City Code Chapter
(Chapter replaced by Ordinance 167684, effective May 18, 1994.)
17.28.010 Sidewalk Defined.
(Amended by Ordinance 177028, effective December 14, 2002.)
- A "sidewalk" means the portion of the street intended for the use of pedestrians. Unless the street area has been designated as a pedestrian mall, or unless the entire street has been designated primarily for pedestrian use, for the purpose of this Chapter, "sidewalk" is that part of a street on the side there of intended for the use of pedestrians, improved by surfacing.
17.28.011 Planting and Parking Strip Defined.
(Added by Ordinance 184957; amended by Ordinance 185397, effective July 6, 2012.)
- “Planting Strip” and “Parking Strip” means the area between the curb, or in the case where there is no curb the edge of the roadway, and the abutting property line not improved by surfacing that is intended for the use of pedestrians. Any openings made in a surfaced area between the roadway and the abutting property line for the purpose of planting trees or other vegetation shall be considered part of the planting or parking strip. Grates or other coverings of said areas shall not be considered as surfacing intended for the use of pedestrians.
17.28.015 Owner Defined.
- "Owner" means the owner of the real property or the contract purchaser of real property of record as shown on the last available assessment roll in the office of the county assessor.
17.28.020 Responsibility for Sidewalks and Curbs.
- A. The owner(s) of land abutting any street in the City shall be responsible for constructing, reconstructing, maintaining and repairing the sidewalks, curbs, driveways and parking strips abutting or immediately adjacent to said land, except as provided in Subsections B. and C. Said property owner(s) shall be liable for any and all damages to any person who is injured or otherwise suffers damage resulting from the defective condition of any sidewalk, curb, driveway or parking strip adjacent to said land, or by reason of the property owner’s failure to keep such sidewalk, curb, driveway or parking strip in safe condition and good repair. Said property owner(s) shall be liable to the City of Portland for any amounts which may be paid or incurred by the City by reason of all claims, judgment or settlement, and for all reasonable costs of defense, including investigation costs and Attorney fees, by reason of said property owners’ failure to satisfy the obligations imposed by the Charter and Code of the City of Portland to maintain, construct, and repair such sidewalks, curbs, driveways and/or parking strips.
- B. Curbs shall be maintained by the City, except when in combination with the sidewalk and when they have been willfully damaged or damaged by tree roots. Intersection corners and curbs adjacent thereto may be installed by the City when sidewalks and curbs are constructed up to the intersection on the same side of the street.
- C. Green street or other public stormwater management facilities located within the right of way shall be modified or repaired only by the City or under an appropriate permit from the Bureau of Environmental Services.
- D. The City Engineer shall maintain general construction and maintenance specifications for sidewalks, curbs, driveways and/or parking strips. The City Engineer shall use the specifications to determine compliance with this Chapter of Code. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation shall provide copies of the specification to any person upon request, and make the specifications available for public inspection during normal office hours.
17.28.025 Property Owner Responsible for Snow and Ice on Sidewalks.
(Added by Ordinance 176585, effective July 5, 2002.)
- A. The owner(s) and/or occupant(s) of land adjacent to any street in the City shall be responsible for snow and ice removal from sidewalks abutting or immediately adjacent to such land, notwithstanding any time limitations.
- B. Property owner(s) and/or occupant(s) shall be liable for any and all damages to any person who is injured or otherwise suffers damage resulting from failure to remove snow and/or ice accumulations.
- C. Property owner(s) and/or occupant(s) shall be liable to the City of Portland for any amounts paid or incurred consequent from claims, judgment or settlement, and for all reasonable investigation costs and attorney fees, resulting from the responsible property owner’s or occupant’s failure to remove snow and ice accumulations from such sidewalks as imposed by this Code.
