Services and Resources for Operating a Business in Portland

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.

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 Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), through the Portland in the Streets program, issues permits to place combined publication boxes in Portland's street space. Combined publication boxes display several publications (newspapers, magazines, etc.) in one location.

Each payday lender location within the cities of Portland, Gresham, or Oregon City needs a payday lender permit. These permits must be renewed every year and are all paid through the City of Portland.

A Private Property Impound (PPI) Permit is required to perform towing services from private property in the City of Portland. Please view Portland City Code Chapter 7.24 for rules and requirements.

Permits are typically issued within 30 days.

Businesses that buy and sell property that is frequently the subject of theft (“regulated property”) must apply for a secondhand dealers permit. This permit needs to be renewed annually and is nontransferable.

The City’s Social Games Permit Program regulates the operators of social games, restricting location, age, dollar amount of play, and other rules to protect the public peace, safety, and morals. A person or business that wants to operate a social game must have a permit from the Revenue Division.

Businesses, including vendors and promoters, doing business over a very limited term in Portland must apply for a temporary business license from the City of Portland's Revenue Division.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) through the Portland in the Streets program issues Vending Cart permits to allow vendors to sell food or merchandise using a small mobile cart. Vendors with a permit can vend at specific locations on the public sidewalk.

This page will give you information on how to apply for a new annual license or make a change to an existing license. If you are unsure which license best fits your needs, contact the OLCC at 503-872-5217.

Your company may need a permit to discharge process wastewater to the City sewer. Download the Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit application here.

Apply for Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Outdoor Dining. Steps to follow before applying, fee schedule, links to design guidance and permit conditions.

Batch discharge authorizations are issued to businesses or projects that need to discharge to the sanitary sewer or, in rare cases, to the stormwater system. Discharges are limited in volume and duration and are often for specific or infrequent operations. Learn how to apply for authorization.

Users of City property have an option to purchase Tenants User Liability Insurance Program (TULIP) through Intact Entertainment | Gather Guard. This insurance meets City requirements for liability and property damage, is cost effective, includes liquor liability as an option and covers most events.

Eligible businesses may apply for the Downtown Business Incentive credit if they enter into a new lease, renew a current lease, or own and occupy building space in a sub-district of Portland's central city and meet other annual requirements.

Apply, based on your knowledge and experience, to serve as a volunteer panelist to evaluate responses to Request for Proposals and make contract award recommendations. A diverse panel of evaluators ensures that typically underrepresented communities have input into the future of their communities.

Discharges are prohibited from entering the City's stormwater system. For discharges into the sanitary sewer, businesses must get authorization before discharging, and businesses must certify compliance annually. Find forms and instructions to request authorization and to apply for certification.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) may require traffic control for work in the public right-of-way. Equipment may be bought or rented. Here are basic examples of traffic control and a partial list of vendors in the Portland area. Vendor list does not indicate a preference.

In many places in Portland, storm drains flow directly into a river or stream. To protect our rivers and streams, City Code prohibits pouring or dumping anything into a storm drain. Learn about requirements and ways you can prevent pollution. Remember, only rain goes down a storm drain.

Investments in our water system today ensure access to clean and safe water for the entire region. We work hard to keep our infrastructure up to date and to prepare for emergencies.