Chapter 25.05 Permits

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 170576, 170811, 178578 and 187432, effective December 4, 2015.)  Excepting fire systems provided for in Title 31, Fire Regulations, a permit, or minor label as outlined in Section 25.04.040, shall be obtained for the installation, construction, alteration, or repair of any plumbing or sewage system, fire hose valve, water supply system, water supply well, rainwater harvesting system, sewage holding tank, fire hose cabinet, or the installing of any device if the device requires either water supply, or waste connection to drainage system or both; for capping of a sewer where a building has been demolished or moved; and for removing plumbing fixtures and sealing openings.  All of the above work is covered by the regulations of this Title and the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code.  As used in this Section, the word “repair” does not apply to ordinary repairs to faucets or valves, or to the clearing of obstructions from a fixture, sewer, or waste pipe, if the fixture or device is not disconnected, or if there is no opening of, or cutting into, the sewer or waste pipe or fittings.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 168902, 170811 and 187432, effective December 4, 2015.)  It is unlawful for any plumber or other person to make connections, installations, replacements, extensions, or repairs to any City water service pipe, or to extend a water pipe from one building to another building, or to connect one service pipe with another service pipe without first obtaining the proper plumbing permit or minor label if applicable, unless making emergency repairs as allowed in Section 25.05.025 – Temporary Permits.  Every plumbing system in the City of Portland shall be connected to a City water main or water supply furnished by the City of Portland or other State approved purveyor.

(Added by Ordinance No. 187432, effective December 4, 2015.)  The Bureau may issue temporary permits for emergency plumbing work or repairs.  Temporary permits will only be issued to licensed plumbers.  Temporary permits are valid for 7 days.  When work is done under a temporary permit, the permit application and fees must either be received by the Bureau within 7 calendar days of the start of work, or, if mailed, be postmarked within 7 calendar days of the start of work.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 156924, 168183, 170576 and 176955, effective October 9, 2002.)  An application for a plumbing permit shall be made on an application form furnished by the Bureau of Development Services.  The application shall denote the name of the contractor who holds a State of Oregon Plumbing Contractor’s Registration the State Contractors Certification Board registration and the City of Portland’s Contractors Business License number.  However, an owner may sign an application for a plumbing permit under the regulation as stated in Section 25.04.050, and any person may sign and obtain a plumbing permit for the plugging of a sewer or for disconnection of a roof drain system on one and two-family dwellings.  An application for a permit for dry wells, or soakage trenches for storm water disposal may be taken out by an owner, plumbing contractor, or sewer contractor.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 158895, 186183, 170576 and 181359, effective November 16, 2007.) 

A.  Installations requiring plan review:  Plumbing plan review is required for all complex structures as set forth in OAR 918-780-0040 cert ef. 10-1-06.  Plan review for all other plumbing systems is optional.

B.   Submittal Requirements:  When plan review is either required or requested, prior to the issuance of a building permit, three sets of plumbing plans and specifications providing the information as prescibed by the Director shall be filed with the Plumbing Section, Bureau of Development Services.  Plans shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed.

(Replaced by Ordinance No.190350, effective May 7, 2021.)

A.  Permit applications.

1.  Initial permit application. A permit application that is inactive for a period of 180 days will be deemed abandoned. If an abandoned permit application is not reactivated within 180 days of abandonment, the permit application will be void. If a permit application is void, a new permit application is required for the subject work.

2.  Extensions. The Building Official may extend a permit application for up to 180 days, with justifiable cause, as determined in the Building Official’s sole discretion. Extension requests must be in writing and received by the Bureau of Development Services before the scheduled permit abandonment date.

3.  Reactivations. The Building Official may reactivate a permit application that has been abandoned for less than 180 days, with justifiable cause as determined in the Building Official’s sole discretion. Reactivation requests must be in writing and received by the Bureau of Development Services within 180 days after the permit abandoned date. If no activity occurs within 180 days after a permit application is reactivated, the permit application will be deemed abandoned. A permit application may be reactivated only once.

B.  Issued Permits.

1.  Initial issued permit. If no inspection is approved within 180 days after permit issuance, the permit will expire. If an expired permit is not reactivated within 180 days of expiration, the permit will be void. If a permit is void, a new permit is required for the subject work.