17.28.030 Notice for Construction of Sidewalks and Curbs.
- Where the sidewalk or curb in front of any lot, part thereof, or parcel of land is or becomes so worn or deteriorated as, in the opinion of the City Engineer, to require a new sidewalk or curb to be constructed, or where no sidewalk or curb exists and, in the opinion of the Director of the Bureau of Transportation, a sidewalk or curb or both are needed, it shall be the duty of the City Engineer to post a notice on the adjacent property headed “Notice to Construct Sidewalk” (or curb, or both). The notice shall in legible characters direct the owner, agent, or occupant of the property immediately to construct a sidewalk or curb or both in a good and substantial manner and in accordance with the City ordinances, regulations and plans therefore which will be furnished by the City Engineer upon application. The City Engineer shall file with the Revenue Division an affidavit of the posting of the notice, stating when and where the same was posted, and shall furnish upon request proper specifications, standards and information for the construction thereof. The City Engineer shall send by mail a notice to construct the sidewalk or curb, or both, to the owner of the property, if known, or to the agent of the owner, if known, directed to the post office address of the owner or agent, when the post office address is known to the City Engineer. If the post office address is unknown to the City Engineer, the notice shall be directed to the owner or agent at the address where the notice was posted. A mistake in the name of the owner or agent, or a name other than that of the owner or agent of such property, or any mistake in the address, shall not render void the notice, but in such case the posted notice shall be sufficient.
17.28.035 Curb and Intersection Corner Ramps.
(Amended by Ordinance 184957, effective November 25, 2011.)
- A. All newly constructed or reconstructed sidewalk intersection corners shall have included, either within the corner or within the curb area immediately adjacent thereto, ramps allowing access to the sidewalk and street by persons with disabilities as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- B. The ramps referred to in Subsection (a) shall be constructed in a good and substantial manner and in accordance with the plans and specifications established by the City Engineer. The particular plan to be used at a given intersection corner shall be appropriate to the location as determined by the City Engineer.
17.28.040 Construction Alternatives.
- In case three or more adjacent properties are posted with notice to construct sidewalk or curb, or both, as set forth in Section 17.28.030, they may petition for such construction as a local improvement. Otherwise it shall be the duty of the owners of properties posted with such notice to construct the same. Before constructing the sidewalk or curb, or both, the owner, designated agent or the occupant of the property intending to construct the same, shall obtain from the Director of the Bureau of Transportation a permit therefore, which permit shall prescribe the kind of sidewalk or curb, or both, to be constructed, the material to be used and the width thereof. After notice to construct sidewalk or curb, or both, has been posted, the owner, agent or occupant shall construct the same within 30 days from the date of posting, or within said time shall show cause, if any there be, by a written remonstrance addressed to the City Council stating why the same should not be constructed. The Council will grant a hearing to the remonstrator at a regular meeting as soon thereafter as the same can be filed on regular Council Calendar. The Council will thereupon determine whether or not such sidewalk or curb, or both, shall be constructed. If the remonstrator is not present at the time of such determination by the Council, the Revenue Division shall forthwith notify such person of such determination of the Council by mail sent to the address given upon the written remonstrance. Failure of the Revenue Division to send the notice, or failure of the remonstrator to receive the same, or any other mistake therein, shall not render void or ineffective the lien to be imposed upon the property in the event of City construction. In the event that the Council determines that the sidewalk or curb, or both, shall be constructed, the owner or designated agent or the occupant shall within 10 days thereafter begin the construction thereof and diligently prosecute the same to final completion.
17.28.050 City Construction if Owner Fails to Construct.
(Amended by Ordinance 182760, effective June 5, 2009.)
- If no petition for local improvement is filed, and if the owner, agent or occupant of property posted with notice construct sidewalk or curb, or both, shall fail, neglect or refuse to begin the construction of the sidewalk or curb within 30 days after posting of notice, or within 10 days after order by the Council in the event of a remonstrance, the City shall construct the same as soon thereafter as such work can be conveniently scheduled. The cost for the City to have the repairs made shall be assessed upon the property.
17.28.060 Location, Size and Materials of Sidewalks and Curbs.
(Amended by Ordinances 182760 and 184957, effective November 25, 2011.)
- The Director of the Bureau of Transportation shall determine the distance between the improved sidewalk and the property line, which, in residential areas shall generally be 2 feet unless a different distance is specified. The width of the improved sidewalks, the grade thereof, materials for construction or reconstruction, and the location and size of curbs, shall be designated by the City Engineer. The class and kind of any fill materials and requirement thereof shall be designated by the City Engineer. Based on a finding of necessity, the Director of the Bureau of Transportation may permit installation of a temporary sidewalk for a specified period, and the City Engineer shall designate specifications for the temporary improvement.
17.28.065 Bicycle Parking.
(Added by Ordinance 177028; amended by Ordinances 178173, 182389, 182760 and 184957, effective November 25, 2011.)
- Bicycle parking in the right-of-way adjacent to multifamily, commercial, institutional, employment, or industrial land uses helps to achieve the City's goal of making the bicycle an integral part of daily life in Portland. Bicycle parking in the right-of-way provides convenient, accessible, and clearly visible parking in areas where buildings are generally built to the sidewalk.
