For new permits and other applications received on or after July 1, 2024, view the current Portland Permitting & Development fee schedules.
Fee-related services include permits for new and altered buildings and their properties, land use reviews, certificates and registrations, inspections, and other compliance services and fees collected for other City Bureaus.
The following information outlines the individual fee(s) and charges that might be part of your total project cost:
- Your project could have fees from several fee tables. For example, a residential addition could have fees from the building permit, site development, plumbing, and electrical fee tables.
- In addition to System Development Charges, other City bureaus may charge development fees. Please review their fee schedules below.
- Your project could be affected by Metro Excise Tax.
- For all building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits, an 12% surcharge is applied by the State of Oregon.
- Contact the Development Services Center for the estimated costs associated with your specific project.
Previous City of Portland fee schedules
Previous Unincorporated Multnomah County fee schedules
Other City Bureaus - Past Fee Schedules
- Environmental Services(effective July 1, 2020)
- Fire(effective July 1, 2018)
- Parks - Urban Forestry(effective July 1, 2020)
- Transportation(effective July 1, 2020)
- Water(effective July 1, 2020)
Past System Development Charges
If you are applying for a building permit for development in the City of Portland, system development charges (SDCs) may apply to your project. SDCs are one-time fees based on the proposed new use or increase in use of a property. They apply to both new construction and residential projects which increase impact to city infrastructure.
Note: Depending on the project, SDCs may increase a project's budget substantially. It is important to determine the impact of SDC fees as early as possible in the process.
There are four City of Portland bureaus that have approved SDC charges. To find out if the SDCs apply to your project, and how much they will be, please use the following handout:
- Systems Development Charges (SDCs) - Portland Permitting & Development has compiled information about all the City's SDC fees into one webpage.
- Commercial Projects
- Residential Projects
Environmental Services
Service: Sewers: 503-823-7761
There is a sanitary sewer system SDC and a stormwater SDC.
Housing - Housing Development
Residential: 503-823-3270
Commercial: 503-823-9042
Portland Housing Bureau administers SDC exemption for affordable housing programs.
Parks and Recreation
Residential development; park capital improvements: 503-823-5105
These are one-time fees assessed to new residential and some commercial development in Portland. The fees cover a portion of the cost to provide for parks and recreation facilities that are needed to serve new residential development.
Transportation
Transportation Projects: 503-823-7002
You will be assessed an SDC if you receive a building permit from the City of Portland for new development or change the use of an existing building in a way that will generate additional trips to the site.
Water
Water Projects: 503-823-7368
The charge is based on the size of the meter installed and is assessed for all domestic and irrigation services. Fire lines are not assessed an SDC fee.
Joint Office of Homeless Services
Contact: 503-988-2525
Joint Office of Homeless Services administers SDC exemption for mass shelters and short-term housing.
School Construction Excise Tax
In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed a law (Senate Bill 1036) that helps Oregon school districts pay for a portion of the cost of new or expanded school facilities. The bill allows school boards, in cooperation with cities and counties, to tax new residential and non-residential development.
This tax requires developers to share the cost of growth with school districts. For more information about the tax, please review our current fees page.
Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax
Effective August 1, 2016, the City of Portland is collecting a tax on residential and commercial building projects with improvements valued at $100,000 or more. The tax is calculated as 1% of the permit valuation. The Portland Housing Bureau proposed the tax to help fund affordable housing programs and Portland City Council approved it in June, 2016.
Valuation methods
Read more about valuation methods.