Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
What are administrative rules?
An administrative rule is a binding requirement, regulation, or procedure formally adopted by the City Administrator under rule-making authority granted by the Charter or delegated by the Council. Most Bureaus typically implement rules to interpret their statutory authority.
Why is this happening?
In 2021, PP&R staff began the process of updating park rules Title 20, including presenting updates to the Parks Board and subcommittee meetings. On December 11th, 2024 City Council approved Ordinance 191989. The ordinance amended Park Rules Title 20, providing an opportunity to correct longstanding ambiguity around some city code sections. More information on that project is available on the Park Rules Update website. These Administrative Rules are helping to put the Title 20 changes into action.
Authority
Portland City Charter 2-406(I) (2025), Portland City Code Chapter 1.05 (2025) and Chapter 20.04.040 (2025) authorize the City Administrator to establish rules for park use and management. The City Administrator may delegate this authority to the Deputy City Administrator overseeing the Service Area under which the Bureau of Portland Parks & Recreation resides. Therefore, the Deputy City Administrator for the Vibrant Communities Service Area proposes four new administrative rules, which are available for public comment for thirty days before adoption.
Reviewing the Proposed Rules
The proposed rule texts are below:
Dog Off-Leash Areas
What do the proposed changes do?
This rule addresses the use and operation of dog off-leash areas, including requirements on socialization and behavior when dogs are in the off-leash area. Some of these rules were on signs at some park locations but were never made part of formal rulemaking. Hours at each dog park site are also formalized and updated. Finally, some dog parks have "small dog" areas, but a "small dog" was never defined. The rules define a small dog as one 19 inches in height or smaller.
How will these rules be enforced?
Park Rangers have the authority to issue educations, warnings, exclusions, or citations to visitors violating these rules.
Review the proposed rule:
Motorized Wheeled Devices
What do the proposed changes do?
This rule allows certain types of electric scooters and electric bicycles to be used in parks. Rules regulating the time, place, and manner of e-bikes and e-scooters are included. Based on annual data from Portland Bureau of Transportation, thousands of electric scooter and electric bicycle riders are already using paved trails in parks. This work will formalize the rules of the road for such users.
What types of motorized scooters and bikes would be allowed in this proposal?
The rules will allow the following types of motorized scooters and bikes in parks to be used on paved pathways, with restrictions on time, place, and manner of use:
- Electric assisted bicycles, as defined by Oregon law.
- Electric personal assistive mobility devices, as defined by Oregon law.
- Electric wheeled devices on one or two wheels with a power output of less than 1,000 watts.
Motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, mopeds, and wheeled devices with gas engines or electric outputs of 1,000 watts or greater are permitted only on park roads, where allowed by Oregon law.
What are the proposed rules-of-the-road for motorized scooters and bicycles in parks?
Under this rule, motorized scooters and electric bicycles would be allowed to operate on paved pathways at a speed not to exceed 12 miles per hour and would be required to slow when passing slower trail users. Users would be required to dismount when entering any area with signs or markings indicating scooters or bicycles are prohibited.
How will these rules be enforced?
Rental e-scooter providers, like Lime scooters, and rental e-bike providers, like Biketown, will be required to geo-fence park locations so that these scooters and bicycles cannot exceed the speed limit. At this time, we do not expect trail speed-limit enforcement -- for either pedal-going users or electric bicycles. We encourage users to maintain a safe speed and ride with care when operating on park trails.
Review the proposed rule:
Metal-detecting in parks
What do the proposed changes do?
This rule allows metal detecting in parks. This update is based on reviews with impacted staff. Current rules have been silent on such activity, leading to ambiguity and damage to parks.
Review the proposed rule:
Submitting Comments
Portland Parks & Recreation invites the public to comment on the proposed revised rules. To be considered, comments must be received by 5:00 PM on April 30, 2025. Comments may be:
- Submitted through our online form.