- A. As a part of street improvements adjacent to developing or redeveloping property, the Director of the Bureau of Transportation may, where determined appropriate and practicable, require one or more bicycle racks.
- B. The location and type of rack shall be determined by the Director of the Bureau of Transportation based on sidewalk width, location of other elements in the right-of-way, and adjacent land uses.
- C. Bicycle Parking Fund. An owner of a building without surface parking, or without parking or open areas within 50 feet of the main entrance may choose to pay a fee to the Bureau of Transportation Bicycle Parking Fund in lieu of short-term bicycle parking required by Table 266-6 in Title 33, Planning and Zoning. The Bureau of Transportation will use the collected fees to install bicycle parking and associated improvements in the right-of-way.
- 1. Authority. The City Council delegates authority to the Director of the Bureau of Transportation to adopt administrative rules and procedures necessary to implement provisions of this section. All rules pursuant to this authority shall be filed with the Office of City Auditor and be available for public inspection.
- 2. Calculation of required fund contributions. Applicants must contribute the cost to purchase, install and maintain bicycle parking and associated improvements. The cost to purchase, install, and maintain bicycle parking will be adjusted annually as determined by the Director of the Bureau of Transportation.
- 3. Payment. The Bicycle Parking Fund fee is due to be paid upon issuance of a building permit. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation is authorized to refund the Bicycle Parking Fund fee where the development approved by building permit is not constructed and the building permit is cancelled.
- 4. Width of Sidewalk Corridor. The sidewalk corridor where bicycle parking is to be installed must meet or exceed the width recommended in the Pedestrian Design Guide for installation of bicycle parking. In no case may bicycle parking, installed through the Bicycle Parking Fund be placed in a sidewalk corridor of less than 10 feet in width.
17.28.070 Owners to Repair Sidewalks and Curbs Notice to Repair.
- After a sidewalk has been improved or constructed, either alone or in combination with a curb, the owner of land abutting the street area in which the sidewalk has been constructed shall be responsible for maintaining such sidewalk and curb in good repair. If the City Engineer finds that any such sidewalk or curb needs repair, he or she shall post a notice on the adjacent property headed “Notice to Repair Sidewalk” (or curb) which shall in legible characters direct the owner, agent, or occupant of the property immediately to repair the sidewalk or curb, or both in a good and substantial manner in accordance with the plans, specification and regulations of the City. The City Engineer shall send by mail a notice to repair the sidewalk or curb, or both, to the owner, if known, of such property, or to the agent (if known) of the owner, directed to the post office address of the owner or agent when known, or if the post office address is unknown, the notice shall be directed to the owner or agent at the address where the notice was posted. A mistake in the name of the owner or agent, or a name other than that of the true owner or agent of the property, or mistake in address shall not invalidate said notice, but in such case the posted notice shall be sufficient.
17.28.080 Permit for Sidewalk and Curb Repairs.
- After notice to repair defective sidewalk or curb, or both, has been posted, the owner, agent or occupant shall make the repairs within 60 calendar days from the date of posting. Any person desiring to repair a defective sidewalk, curb or both, either before or after notice to repair has been posted, shall first obtain a permit. The permit shall prescribe the kind of repair to be made, the material to be used, and specifications therefore, including the location and size. Any person desiring to construct or reconstruct sidewalk or curb, or both, shall first obtain a permit therefore and pay the fees elsewhere prescribed in Chapter 17.24.
17.28.090 Repair by City of Portland.
- If the owner, agent or occupant of any lot, part thereof or parcel of land which has been posted with notice to repair a sidewalk or curb, or both, shall fail, neglect or refuse to make repairs within the period of 60 calendar days after posting, the City Engineer may as soon as the work can be conveniently scheduled, make the repairs, and the cost shall be determined and assessment made as provided in this Chapter.
17.28.100 Driveways Defined.
(Repealed by Ordinance 190604, effective December 17, 2021.)
17.28.110 Driveways - Permits and Conditions.
(Replaced by Ordinance 190604, effective December 17, 2021.)
- A. Purpose. Ensure that driveway locations promote the safe and orderly flow of pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicular traffic, preserve on-street parking, preserve or establish street trees, maximize opportunities for vegetated stormwater management, reduce conflicts with pedestrians and bicycles and enhance the pedestrian environment.
