Services, Guides, and Information
90 services and resources found
About Development Services (BDS)
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Read about the mission, goals, values and equity commitment of the Bureau of Development Services. Get information about visiting BDS, our operating plan and the Development Services organizational chart. Review Director Rebecca Esau's calendar.
Learn more about the requirements that apply to accessory dwelling units related to water, sanitary and stormwater sewer connections.
Learn about accessory short-term rentals (ASTR) when you have 3-5 bedrooms to rent out. Get all required forms for ASTR Type B Conditional Use Reviews for rental units, mother-in-law apartments, renting out part of your home, renting out a bedroom, and basement units.
Learn more about what is required to apply for and operate an accessory short-term rental (ASTR).
Get permit application forms, brochures, handouts and more forms from Development Services. Find all permitting brochures. Search the list of sample site plans like the sample basement plan, drawings and submittal requirements. Start here for the full list of all BDS forms and all BDS handouts.
Learn more about the ADU SDC waiver program. Apply for an SDC waiver for your new ADU. If you are proposing an accessory dwelling unit you can apply for system development charges to be waived. Learn more and apply for an ADU SDC waiver now. Short-term rentals are not eligible for this program.
Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Information
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Learn more about cleaning up asbestos and lead paint in the City of Portland. Find out how to report concerns to the Oregon Construction Contractors Board and the Oregon Health Authority.
Become a FIR Contractor
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Join the FIR Program as a contractor or architect. Learn about how to register and next steps. *Waitlist to join is currently closed. Please check back again*
For one and two family residential dwellings. Find permit and construction requirements for fences, decks, sheds, patio and porch covers, retaining walls, ponds, water features, swimming pools, hot tubs and other outdoor residential projects. Also known as Brochure 3.
Capital Improvement Projects and Trees
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Learn more about trees and development on City-owned or Managed Sites and Projects in the Right-of-Way. This page is for Capital Improvement Projects, Development on City-owned or Managed sites, & Projects in the Right-of-Way.
Check Permit Timelines
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View information, updated weekly, on the numbers of residential and commercial building permits in different phases of the development review process over the past 20 business days and the average numbers of days for each review phase.
Check the status of your permit
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Check the status of your building permit, trade permit or other residential and commercial permits. Project status reports are updated daily. Check your permit status from the daily permit request list, Portland Maps and the daily pre-issuance list. Get the applicant paid overtime form.
City and State building codes and administrative rules, code guides and program guides. Review the City and State codes and administrative rules carried out by Development Services. Find all codes, program guides and administrative rules on this page. Review MOUs/IGAs and request a code change.
City Title Code Guides
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City Title Code Guides provide answers about the application of specific City of Portland Titles and outline optional alternates. Review a list of City Title Code Guides carried out by Development Services and read each code guide.
Learn more about property compliance inspections and code enforcement. Report code violations online or by phone. Apply for a lien reduction review if you had code enforcement liens placed on your property. For neighborhood safety, camping rules and work done without a permit start here.
Commercial Building Code Guides
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Find all commercial building code guides administered by Development Services. Code guides provide answers about the application of building code and outline optional alternates. View a list of commercial building code guides published by Development Services and read each code guide.
Commercial Electrical Code Guides
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Find all commercial electrical code guides administered by Development Services. Code guides provide answers about the application of specific codes. View a list of commercial electrical code guides carried out by Development Services. Get code guides that explain how codes and rules are applied.
Commercial Mechanical Code Guides
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Find all commercial mechanical code guides administered by Development Services. Code guides provide answers about the application of specific codes and outline optional alternates. Get code guides that explain how codes and rules are applied.
Commercial Permits Forms
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Get all commercial building forms and multi-family structure (3 or more units) forms from Development Services. Find the list of commercial forms like the commercial building permit application, commercial life safety forms and commercial brochures. Need a list of BDS commercial forms, start here.
Commercial Plumbing Code Guides
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Find all commercial plumbing code guides administered by Development Services. Code guides provide answers about the application of specific codes. View a list of commercial plumbing code guides carried out by Development Services. Get code guides that explain how the codes and rules are applied.
This page lists phone numbers for development managers and supervisors at the Bureau of Development Services and other City permitting bureaus.
Get the BDS department contacts list. General phone numbers for Development Services including code enforcement, general inquiries, inspections, permitting and more. Get email addresses and contact information for Development Services. Need the BDS organizational chart, start here.
Contact the FIR team
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Find phone numbers and email addresses for inspectors, technical staff, and the supervisor of the Field Issuance Remodel (FIR) Program.
Contractor License Requirements
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Get information about permit requirements in the City of Portland. Learn more about licensing requirements for contractors.
Create a Tree Inventory and a Tree Plan
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Learn more about the City's specific tree plan requirements. Get a worksheet to help you complete your tree plan. Find out what the City inspector and consulting arborist must agree upon. Learn more about creating a tree project narrative and what that must include. Get help with your tree plan.
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