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About deconstruction

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The inside of a home in the midst of deconstruction, with walls and ceilings removed to expose the wood beams.
Deconstruction offers environmental and other benefits over demolition. Portland has had a deconstruction requirement for older residential homes since 2016.

What is deconstruction?

Unlike demolition, which uses heavy machinery to crush and tear apart buildings, deconstruction involves carefully disassembling buildings by hand.

Benefits of deconstruction over demolition 

Over a quarter of Portland's landfill waste comes from the construction, renovation, and demolition of homes and commercial buildings. Much of this waste includes materials that could be reused instead of being discarded.  

Reduces waste: Deconstruction allows wood and other materials to be salvaged and reused for new construction or renovation projects.  Since Portland’s residential deconstruction requirement began in 2016, nearly 600 houses have been taken apart, saving about 2,000 tons of wood, along with doors, hardware, light fixtures, appliances, windows, and more.

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions: Deconstruction reduces landfill waste and decreases the need for manufacturing new materials, which helps lower greenhouse gas emissions. 

Creates and supports local industry and green jobs: Since enacting a deconstruction requirement in 2016, Portland has seen a proliferation of locally owned deconstruction contractors and salvaged building material retailers. 

Stacks of lumber salvaged from deconstruction projects are shown stacked in a retail salvage space.

Portland’s deconstruction requirement

In 2016, Portland became the first city in the nation to require deconstruction for residential buildings of a certain age.

This first ordinance required homes built in or before 1916 to be deconstructed rather than demolished. In 2020, the threshold was raised to include homes built in or before 1940. 

Since Portland passed its deconstruction ordinance, Seattle, WA; San Antonio, TX; and Hennepin County, MN, have created their own deconstruction programs.  

The inside of a home in the midst of deconstruction, showing bare wood studs and a wood staircase.

Learn more

Administrative Rules: Describes the standards and expectations for the Deconstruction of Buildings Law as authorized in the City Code, Chapter 17.106.

Chapter 17.106 Deconstruction of Buildings Law: This Chapter of City Code contains the requirements for deconstruction of certain structures.

Deconstruction Resolution: Adopted Feb. 17, 2016, this resolution directs BPS to develop code language for new deconstruction requirements that go into effect in October 2016.

Deconstruction Ordinance: Adopted in July 2016, effective Oct. 31, 2016. Includes Exhibit A.

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