- B. Authority. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation or their designee may issue a permit to construct a driveway in the public right-of-way subject to the conditions and requirements herein. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may refer any driveway permit application to the City Traffic Engineer and the Oregon Department of Transportation as appropriate, for a review of the operation, location and width. The City Traffic Engineer shall recommend such conditions and limitations regarding the location and operation of driveways as are found necessary to ensure the safe and orderly flow of pedestrian, bicycles and vehicular traffic, avoid adverse effects on transit operations, and preserve on-street parking.
- The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may require an applicant for a driveway permit to provide evidence that the proposed driveway will access legal parking and maneuvering space on property as specified in PCC Title 33. The Director may refuse to issue a permit if the applicant cannot show evidence the Bureau of Development Services has determined that the driveway will access a legal parking space.
- The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may require repair and/or reconstruction of an adjacent or abutting driveway, curb or sidewalk, or a portion thereof that will be impacted as a result of the construction of a new or reconstructed driveway.
- C. Driveway definition: For the purposes of this Code section, a driveway is a gravel or paved way for vehicular traffic extending from the roadway to the adjacent property line(s) for the purpose of providing access to parking as provided under PCC Chapter 33.266.
- D. Reconstruction and Revocation of Existing Driveways.
- 1. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may revoke any driveway permit or require the modification of any driveway if:
- a. The area occupied by the driveway is needed for right-of-way purposes; or
- b. Continued operation of the driveway interferes with the safe and orderly flow of pedestrians, bicycles or vehicular traffic; or
- c. The abutting owner has failed to comply with all specifications and conditions of the permit; or
- d. The driveway does not access a legal parking space on abutting property per PCC Title 33.
- 2. The Council may revoke any driveway permit if it deems such action will be in the public interest.
- 1. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may revoke any driveway permit or require the modification of any driveway if:
- E. Enforcement: Within 60 calendar days of written notice from the Director of the Bureau of Transportation to close or modify a driveway, the abutting property owner shall obtain any required permits and make the required corrections. If the abutting owner fails to make the required corrections within 60 calendar days, the City may perform the required work at the expense of the abutting property owner and the cost shall be determined and assessment made as provided in this Chapter.
- F. Exceptions. For any driveway that does not conform with the requirements of this chapter and administrative rule TRN-10.40, review and approval through a Driveway Design Exception shall be required. Any applicant requesting a Driveway Design Exception shall provide information, as determined necessary by the City Traffic Engineer, to support the application. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation may establish conditions and limitations deemed necessary to ensure the safe and orderly flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Appeal of the decision can be submitted in writing to the Director or their designee(s). The Director or their designee(s) will review the determination and send a final decision to the applicant.
- G. References. Refer to administrative rule “TRN-10.40 – Driveways – Operation and Location” for additional requirements.
- Refer to City of Portland Standard Drawings for additional design requirements.
17.28.120 After Construction Driveways Deemed Part of Sidewalk.
- After a driveway has been constructed, it shall be deemed a part of the sidewalk whether or not there is a sidewalk improvement extending along the balance of the frontage property, for all purposes of repair or reconstruction. Requirements relating to construction or reconstruction of a sidewalk as provided in this Chapter, shall be applicable to reconstruction of a driveway, except that the property owner shall have no option to petition for a local improvement solely for such purpose.
17.28.130 Reconstruction of Existing Driveways.
(Amended by Ordinance 186716, effective August 15, 2014.)
- If the City Engineer finds that any driveway does not conform to the requirements of this Chapter and should be reconstructed for the protection or convenience of pedestrians or vehicles using the street area, the City Engineer may post notice and require the reconstruction or removal of the driveway. If the abutting property owner fails to make the required corrections within 60 days the City may perform the required work at the expense of the abutting property owner, and the cost shall be determined and assessment made as provided in this Chapter.
17.28.140 City Charges for Construction or Repair of Sidewalks, Curbs and Driveways.
(Amended by Ordinances 182760 and 189837, effective February 28, 2020.)
- The property owner shall be charged for the construction, reconstruction or repair of sidewalks, curbs and driveways. The cost for the City to have repairs made will be assessed as a lien upon the property.
- A. Special structural, excavation and fill jobs and jobs in areas of traffic and pedestrian congestion shall be charged at the discretion of the City Engineer. Determination of whether a job is of special type shall be made by the City Engineer.
- B. Cost basis charges for work may be made at the discretion of the City Engineer if the actual cost can be conveniently and accurately determined.