2.  Extensions. Each time an inspection is approved, the permit will automatically be extended for 180 days. The Building Official may also extend a permit for a period of up to 180 days with justifiable cause, as determined in the Building Official’s sole discretion. Extension requests must be in writing and received by the Bureau of Development Services before the scheduled permit expiration date. If no inspection is approved within the extended time period, the permit will expire.

3.  Reactivations. The Building Official may reactivate a permit that has been expired for less than 180 days, provided no changes have been made to the scope of work, and with justifiable cause as determined in the Building Official’s sole discretion. A void permit may be reactivated provided there have been no changes to the scope of work and only the final inspection remains unapproved. Reactivation requests must be in writing and received by the Bureau of Development Services within 180 days after permit expiration. If no inspection is approved within 180 days of reactivation, the permit will expire. A permit may be reactivated only once.

C.  Fees. When a new permit is required, a new permit application must be submitted and new fees must be paid based on the current adopted Bureau of Development Services fee schedule. The Bureau of Development Services will adopt policies for fee refunds or credits of previously submitted permits. Fees for permit extensions and reactivations may also be charged as adopted in the Bureau of Development Services fee schedule.

(Replaced by Ordinance No. 174720, effective August 21, 2000.)  All required fees are stated in the Fee Schedule adopted by City Council.  Fees will be updated annually or on an as needed basis.  The approved Fee Schedule will be available at the Development Services Center .

(Amended by Ordinance No. 187432, effective December 4, 2015.)

A.  A regular fee shall be charged on all work for finishing any plumbing installation for which a permit was secured and which installation was roughed in only. Any such original permit will not cover any person other than the original permittee.

B.  The fees for alterations, replacements, or repairs shall be the same as for new work.

C.  If any work on the construction, alteration, repair, replacement, or completion of a plumbing system is commenced without a plumbing permit having first been secured, the Bureau may charge an investigation fee equal to the average or actual additional cost incurred by the City of ensuring that the work done without benefit of a permit is in conformance with the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code and this Title, provided that when a person performing the work notifies the Bureau of Development Services before any work is commenced at a given location, and the permit is secured within 24 hours, not including Sundays or holidays, the investigation fee shall not be charged.  Payment of such fee, however, shall in no way relieve such person of the penalties imposed for violation of this Title.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 176955 and 187432, effective December 4, 2015.)  If, upon inspection, it is found that the workmanship or material employed does not in all respects conform to the statements given in the plumbing permit application or does not comply with the provisions of this Title and the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, the Bureau will issue a stop work order as set forth in Section 25.04.015 of this Title and all additional plumbing work under the permit will be suspended until permission to deviate from the specific terms of the permit is obtained or until the work already installed is corrected to comply fully with the terms of the permit.  If the permittee fails to comply with the requirements outlined in the stop work order, the Bureau of Development Services will cancel the permit, informing the permittee in writing of the action, and posting a notice announcing such revocation at the site of the work.  Thereafter it is unlawful for any person to perform any plumbing work upon such premises without first securing a new plumbing permit.    Any person subject to a stop work order may seek review of the order by the Director and may appeal the Director’s determination in accordance with City Code Section 3.30.080.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 162101 and 187432, effective December  4, 2015.)  Permit and plan check fees will, as a general rule, be refunded when the services covered by the fee have not commenced, and the permit or plan review fees were paid incorrectly due to an error on the part of the City.  When a permit applicant requests a refund, but the City was not at fault in accepting payment, fees shall be retained to cover the cost of plan review or inspections actually performed and 20 percent of the amount remaining.  State surcharge fees are only refundable when a permit was issued in error.  Requests for refunds must be made within six months of payment or permit issuance, whichever is later.  Refunds will be made to the same person or firm who paid the fee within three months of the request.  Exceptions to the above requirements may be made by the Director or designee.

(Added by Ordinance No. 168183, effective Nov. 1, 1994.)  The Director may reduce any fee when, under the Director’s authorization, another public agency, public utility, or other organization processes the permit thereby reducing the bureau’s cost of issuing the permit.