empowerment Program

This photo depicts a woman in hard hat with clipboard outside a porch needing repairs.

Request for Architecture, Trades and Construction Volunteers

This photo shows a house with roof damage from a fallen tree.

Repairing property damage from weather events

Contact

Small Business Empowerment Program

Development Services
empowered@portlandoregon.gov
phone number503-823-7300Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oregon Relay Service711Oregon Relay Service

Development Services Center

1900 SW Fourth Avenue
First floor lobby
Portland, OR 97201
Get Directions
More about this location

Related offices, programs, advisory groups, and projects

A colorful, multi-story commercial building on the East end of the Burnside Bridge

Commercial Permits and Inspections

City inspector visiting a building site

Development Services

Many houses along the side of the street, with cars parked in front

Residential Permits and Inspections

A house with solar panels on the roof and greenery in the yard

Solar Energy Development

Multi-story building in St. Johns neighborhood with retail and housing

Zoning and Land Use

News

Follow these requirements to submit a permit application under fees in effect before July 1, 2024

Fees for permits are proposed to change. Follow these guidelines to submit a permit application under the current fees.

News article

The inside of the reservoir. It has the collums to hold up the roof, with no roof yet. There are two workers working on the details of the collums structural integrity.

Bureau of Development Services proposes fee changes, effective July 1, 2024

Learn more about the proposed fee changes and how you can share your views.

News article

Building under construction

Repairing property damage from January 2024 storms

Recent snow and ice storms caused damage to many structures throughout Portland. Here is information to help speed up the permitting process for these repairs.

Updated News article

This photo shows water and other damage in a basement.
More news

Past Meetings and Hearings

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