The Bureau of Development Services is proposing changes to fees for its various services. Fees are set to cover the costs of providing services. Development Services faces increased costs for labor as well as for materials and services during the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2023.
These proposed fee changes are subject to review and approval by the Portland City Council. Development Services also provides permitting and land use review services for properties located in some unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, and those fees are subject to review and approval by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
A summary of the proposed fee changes is provided below:
| Service | Proposed fee increases, effective July 1, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Portland | Unincorporated Multnomah County | |
| Building Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Mechanical Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Electrical Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Plumbing Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Field Issuance Remodel Program | 9% | 9% |
| Facilities Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Site Development Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Environmental Soils | 5% | 5% |
| Sign Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Zoning Enforcement | No change | No change |
| Neighborhood Inspections | 5% | 5% |
| Land Use Services | 5% | 5% |
| Cannabis Licensing | 5% | Not applicable |
| Noise Review | 5% | Not applicable |
For the complete details of the proposed changes, please review the fee schedules listed below.
What comes next
The Portland City Council will consider the proposed fee increases in a public hearing on Wednesday, May 24. You may provide testimony at this hearing or in writing. The City Council will vote on whether to approve the fee increases at a later hearing.
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 15. 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 applications for permits or other services received on or after July 1, 2023.
What about System Development Charges?
The fees listed below are different from System 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, 2023, 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