17.28.150 Billing for Charges.
- A. When work is completed by the City on any construction, reconstruction or repair of a sidewalk, curb or driveway, the amount of the charge shall be determined by the City Engineer and reported to the Revenue Division. The Revenue Division shall calculate a proposed assessment that includes the amount of the improvement charge plus 10% of the charge to defray the administrative costs of notice, assessment and lien recording.
- B. The Revenue Division shall prepare a proposed assessment notice for the owner of each property or the owner’s agent of the affected property as shown in the County tax records. The notice shall be mailed at least 21 calendar days before the public hearing on the proposed assessment, and the notice shall consist of the following information:
- 1. The legal description and site address of the property;
- 2. The amount of the proposed assessment against the property;
- 3. The manner and deadline for filing a written remonstrance to the proposed assessment amount;
- 4. The date, time and location of the public hearing for Council consideration of the proposed assessment; and
- 5. Contact information for sidewalk repair.
- C. Any owner of property proposed to be assessed for sidewalk repair may file a remonstrance to the proposed assessment with the Revenue Division. The remonstrance must be in writing and received by the Revenue Division via US mail or hand delivered no later than 5:00 PM eight (8) calendar days prior to the hearing by the City Council on the proposed final assessment. Upon receipt of a timely filed remonstrance the Revenue Division shall remove the property from the filing of the proposed assessment before the City Council hearing date, and shall refer the remonstrance to the responsible bureau for follow-up and response.
- D. The Revenue Division shall mail the proposed assessment notice by first class mail to the owners of the affected property. The notice shall be deemed given upon deposit in the U.S. mail.
17.28.160 Assessment of Charges.
- A. The Revenue Division shall refer to the City Engineer or responsible bureau all remonstrances and remove from further assessment action the proposed assessments which are associated with the remonstrances. The City Engineer or responsible bureau shall review each remonstrance by taking the following actions:
- 1. Determine whether the improvement work was required by Code and whether the conditions required the improvements, whether the required improvements are consistent with Code and City specifications, and whether the improvement charges are calculated as provided by Code; and
- 2. Determine the extent of actions or adjustments which are necessary to bring the proposed assessment into compliance with Code and program standards; and
- 3. Mail a statement of findings to the remonstrating property owner, and file a copy with the Revenue Division. The findings shall include a statement that the property owner may appeal the determination.
- 4. If a property owner concludes that this determination is not consistent with City Code, they may request an appeal before a Code Hearings Officer under the provisions of Portland City Code Chapter 22.10. The associated property will be removed from further assessment action until the appeal is resolved. The Code Hearings Officer shall notify the appellant and the Revenue Division of their determination. The affected property will be included in the next group assessment for City Council approval, unless the Code Hearings Officer annuls, reverses, or remands the assessment or the Code Hearings Officer’s decision is appealed by writ of review.
- B. Following adoption of the assessing ordinance, the Revenue Division shall mail a final assessment notice to the owners of the affected property as shown on the last available assessment roll in the office of the county assessor. The notice shall be deemed given upon deposit in the U.S. mail. The notice shall contain the following information:
- 1. The legal description and site address of the property;
- 2. The final assessment amount;
- 3. A statement that the final assessment is recorded in the Docket of City Liens, and is a lien which has first priority against the property as provided by state statute;
- 4. The manner and deadline for paying the final assessment in full or requesting to pay the final assessment in installments if authorized by Code;
- 5. The interest, penalties and collections costs which shall be charged if the final assessment is not paid or an installment payment contract is not filed before the deadline contained in the notice; and
- 6. A statement that delinquent final assessments may be collected by foreclosure and property sale.
- C. The Revenue Division shall maintain a Docket of City Liens containing final assessments on property. Any unpaid final assessment shall be recorded in the City lien docket, and it shall be binding upon the property owner and all subsequent property owners of the property or any segregated part of it. The docket shall stand thereafter as a lien docket the same as ad valorem property taxes assessed in favor of the City against each lot or parcel of land until paid, for the following:
- 1. The amount of the unpaid final assessments docketed, with accrued interest at the rate determined by the City Council, or in the case of an installment contract, at the rate set forth in the contract; and
- 2. Any additional interest, penalties, or billing charges imposed by the City with respect to any installments of final assessments which are not paid when due.
- D. All unpaid final assessments together with accrued and unpaid interest and penalties and billing charges are a lien on each lot or parcel of land respectively, in favor of the City and the lien shall have first priority over all other liens and encumbrances whatsoever.
- E. The City shall enforce assessment liens and installment payment contracts under this Chapter in the same manner as other City assessments as set forth in Title 5.