Chapter 4.20 Allowed and Prohibited Original Art Murals

City Code Chapter

4.20.010 Allowed Original Art Murals.

(Amended by Ordinances 185915, 189656 and 191736, effective July 1, 2024.)

  1. Original Art Murals that meet all of the following criteria and which are not prohibited will be allowed upon satisfaction of the applicable permit requirements:
  2. A.  No part of the mural shall exceed 30 feet in height measured from the grade plane.
  3. B.  The mural shall remain in place, without alterations, for a period of 2 years, except in limited circumstances to be specified in the Portland Permitting & Development Administrative Rules.  The applicant shall certify in the permit application that the applicant agrees to maintain the mural in place for a period of 2 years without alteration.
  4. C.  The mural shall not extend more than 6 inches from the plane of the surface upon which it is tiled or painted or to which it is affixed.
  5. D.  In Design Overlay Zones, the mural shall meet all of the additional, objective Design Standards for Original Art Murals, as established in the Portland Permitting & Development Administrative Rules.
  6. E.  In the Historic Resource Overlay Zone, murals may be allowed on buildings or structures that have been identified as non-contributing structures within Historic and Conservation Districts.  These murals shall meet all of the additional, objective Design Standards for Original Art Murals, as established in the Portland Permitting & Development Administrative Rules.

4.20.020 Prohibited Murals.

(Amended by Ordinance 189656, effective September 20, 2019.) 

  1. The following are prohibited:
  2. A.  Murals on sites developed with residential buildings with fewer than five dwelling units on the site.
  3. B.  Murals on sites with historic or conservation landmarks.
  4. C.  Murals on sites containing buildings that have been identified as contributing structures to a historic or conservation district.
  5. D.  Murals for which compensation is given or received for the display of the mural or for the right to place the mural on another’s property.  The applicant shall certify in the permit application that no compensation will be given or received for the display of the mural or the right to place the mural on the property.
  6. E.  Murals which would result in a property becoming out of compliance with the provisions of Title 33, Planning and Zoning, or land use conditions of approval for the development on which the mural is to be located.
  7. F.  Murals on stormwater facilities.

4.20.030 Relationship of Permitted Original Art Mural to other Regulations.

  1. The exemption of PCC Subsection 32.12.020 J. applies only to Original Art Murals for which a permit has been obtained under this Title and any adopted Administrative Rules.  Issuance of an Original Art Mural Permit does not exempt the permittee from complying with any other applicable requirements of the Portland City Code, including but not limited to Titles 24 and 33.

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