Services, Guides, and Information
28 services and resources found
About Development Services (BDS)
Information
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.
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.
Help us improve. We always look for ways to improve key processes that result in faster, better service.
When is a residential permit needed? When don't you need a permit for a 1 or 2 family home? Learn more about home repair permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, plumbing permits and zoning permits and work that needs a permit for a 1- or 2-family home.
When is a residential permit needed? When don't you need a permit for a 1 or 2-family home? Learn about residential building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, plumbing permits and zoning permits and work that requires a permit for a 1 or 2-family home. Also known as Brochure 2.
The Residential Infill Project allows for more types of homes in more areas of Portland, but current homeowners should be aware of unsolicited offers to buy their homes.
Report a problem to Development Services or to one of the other City bureaus during the development process. Get help with conflict resolution and a path to elevate your concern with the City of Portland. If you need to elevate a problem, start here.
Sign up for email alerts and newsletters from the Bureau of Development Services. Join our email list today. The Plans Examiner is a monthly digest of news, events and helpful resources. Sign up now!
Get help with the building permit application form with these instructions. Complete the required permit application fields and learn what each field means. Examples are provided.
This step-by-step guide explains how to get a permit in the City of Portland. Learn how to research a property, find out what you can do on a site, what you need to get a permit, when you can get a permit and how to book inspections online. Learn more about permits and how permitting works.
Learn more about how height is measured in single-dwelling zones.
If you want to buy, install or use a mobile vending cart or food cart, you need to know which Building and Zoning Code standards apply. Get information about permits and resources for food carts, food trucks, mobile food units and vending carts in the City of Portland.
Lots that are less than 32 feet wide are called Narrow Lots.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
External Resource
Helping people and communities achieve optimum physical, mental and social well-being.
Plan Review Groups
Information
Permit review process information. Learn more about which groups review a project.
Converting a structure with one or two dwelling units to one with three or more units can trigger additional building code requirements.
Residential Infill - Lunch and Learn Q&A
Information
The following questions were asked during the Residential Infill Lunch and Learn presentations on June 10 and 22, 2021. Some questions were answered at the end of the presentations. All questions and answers are listed below.
The residential infill options result in multiple units on one lot. One or all the units may be rented. Some residential infill options also allow for the land to be divided through a Middle Housing Land Division, so the units can be bought and sold separately.
Are you looking to add more dwelling units to your property while keeping an existing house? Several options are available for your project.
In exchange for more flexibility and units, the single-dwelling zones code requires that you provide more information about the property’s floor area ratio. The size of new structures or additions are limited based on the size of the lot and size of all structures on the lot.
Learn more about when you need a permit to add or replace a window. Building Code requirements for windows in single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses, and detached accessory dwelling units. Need information about window permits in Portland, start here. (Also known as Brochure 10)
Share your feedback with Development Services.
Solar Permits
Service
Apply for solar permits online using DevHub. Learn about solar permitting, application types, submittal requirements and fees to install solar panels and solar water heating systems in residential and commercial buildings.
How to calculate the floor area ratio in single-dwelling zones.
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