Services and Resources for Operating a Business in Portland

The City of Portland is deeply committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the contracting process. We believe that when barriers for participation are met with equitable solutions, our city thrives. Find out how your business may qualify for equity-based certification below.

Some businesses, like food service establishments, pay extra strength charges in addition to the base sewer rate because the wastewater they discharge to the sewer contains more waste. These charges appear on the bill as biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids charges. Learn more.

What is fair housing? Learn about the federal, state, and local laws that protect people from illegal housing discrimination.

Water containing high concentrations of fats, oil, grease (FOG), and other food waste can build up and block sewer pipes. Clogged sewer pipes can cause raw sewage to back up into homes and businesses or overflow into streets and streams.

Restaurants and other food service establishments are the main sources of fats, oil, and grease (FOG). FOG can cause sewer backups and overflows if it is allowed to go down drains. These best management practices can help you better manage FOG at your business to prevent costly sewer problems.

Restaurants or delivery drivers may file a complaint if a third-party platform (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, etc.) charges a higher fee than the allowed amount on an order.

Booking Agents, like Airbnb or FlipKey, must file transient lodgings monthly reports with the Revenue Division.

Businesses subject to the Portland Business License Tax, Multnomah County Business Income Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Business Income Tax, and/or Clean Energy Surcharge (CES) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

C corporations subject to the Portland Business License Tax, Multnomah County Business Income Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Business Income Tax, and/or Clean Energy Surcharge (CES) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

Operators of hotel/motel lodgings must file transient lodgings quarterly or monthly reports with the Revenue Division.

Online travel companies (OTCs), like Expedia or Priceline, must file transient lodgings monthly reports with the Revenue Division.

Partnerships subject to the Portland Business License Tax, Multnomah County Business Income Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Business Income Tax, and/or Clean Energy Surcharge (CES) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

S corporations subject to the Portland Business License Tax, Multnomah County Business Income Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Business Income Tax, and/or Clean Energy Surcharge (CES) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

Owners and/or operators of bed & breakfasts, vacation rentals (owner/operator does not live at home), or "home stay" (owner/operator lives at home) lodgings must file transient lodgings quarterly or monthly reports with the Revenue Division.

Individuals who are subject to the Portland Business License Tax and/or Multnomah County Business Income Tax (including ride share drivers and owners of real property) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

Trusts/Estates subject to the Portland Business License Tax, Multnomah County Business Income Tax, Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Business Income Tax, and/or Clean Energy Surcharge (CES) must file a business tax return. You must claim an exemption from the business taxes on the tax return.

A grease interceptor is a device located between kitchen drain lines and sanitary sewer lines. Grease interceptors capture the fats, oil, and grease flowing down kitchen drains and stop them from flowing to the sewer. To work properly, interceptors must be maintained regularly.

Businesses and industries that discharge wastewater from fermentation and distillation processes are subject to environmental regulations. These businesses include but are not limited to breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries, meaderies, and kombucharies.

This is an overview of environmental requirements for cannabis industries as currently understood by the City of Portland. The City may impose additional requirements for businesses as more information regarding the pollutants of concern outlined below or others becomes available.

Environmental Services issues permits to industries based on the quality and volume of their wastewater discharges. The permits require industries to treat wastewater to meet pollutant limits, monitor for pollutants, submit compliance reports, and follow other requirements outlined in their permits.