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Label:
Ordinance
Amend Fire Regulations Fee Schedule (amend Portland Policy Document FIR-12.01)
Passed
Amended by Council
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) charges fees for permits, code enforcement inspections, fire reports and miscellaneous services to recover partial costs for PF&R Prevention and Emergency Operations programs.
- The fee schedule is in Portland Policy Document FIR-12.01.
- Many fees contained within FIR-12.01 have not been comprehensively updated to reflect the actual cost of providing services, including personnel, equipment, technology, administrative support, and overhead.
- The City's adopted budget directs bureaus to evaluate opportunities to improve cost recovery for regulatory services where appropriate and to reduce reliance on General Fund resources for services that primarily benefit permit applicants and regulated entities.
- Updating the Fire Regulations Fee Schedule promotes fiscal sustainability while maintaining high-quality customer service and timely permitting and inspection processes.
- The revised fee schedule was developed through an evaluation of actual service costs, workload analysis, comparison with peer jurisdictions, and consideration of customer impacts.
- On March 2, 2022, Ordinance 190728 was passed by City Council banning the sale and use of fireworks. The permit fee for retail storage or sale in structures or tents is being removed from the fee schedule.
- A fee has been added for inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire systems.
- A fee has been added for an annual laser display permit.
- Nothing in this Ordinance changes existing fire code requirements or creates new regulatory obligations. The amendments only revise the fees associated with existing services.
- Exhibit A shows proposed fee changes in red.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Fire regulations fee schedule is hereby amended as shown in Exhibit A and shall be effective after its passage by the Council, or as authorized by previously adopted ordinance or resolution.
- Exhibit A is binding City policy.
Exhibits and attachments
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed as amended by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of proposed legislation and background information
The proposed ordinance updates the Fire Regulations Fee Schedule to better align fees with the actual cost of providing fire prevention services. The proposal supports continued delivery of high-quality life safety services while improving cost recovery and reducing the subsidy of regulatory services by the General Fund.
The proposal does not create new regulations or expand the scope of Fire Code enforcement. It updates fees for existing services already required under the Portland Fire Code, Oregon Fire Code, Portland City Code Title 31, and other applicable regulations.
Financial and budgetary impacts
The proposed amendments are expected to increase cost recovery for Fire Prevention services.
Additional revenue generated through the revised fee schedule will:
- Offset personnel and operating costs associated with inspections, plan review, permitting, and code enforcement.
- Reduce reliance on General Fund support for services provided to specific applicants and regulated businesses.
- Improve long-term financial sustainability of Fire Prevention operations.
- Support timely customer service and permit processing.
Revenue generated will vary depending upon development activity, permit volume, inspection demand, and operational permit requests.
The proposal does not require additional staffing or expenditure.
Economic and real estate development impacts
Fire Prevention services support safe development by providing timely review of construction projects, fire protection systems, and occupancy approvals.
Although some permit and inspection fees will increase, the proposal is expected to have minimal impact on overall project costs because fire prevention fees generally represent a very small percentage of total development costs.
Benefits include:
- predictable and transparent fee structure;
- improved consistency with actual service delivery costs;
- continued timely plan review and inspections;
- enhanced reliability for development schedules.
Maintaining adequately funded Fire Prevention services supports economic development by reducing permitting delays and ensuring safe occupancy of new and existing buildings.
Community impacts and community involvement
The proposed amendments support the City's public safety mission by ensuring adequate resources are available to provide fire prevention services that reduce the risk of injury, death, and property loss.
Updated fees will help sustain:
- fire and life safety inspections;
- fire protection systems oversight;
- hazardous materials regulation;
- public assembly permitting;
- special event review;
- fire code compliance;
- community risk reduction activities.
Because fees are generally paid by applicants requesting services, impacts on the general public are expected to be limited.
The proposal promotes equitable allocation of costs by assigning a greater share of service costs to individuals and organizations directly benefiting from regulatory services.
100% renewable goal
Not applicable.
Economic and real estate development analysis
Analysis provided by Prosper Portland
Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis submitted for this action and finds that it satisfies the requirements set forth in City Council Resolution 37664. The analysis is sufficiently detailed and complete to be considered a final statement for purposes of this action.
Document history
Document number: 2026-300
President's referral: Community and Public Safety Committee