River Reviews

Information
Learn more about the City of Portland's River Review process. Get the land use review application and the early assistance application. Find helpful information about next steps for a River Review.
On this page

The River Environmental (e), River General (g*) and River Recreational (r*) overlay zones are applied within the Central and South Reaches of the Willamette River. River Review is required when a development or regulated activity in the River Environmental overlay zone is not exempt from the River Environmental overlay zone regulations and either does not meet the standards of subsection 33.475.440, or there are no development standards applicable to the proposal.

River Review can also be triggered when corrections to violations of the River Environmental overlay zone regulations are warranted, when an applicant wishes to modify the River Environmental overlay zone, or when an applicant wishes to modify River General/Recreational development standards. The purpose of the River Review is to protect, conserve, and enhance identified resources and functional values in the River Environmental overlay zone, compensate for unavoidable significant detrimental impact to those resources and functional values, and ensure the success of mitigation and enhancement activities.

River Review Procedure

River Reviews are processed using a Type II procedure, except as described in 33.475.450.B.4 when River Review is required to correct a violation of the River Environmental overlay zone regulations. River Reviews for corrections to violations are processed through either a Type II or Type III procedure.  

Type III River Reviews will always require a pre-application conference. Optional early assistance appointments are available to discuss your development plans with an environmental planner prior to submitting a proposal for review.

Information found in Portland Zoning Code Chapters 33.475 and 33.865 will identify the specific river regulations which may apply to your proposal.

River Review application forms

Visit Land Use and Final Plat Applications for instructions on how to apply for a Land Use Review.

 Complete this application form to apply:

An optional Early Assistance appointment may be requested to identify and discuss any major issues that may impact the River Review process: 

More information about River Reviews 

Use this checklist to prepare River Review applications:

Natural Resource and Scenic Protection Plan Documents

Summarizes all land use procedure types:

Outline of timeline for Type II Procedures:

Outline of timeline for Type III Procedures:

Forms for Decisions that Require Landscape Monitoring Reports:

Extensive list of native plants and the various Portland plant communities:

Fee information for River Reviews 

Review the Land Use Services Fees Schedule.

Still need help?

If you have questions after reviewing the information on this page, please schedule a free 15-minute appointment with a city planner or set up an Early Assistance meeting for a deeper discussion.