Update: The proposed fee changes for the City of Portland were adopted by the Portland City Council on May 18, 2022, and will take effect on July 1, 2022.
These proposed fee increases are subject to review and approval by the Portland City Council. The Bureau of Development Services also provides permitting and land use review services for properties located in unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, and those fees are subject to review and approval by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
Fees are set to cover the costs of services. The Bureau of Development Services faces increased costs of services during the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2022. Much of these increases are due to the cost-of-living adjustments and employee wage increases included in the recent collective bargaining agreement with the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). The DCTU represents more than 150 employees at the Bureau of Development Services.
A summary of the proposed fee changes is provided below:
| Service | Proposed Fee Increase, Effective July 1, 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Portland | Unincorporated Multnomah County | |
| Building | 5% | 5% |
| Mechanical | 5% | 5% |
| Electrical | 5% | 5% |
| Plumbing | 5% | 5% |
| Field Issuance Remodel | 9% | 9% |
| Facilities Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Site Development | 9% | 9% |
| Environmental Soils | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Signs | 7% | 7% |
| Zoning Enforcement | 0% | 0% |
| Neighborhood Inspections | 5% | 5% |
| Land Use Services | 5% | 5% |
For a complete list of changes, please review the proposed fee schedules.
What comes next
The Portland City Council will consider the proposed fee increases in a public hearing on Wednesday, May 11. You may provide testimony at this hearing. Please consult the City Council Clerk's website for information on how to provide testimony. The City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to approve the fee increases on Wednesday, May 18. The proposed fees for the City of Portland were adopted by the Portland City Council on May 18, 2022.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider and vote on the proposed fee increases for properties in unincorporated areas on Thursday, June 16. Please consult the Multnomah County Board Clerk’s website for information on how to provide testimony.
If the fee increases are approved as proposed, they will apply to all new permit applications received on or after July 1, 2022. Learn more about how to submit a permit application under fees in effect before July 1.
What about Systems Development Charges?
The fees listed above are different from Systems Development Charges (SDCs). SDCs are charged by bureaus that provide utilities and other public facilities such as the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and Portland Parks & Recreation.
If you have questions about whether particular SDCs may increase on July 1, 2022, please contact those bureaus directly. General contact information is provided below. For more detailed information, please visit the SDC information page.
- Portland Bureau of Transportation: PBOTFrontDesk@portlandoregon.gov
- Portland Water Bureau: devrev@portlandoregon.gov
- Bureau of Environmental Services: BESDevelopmentReview@portlandoregon.gov
- Portland Parks & Recreation: parks.sdc@portlandoregon.gov