Information
Portland, Oregon was the first U.S. city to adopt a residential deconstruction ordinance, requiring older homes be dismantled rather than demolished. Learn how the policy was developed, its measurable impacts on waste diversion and jobs, and what’s next for expanding deconstruction.
Overview and history
Download Portland's Residential Deconstruction Program summary to learn the history and evolution of Portland’s first-in-the-nation residential deconstruction ordinance, including how the policy was developed, measurable impacts, and future goals.
Key dates
- 2016: Portland Ordinance requires houses and duplexes built in 1916 or earlier, or any house designated a historic resource, to be deconstructed instead of demolished.
- 2018: Portland ordinance expanded to require houses and duplexes built in 1940 or earlier, or any house designated a historic resource, to be deconstructed instead of demolished.
City rules
- 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.
Portland deconstruction statistics
702 structures deconstructed (2016-2025)
- 493 primary structures deconstructed
- 89 accessory structures deconstructed
- 120 structures not defined (which is odd – either very old houses with less definition in permitting or outbuildings that were not categorized as accessory structures)
- 676,250 sq ft deconstructed – equivalent of 38 of 42 stories of Big Pink building
- Over 4.3 million pounds of lumber recovered for reuse
Per house averages
- Typical size 1,260 sq ft
- 4.37 tons diverted for reuse; average reuse salvage rate 18% excluding foundations.
- 19.45 tons sent to MRF; facilities vary, but ~21% is recovered for recycling including concrete, metals, cardboard, wood for hog fuel, and limited amounts of asphalt shingles and drywall.
- ~3,400 BF of lumber per house
- 7.6 kg of CO2eq emissions avoided vs. demo (DEQ study)
Program reporting
- Earth Advantage: Deconstruction Workforce Training Final Report (2016)
- City of Portland: Deconstruction Program Six-Month Status Report (2017)
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Materials Management Grant Deconstruction Grant Program Final Report (2017)
- PSU NeRC: Deconstruction in Portland, OR: Part II presentation (2018)
- City of Portland: Residential Demolition Ordinance Report to City Council (2020)
- City of Portland: City of Portland Advances Innovative Deconstruction Efforts with State Grant (2025)
Additional information
Publications related to the residential deconstruction program
- Paruszkiewicz, M., Liu, J., Hanes, R., Hoffman, E., Hulseman, P. (2016) The Economics of Residential Building Deconstruction in Portland, OR. PSU Northwest Economic Research Center.
- Willingham, E., Hulseman, P., Paruszkiewicz, M. (2017). Deconstruction in Portland: Summary of Activity. Portland State University.
- Nunes, A., Palmeri, J., Love, S. (2019). Deconstruction vs. Demolition: An evaluation of carbon and energy impacts from deconstructed homes in the City of Portland. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
- Arbelaez, R., Schimleck, L., Dalen, J., Wood, S., (2019) Evaluation of Lumber from Deconstructed Portland Residential Buildings. Wood and Fiber Science, October 2018, V. 51(4).
- Doherty, Q., Hungerford, F., Heironimus, A., Darlington, L. (2023). Construction and Demolition Waste Recovery and Reuse Project. Oregon State University and Lane County.
Articles about Portland’s program
- Earth Advantage: Repair and Repurpose is the Future of Buildings (2013)
- Oregon Live: Portland City Council to discuss deconstruction requirements (2016)
- Oregonian: Portland City Council hears differing opinions on deconstruction (2016)
- Willamette Week: Why Do 100-Year-Old Houses Have to be "Deconstructed" Instead of Demolished? (2016)
- Restore Oregon: Portland First in Nation to Mandate Deconstruction of Historic Homes (2016)
- CD Recycler: New Portland, Oregon, ordinance requires deconstruction (2016)
- Bloomberg: Tearing Down Homes, Building a Workforce (2017)
- Building Design and Construction: Cities promote deconstruction of old homes with mixed results (2018)
- ReBuilding Center: New Demolition Ordinance Creates Opportunities and Possible Challenges (2018)
- National Demolition Association: Portland may expand which old homes must be dismantled by hand (2019)
- The Municipal: Portland sees benefits of deconstruction (2022)
- Wired: Why Cities Want Old Buildings Taken Down Gently (2022)
- Grist: To keep building materials out of landfills, cities are embracing ‘deconstruction’ (2024)
- ArchDaily: Sustainable Policy: How Deconstruction Plans Are Revolutionizing Construction Waste Management in the United States (2024)
- Montavilla News: 1890 House Meticulous Deconstructed on NE 78th (2024)
- Columbia Climate School State of the Planet: Rings of Time: Seeking Clues to the Future in Urban Timber (2025)
- Yale Environment 360: Deconstructing Buildings: The Quest for New Life for Old Wood (2025)
Resources
- Build Reuse: Organization with mission to empower communities to turn construction and demolition waste into local resources.
- USGBC: From Demolition to Deconstruction: City Salvage and Reuse Policies(2019)
- C40 Knowledge: How to start deconstructing and stop demolishing your city’s built assets (2021)
- ReUse People (Oakland, CA)Deconstruction Ordinance (2021)
- Hennepin County, MN, MSR Design, Center for Sustainable Building Research, and Doors Unhinged: Project Manager’s Guide to Material Reuse in Commercial Buildings (2024)
- USDN Sustainable Consumption Toolkit: Encouraging and Mandating Building Deconstruction
From Policy to Practice documentary
In 2024, Daniela Salume, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, created this 40-minute documentary exploring the implementation of deconstruction ordinances in U.S. cities, including Portland. The film explores topics such as the economics of deconstruction, job creation, markets for salvaged materials, public awareness, and handling hazardous materials in historic buildings.