Services and Resources for Construction and development

Learn more about the City of Portland's zoning adjustment review process. Get all required forms and apply for an adjustment review.

Learn about the building code appeal review process. For electrical, mechanical and plumbing code appeals, find out how the review and reconsideration process works. Find the Board of Appeals (Big Board) process information.

Median family income (MFI) charts for rental and home ownership units restricted under the Deeper Housing Affordability programs.

Learn about incentive programs available for the development of affordable housing units in Portland. Select a category to view quick comparison tables to help you find which programs best fit your project, as well as administrative rules and how to apply.

Explore affordable housing developments that are currently being built or planned for completion within the next few years.

Learn about the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Set-Aside Policy for affordable housing

Get permit application forms, brochures, handouts and more forms from Development Services. Find all permitting brochures. Search the list of sample site plans like the sample basement plan, drawings and submittal requirements. Start here for the full list of all BDS forms and all BDS handouts.

Read more about applications submitted to ATAC and final recommendations of the Alternative Technology Advisory Committee.

The Alternative Technology Advisory Committee, authorized under Portland City Code 24.10.087, assists the Bureau of Development Services in reviewing innovate sustainable building technologies and methods for compliance with the Building Code requirements.

Annexation is the process of changing municipal boundaries to bring adjacent unincorporated areas into an existing city, typically to provide urban services not presently available. Properties must be within the municipal boundary of the City of Portland to receive City services.

In 2022, we were tracking 40 audits with 226 recommendations. Topics ranged from internal financial focused subjects, such as payment card use and construction costs, to programs that impact Portlanders directly, such as the City’s approach to policing gun violence and cleaning up homeless camps.

Apply online for membership on a Development Services board or commission.

If you are buying, selling, or developing a potential brownfield property for reuse that creates community benefit, you may be eligible for a Brownfield Grant. Learn how to apply on this page.

The Home Repair Loan Program provides a 0% interest loan to help eligible homeowners with low and moderate incomes make improvements and upgrades to continue living safely in their homes. How to apply.

For activities that make more noise than the Noise Code allows, or if your construction project takes place outside permitted construction hours, then you will need a noise variance.

Apply for and receive your UC Permit by email. Environmental Services issues UC Permits that are required for private lateral connections to public sewer laterals or mains. See the Guide to UR and UC Permits for more details.

Apply for and receive a UR Permit by email. Environmental Services issues UR Permits for lateral repairs in the right-of-way (ROW), typically from property line to curb. See the Guide to UR and UC Permits for more details. Development Services issues permits for private property sewer work.

Before beginning any voluntary demolition or repair work in the pedestrian sidewalk corridor, you or your contractor must have a Minor Improvement Permit (MIP) from the Bureau of Transportation. Fees are between $60 and $200 per permit for up to 100 linear feet of frontage repair.

Learn more about the ADU SDC waiver program. Apply for an SDC waiver for your new ADU. If you are proposing an accessory dwelling unit you can apply for system development charges to be waived. Learn more and apply for an ADU SDC waiver now. Short-term rentals are not eligible for this program.

Submit a building permit application and pay for permits in person or online with Development Hub PDX (DevHub). Permits available on DevHub include electrical, mechanical, plumbing, site development, development review.