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Label:
Ordinance
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- This project is part of the Regulatory Improvement Workplan, an ongoing program to improve City zoning and land use regulations and procedures. Each package of amendments is referred to as RICAP (Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package), followed by a number. This package is labeled RICAP 11.
- In 2025, staff from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) and Portland Permitting & Development worked together to select potential amendments from a database that contains regulatory improvement requests. To develop the RICAP 11 workplan, staff selected eligible technical and minor policy workplan items with a focus on the themes of parking, exterior site areas, and regulatory reduction.
- On June 13, 2025, the RICAP 11 Discussion Draft was released and public comments were accepted through July 18, 2025. Staff received 36 written public comments submitted through the Map App.
- On August 18, 2025, mailed notice of the RICAP 11 Proposed Draft was provided to a list of parties who request official notice of land use changes and to listed organization and recognized organizations as described in zoning code section 33.740.020.
- On August 18, 2025, the RICAP 11 Proposed Draft was released, which incorporated feedback on the Discussion Draft.
- On September 23, 2025, the Planning Commission heard a briefing and held a public hearing on the RICAP 11 Proposed Draft. One person testified in-person and eleven people submitted written testimony through the Map App.
- On October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission held a work session to discuss the proposal and discuss potential amendments.
- On October 28, 2025, the Planning Commission voted on a set of seven amendments to the Proposed Draft and voted to forward a recommendation to City Council on the amended package.
- On May 12, 2026, the RICAP 11 Recommended Draft was released for public review. The package of minor policy changes and technical updates includes 57 zoning code (Title 33) amendments and seven sign code (Title 32) as shown in the Recommended Draft.
- On May 12, 2026, notice of the June 2, 2026 hearing before the Housing and Permitting Committee on the RICAP 11 Recommended Draft was mailed to those who presented oral and written testimony at the Planning Commission public hearing.
- The Housing and Permitting Committee held a hearing on the RICAP 11 project and invited public testimony. The Committee forwarded their recommendation to the full City Council for consideration and adoption.
- The City Council held a hearing on the RICAP 11 project and invited public testimony.
- The Findings of Fact Report, attached as Exhibit A, includes additional findings demonstrating consistency with the Statewide Planning Goals, Metro Urban Growth Management Functional Plan, and the City of Portland 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Adopt Exhibit A, Findings of Fact Report, as additional findings.
- Adopt Exhibit B, Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RICAP 11) Recommended Draft, dated May 2026, as further legislative intent and findings.
- Amend Title 33, Planning and Zoning, of the Municipal Code of the City of Portland, as shown in Section III of Exhibit B, Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RICAP 11) Recommended Draft, dated May 2026.
- Amend Title 32, Signs and Related Regulations, as shown in Section IV of Exhibit B, Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RICAP 11) Recommended Draft, dated May 2026.
Exhibits and attachments
Impact Statement
Purpose of proposed legislation and background information
RICAP 11 is one of an ongoing series of code maintenance projects. The issues addressed are intentionally small in scope, with a focus on simple technical amendments, clarifications, and refinements to the zoning code. It therefore follows that the impact of individual items will be minor; however, the amendments cumulatively support a more efficient and better functioning zoning code. RICAP 11 contains 57 technical and minor policy zoning code amendments. The amendments clarify and refine existing zoning code regulations, making them more predictable and clearer to implement.
Financial and budgetary impacts
This project does not amend the budget, change staffing levels, reclassify staff, or authorize new spending or other financial obligations (IGAs, contracts, etc.) and therefore there are no financial or budgetary impacts to the City. In fact, the clarifications and refinements in the development and process standards may reduce the amount of time spent by staff reviewing certain permits and land use reviews.
Economic and real estate development impacts
As noted in the Purpose section above, RICAP 11 is one of an ongoing series of code maintenance projects. The issues addressed are intentionally small in scope, with a focus on simple technical amendments, clarifications, and refinements to the zoning code. It therefore follows that the impact of individual items will be minor; however, the amendments cumulatively contribute to a more efficient and better functioning zoning code that supports desirable development. The legislation was shared with neighborhood groups, City commissions and committees related to development, as well as development related- groups and organizations that are on the project mailing list. Feedback on a draft proposal was received by staff. Subsequently, 1 oral testifier and 11 pieces of written testimony were received by the Planning Commission. One proposal was changed in response to feedback from green energy businesses to make it easier to install more efficient heating and cooling units. The Planning Commission also amended a proposal in response to testimony received about the number of individual shelters allowed at the Sears Armory site.
Community impacts and community involvement
Community Impacts – Adoption of the RICAP 11 code amendments will clarify and streamline zoning regulations citywide, making it easier and less costly to develop housing, operate businesses, and maintain community services. The amendments are technical and minor policy changes that apply broadly, rather than targeting specific communities or neighborhoods, and are intended to reduce confusion, delays, and unnecessary regulatory barriers. All Portlanders benefit indirectly from clearer rules that support economic recovery and increased housing production, while residents, operators and neighbors of Safe Rest Villages and other outdoor shelters gain more certainty on the size and scale of the shelters after the expiration of the Housing Emergency in October 2027. To the extent that regulatory friction is reduced, applicants with fewer resources, including small businesses, nonprofits, and underserved community organizations, are more able to navigate the permitting system and deliver needed projects.
Community Involvement – Community engagement activities for this project are summarized in the Recommended Draft. Staff provided briefings to neighborhood coalition land use groups as well as with the Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC), and Oregon Smart Growth in conjunction with the release of the Proposed Draft. Email updates were provided to a list of approximately 240 people who subscribe to the project. Briefings were made to the Design Commission, the Historic Landmarks Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Bicycle Advisory Committee over the summer of 2025. The Planning Commission public hearing on September 23, 2025, was a hybrid meeting at which one community member testified. Eleven pieces of written testimony were submitted to the Planning Commission through the Map App. Notice of the City Council hearing will be submitted to all those who testified at the Planning Commission.
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: 2026-189
President's referral: Housing and Permitting Committee