Starting in October 2025, Portland Solutions' Public Environment Management Office (PEMO) is rolling out basic sidewalk cleaning along major business corridors and high-impact areas. Building on the success of cleaning services in the Gateway Management District, PEMO developed the concept and manages the contracts.
Crews on bikes and trucks visit Portland's busiest locations on a regular basis to clean up trash and debris from the walkways that people rely on to go to school, go shopping, and enjoy their neighborhoods.
Cleaner sidewalks promote health and safety for everyone, especially children, families, and vulnerable populations.
Cleaner sidewalks also support small businesses, make neighborhoods more inviting, and stoke community pride.
"Cleaning up the sidewalks is a great way to bring energy and foot traffic to our business districts," says Anne Hill, PEMO director. "It helps everyone – seniors going shopping, kids walking home from school, people going to the dentist, you name it. Our contractors hire folks who are getting back on their feet. These jobs are a crucial milestone on the path to self-sufficiency for them."
How it works
Crews sweep sidewalks, remove graffiti, pick up litter, clean biohazards, and pressure wash outdoor surfaces.
In the central city, crews follow routes on pink bikes.
In other parts of town, crews follow routes in trucks.
The frequency depends on need. Crews may step up or step back their presence in a particular corridor depending on the condition of sidewalks.
Cleaner sidewalks invite more people to stroll through their business districts, generating energy and buzz.
Corridors
Crews will clean sidewalks on the busiest stretches of Portland's major business corridors. Routes and frequency may vary depending on impact and need. Currently, crews are cleaning in the following areas:
| District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
NE Sandy Boulevard SE 122nd E Burnside SE Division NE 82nd SE Powell NE Halsey
| N Lombard NE Killingsworth N Williams NE Alberta N Mississippi N Vancouver NE Broadway N Interstate North Ainsworth NE MLK NE Cully
| NE Glisan NE Sandy E Burnside NE 28th SE Hawthorne SE Division/ SE Belmont SE Stark SE Foster SE Woodstock NE & SE 82nd SE 79th SE 80th SE Milwaukie SE Powell SE 12th SE 7th SE MLK SE Grand | SE 13th (Sellwood) SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy SW Capitol Highway NW 23rd West Burnside NW Everett NW Glisan NW Lovejoy NW 10th NW 11th NW/SW 18th NW 20th NW 21st
|
Partnering for Portland
The service is made possible by Portland City Council working together with Portland Solutions' Public Environment Management Office (PEMO). PEMO developed the concept and manages the contracts.
The work is performed by our contractors: Central City Concern's Clean Start and Cultivate Initiatives.
Community responses
"This street cleaning pilot might seem like a small change, but it's going to mean a lot for our small businesses. Sometimes it feels like everything's stacked against them, so having this kind of visible, consistent support brings a real boost of energy and morale. Clean, welcoming sidewalks make such a difference — for business owners, shoppers, and everyone who loves our downtown." -- Laura Streib, President, St. Johns Boosters
"The Stadiumhood community has carried the weight of limited resources and a sharp rise in homelessness-related impacts, all without the support of Enhanced Service Districts or other privately subsidized livability programs that are set up in other parts of Portland. Seeing the City step in to restore some basics to our neglected public spaces and Safe Route To School along NW 19th Avenue means a great deal. Our working-class high-density neighborhood appreciates PEMO's rollout. Thank you." -- Michelle Milla, Stadium neighborhood
"Thank you to Charlie and his crew for the work they do. They were able to find my lost phone by picking up garbage in the neighborhood." -- Name withheld
"Our shop has a 90% increase in overall appearance since you started to come around and a 28% increase in customers!" -- ATC Autobody
Questions
Are you going to charge me for this? No. This is a free service brought to you by your Portland City Council.
What do the crews do about campsites or people sleeping on sidewalks? Our crews are sidewalk cleaners, not outreach workers. However, they can help people find services. To request services or report campsites:
How do I get help for a person in distress?Portland Street Response assists people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises.
- Call 911 or 503-823-PSR3 (7773) to request service.
How can I report drug activity? The Portland Police Bureau Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit has an online reporting form.
How do I report trash or graffiti? We have additional partnerships with Graffiti Removal Services and Rapid Response to help.
- Call 311
- Report trash, illegal dumping, and other items
- Report graffiti
- Report a biohazard on a sidewalk: email PEMO@portlandoregon.gov
How is this connected to the City's Enhanced Services Districts? Basic sidewalk services are not connected to enhanced service districts. Those districts already provide trash cleanup, in addition to other services like graffiti removal.
This sounds great. How do I request sidewalk cleaning on my street? If you have garbage or biohazards on your sidewalk, contact PEMO@portlandoregon.gov.
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Dial: 503-823-4000 (311) or visit: portlandoregon.gov/311