Chapter 29.50 Other Requirements

City Code Chapter

29.50.010 Permits Required.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 184522, 185448 and 186053, effective January 1, 2015.) No person, firm or corporation shall construct, alter, repair, move, improve, or demolish any structure without first obtaining applicable building permits as required by City code. No person, firm or corporation shall prune or remove a tree without first obtaining applicable tree permits as required by Title 11, Trees. 

29.50.020 Inspections Required.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 180330 and 189711, effective September 25, 2019.)  All buildings, structures, dwelling units, or other improvements within the scope of this Title, or within the requirements of code enforcement programs created under the authority of this Title or Title 3, as set forth by the Director in the administrative rules, and all construction work for which a permit is required will be subject to inspection as required by the City Code.

29.50.030 Requested Inspections for Residential Structures.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 176528, effective June 28, 2002.) Requested inspections that are not part of the City’s code enforcement program will be made as soon as practical after payment to the Director of the fee specified in the Property Maintenance Regulations Fee Schedule as approved by City Council.

29.50.040 Occupancy of Property After Notice of Violation.

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 172088, 176381, 176528 and 182488, effective February 21, 2009.)

A.If a notice of violation of Chapters 29.30, 29.35, or 29.40 has been issued, and if the affected structure or any portion thereof is residential or neighborhood commercial use or becomes vacant, it shall be:

1.Unlawful to re-enter the affected structure or any portion thereof for any purpose if the affected structure or any portion thereof is found to be substantially dangerous or unsafe, unless authorized in writing by the Director.

2.Unlawful to re-enter the affected structure or portion thereof for any purpose other than work associated with the correction of violations noted in the Notice of Violation.

B.In addition to any civil penalties imposed pursuant to Section 22.05.010 A.5. or Section 29.70.020 D., and as collected through a municipal lien process, any person unlawfully occupying any such affected structure or portion thereof shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.

29.50.050 Illegal Residential Occupancy.

(Replaced by Ordinance No. 190381, effective August 1, 2021.)  Residential occupancy of structures or spaces not intended for permanent residential use or occupancy is unlawful, including but not limited to structures placed, constructed or converted without permit; tents, campers, motor homes, recreational vehicles, and other vehicles.

A.  Exceptions:

1.  Individual sleeping accommodations within outdoor shelters legally established in conformance with Portland City Code Chapters 33.285 or 33.815, or allowed as temporary occupancies under Portland City Code Chapter 33.296;

2.  Vehicles on institutional property as allowed by Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 203, Section 082;

3.  Recreational vehicles within in a manufactured dwelling park or mobile home park as provided by Oregon Revised Statues, Chapter 197, Section 493;

4.  Motor homes and recreational vehicles within a recreational vehicle park allowed as a commercial use by Portland City Code Chapters 33.130 or 33.140; and

5.  One occupied recreational vehicle provided:

a.  The recreational vehicle is on a site with a house, attached house, or manufactured home. See Portland City Code Chapter 33.260.

b.  The recreational vehicle is a travel trailer, park model recreational vehicle, camper or motor home.

c.  A permanent recreational vehicle utility hookup that includes an electrical outlet, a water connection, and a sanitary sewer dump is provided on the site. A water connection and sanitary sewer dump is not required if the vehicle lacks internal plumbing.

6.  Camping under emergency circumstances as authorized by Portland City Code Sections 14A.50.020 B., 33.296.030, or by declaration by the Mayor.

B.  When a property has an illegal residential occupancy, the use shall be abated or brought into compliance with the current regulations for a space of the same occupancy.

29.50.060 Interference with Repair, Demolition, or Abatement Prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any person lawfully engaged in:

A. The work of repairing, vacating, warehousing, or demolishing any structure pursuant to the provisions of this Title;

B. The abatement of a nuisance pursuant to the provisions of this Title; or

C. The performance of any necessary act preliminary to or incidental to such work as authorized by this Title or directed pursuant to it.

29.50.070 Warehousing of Structures.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 176955, effective October 9, 2002.)

A. When the Director determines that a structure is suitable, due to its historic designation or other significant features, the owner may be permitted to warehouse such structure, as defined in this Title, for a period of up to 30 months. An extension for one further period of 1 year may be permitted by the Director, provided that the condition of the warehoused structure is determined by inspection, to be satisfactory.

B. The Director shall have the authority to adopt and enforce written rules concerning the maintenance and monitoring of warehoused structures. The requirements for the warehousing of each structure under the rules shall be recorded in the files of the Bureau of Development Services.

C. All work necessary in warehousing a structure shall be carried out under permits required by City Codes.

D. Owners of a warehoused structure shall continue to be subject of the penalties set forth in Chapter 29.70 to pay the Bureau of Development Services for the cost of regular inspections of their buildings during the warehousing period.

Upcoming and Recent Changes

Ordinance No. 190381

Effective Date

Ordinance No. 190381 has two effective dates:

Directive b is effective April 30, 2021:  Amend Titles 8, 15, 17, 21, and 30 of the Portland City Code, as shown in Exhibit B, Shelter to Housing Continuum Recommended Draft Volume Three—As-Amended, dated April 2021, but excluding the amendments to Subsection 17.14.070 H. Note:  Directive b changes updated online May 4, 2021.

Directive c is effective August 1, 2021:  Amend Title 29 and Subsection 17.14.070 H. of the Portland City Code as shown in Exhibit B, Shelter to Housing Continuum Recommended Draft Volume Three—As-Amended, dated April 2021. Note:  Directive c changes will be posted online around August 1, 2021.