Chapter 17.27 Structural Driveways

City Code Chapter

(Chapter replaced by Ordinance 184957, effective November 25, 2011.)

17.27.200 Structural Driveway Defined.

A structural driveway is any structure intended to provide vehicular access to parking and maneuvering space on private property from a public right of way.

The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may grant a revocable permit to an abutting property owner for the construction and maintenance of a structural driveway within a public street if in the Director of the Bureau of Transportation’s judgment there is no other available means of obtaining vehicular access to a structure on abutting private property.

The applicant shall submit to the Director of the Bureau of Transportation two complete site plans, two sets of structural plans and calculations bearing the registration stamp and signature of an engineer licensed in the State of Oregon to design structures, and a non‑refundable application fee of $250. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may require the applicant to submit a complete geotechnical report and any recommendations made in connection with such report may be required.

A. The City Engineer will review the application to determine compliance with design standards, possible conflicts with public facilities, and compatibility with existing or future street plans. If in the course of the review the City Engineer determines that modifications to the proposed plan are necessary, the applicant shall make the requested modifications and resubmit the plan to the City Engineer with all required corrections.
B. The decision of the City Engineer as to the suitability of the proposed location, materials used, technical requirements of specifications and plans shall be final and conclusive.

A. Load ratings and structural design shall be in accordance with the most current edition of the Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in effect at the time of permit issuance or such alternative specifications as are adopted by the City Engineer.
B. Structural driveways shall have a minimum load rating of H‑15 except that in cases where the structural driveway accesses only one single family residential structure from a Local Service Traffic Street as defined by the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, the City Engineer may allow a structural driveway in conformance with Uniform Building Code standards if, in the opinion of the City Engineer, the circumstances are such that the lower rating will not create a hazard to the public or users of the structural driveway and permanent vehicle barriers are installed to prevent access to the structure by vehicles exceeding eight feet in height.
C. The City Engineer may require vehicle barriers, railings, and other appurtenances in excess of AASHTO standards and higher load ratings if in the City Engineer’s opinion such appurtenances are necessary to protect the public and users of the structural driveway.

A. Permits for structural driveways will be issued only to the owner of the property abutting the half of the street area in which the structural driveway is proposed to be built. The burdens and benefits of any such permit shall run with the property abutting the half of the street area in which the structural driveway is proposed to be built. Upon sale or disposition of the property, the permit shall automatically transfer to any new owner of the property, except when the permit specifically prohibits such transfer.
B. The abutting property owner shall be liable to any person who is injured or otherwise suffers damage by reason of the property owners use of the street area. Furthermore, said abutting property owner(s) shall be liable to the City of Portland for any judgment or expense incurred or paid by the City by reason of the existence of a structural driveway in the street area.
C. This permit shall be for the use of the street area only, and shall not exempt the permittees from obtaining any license or permit required by the City Code or Ordinances for any act to be performed under this permit, nor shall this permit waive the provisions of any City Code, Ordinance, or the City Charter, except as herein stated.
D. The conditions in a permit for a structural driveway are burdens upon the abutting property which shall run with the land, and the permit shall be recorded with the Multnomah County Records Division, and the cost of recording shall be paid by the applicant.

A. A structural driveway permit may be revoked by the Director of the Bureau of Transportation:
1. 1. Upon determination of a public need for the area;
2. 2. If the structural driveway is in conflict with any public improvement plan;
3. 3. If the permittee fails to maintain the structure to the City Engineer’s satisfaction;
4. 4. If the permittee allows a dangerous condition, as determined by the City Engineer, to continue for more than twenty days after being given notice to correct the condition; or
5. 5. Upon failure to comply with any condition of the permit.
B. The City Council may revoke any structural driveway permit for any reason the Council determines to be in the best interest of the City.
C. No grant of any permit, expenditure of money in reliance thereon, or lapse of time shall give the permittee any right to the continued existence of a structure or to any damages or claims against the City arising out of revocation.

Upon revocation of the permit, the permittee or any successor permittee, shall at permittee’s own cost remove such structure within 30 days after written notice to the permittee by the City of such revocation, unless the City Council specifies a shorter period, and shall return the street area in which the structure was located to the condition of the street area immediately surrounding it, to the satisfaction of the Director of the Bureau of Transportation. If the permittee does not remove the structure and/or return the street area to a condition satisfactory to the Director of the Bureau of Transportation, the Director of the Bureau of Transportation may do so, and the permittee shall be personally liable to the City for any and all costs of dismantling the structure and reconstructing the street area. The costs of removal and reconstruction shall become a lien upon the abutting property until paid by the permittee.

The fee for plan review, permit issuance, and any City inspection of structural driveways shall be the full cost incurred by the City for such services. The minimum fee shall be $250. If full cost will exceed $250, the applicant shall pay any additional costs prior to issuance of the permit. Amounts paid by the applicant in excess of full City costs, which exceed the $250 minimum fee, will be refunded to the applicant.

The City Engineer may inspect the construction; require the permittee to retain the services of a special inspector who will submit inspection reports directly to the City Engineer, or a combination of the above. It shall be permittee’s responsibility to obtain the required inspections and failure to do so is grounds for revocation of the permit.

See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.