TRN-10.17 - Sidewalk and Driveway Minor Improvement Permits (including Asphalt Approaches)

The City issues Minor Improvement Permits (MIPs) for sidewalks, driveways, carriage walks, tree wells, and infill for furnishing and frontage zones within the public right-of-way. Portland City Code (PCC) authority for these permits is in Chapter 17.24. Please reference PCC Chapter 17.24 for details beyond those required for permit issuance.

1. Required Minor Improvement Permit (RMIP): Issued when sidewalk and/or driveway improvements are required as part of a development, building permit, or other City requirement.
2. Voluntary Minor Improvement Permit (VMIP): Issued when a property owner elects to repair or replace sidewalk and/or driveway improvements that are not otherwise required by the City.
3. Mandated Sidewalk Repair Permit: Issued after a Sidewalk Repair Notice (SRN) has been issued. This permit is used to complete repairs required by the SRN and is subject to the requirements and limitations established by the Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Section.

II. Sidewalk and Driveway Minor Improvement Permit Requirements

1. Sidewalk & Driveway Required Repairs (Following Issuance of a Sidewalk Repair Notice) 

   1. Before issuing a Minor Improvement Permit (MIP), Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) will verify that there is no existing Sidewalk Repair Notice (SRN) associated with the property. If an SRN has been issued, all required repairs must be completed under a Mandated Sidewalk Repair Permit. Under this permit, no alterations to the driveway are permitted, including changes to its location or width. However, if more than 50 percent of the driveway has been cited for repair, the entire driveway must be reconstructed at the same location and width and brought into compliance with current ADA standards.
   2. Any work beyond what is shown on the SRN drawing requires a separate Minor Improvement Permit (MIP) issued by PP&D. PP&D will coordinate with the Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Section regarding any additional permitted work.

2. Sidewalk & Driveway Permits through Building Plan Review

   Requirements apply per PCC Chapters 17.24, 17.28, and 17.88, and administrative rule.

3. Sidewalk & Driveway Permits through Resident Requests

   1. If the requested permit is for a new driveway, a separate Zoning Permit through PP&D may be required prior to PP&D issuance of a MIP.
   2. Request for a MIP to perform voluntary repairs or improvements will include submitting a drawing indicating the driveway location and dimension, curb, and sidewalk area. The drawing or application must clearly provide dimensions from property line, the lineal feet dimension of the proposed work, the street names and address fronting the work location, and any structures located withing the sidewalk corridor of the adjacent property.
   3. The applicant may submit their sidewalk driveway plan and application for the Voluntary MIP online.

   4. Upon approval and receipt of full payment, a MIP will be issued to the property owner by PP&D.

      All driveway and sidewalk construction must meet the requirements as shown in City Standard Construction Specifications and Standard Drawings, except for asphalt driveway approaches, which must meet the ODOT Standard Drawing. In addition:

      1. When replacing driveway and sidewalks, under a RMIP, all concrete replacement must extend from score line to score line or joint to joint. Partial panel replacements and/or concrete grinding are not allowed under this permit type.

      2. For VMIP and Mandated Sidewalk Repair Permits (issued following an SRN), in conformance with the requirements in Standard Drawing P-554, partial panel replacement and/or concrete grinding may be allowed; otherwise full panel replacement may be required.

      3. For construction of new sidewalk and driveway improvements that are in excess of 100 linear feet in length, or are determined by PP&D to require a higher level of engineering, which may include sides with steep grades, mature landscaping, or existing infrastructure such as utility poles, a MIP will not be issued by PP&D. If the applicant still wishes to perform the work, a Public Works Permit may be required to do so.

4. Driveway Access onto Unbuilt Right-of-Way

   When requesting access to a public right-of-way that is not paved or graveled, the applicant will be directed to PP&D for determination of the type of driveway construction required.

5. Carriage Walk

   A carriage walk is a concrete sidewalk from the curb to the public sidewalk the width of which is the same width as the walkway from the public sidewalk to the house. The permit process is as follows:

   1. The applicant must draw up a footprint indicating the proposed and existing curb and sidewalk area. The drawing must show the dimensions from property line, North Arrow, and street names.

6. Furnishing Zone

   For information on City policy regarding landscaping and hardscaping in sidewalk furnishing zones between the curb and pedestrian through zone, reference the Portland Pedestrian Design Guide (PDG) -TRN-1.092. Exceptions to the PDG will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis through the appropriate procedure (Public Works Alternative or Design Exception) as determined by the City.

   Permits for Infill of Furnishing zones are processed as follows:

   1. The applicant must submit a drawing showing the proposed and existing curb and sidewalk area. The drawing must show the dimensions from property line, North arrow, street names, trees, poles, utilities, signs, TriMet stops, and identify existing and proposed materials. All requests for permits to infill furnishing zones must comply with the provisions of the Pedestrian Design Guide.

7. Tree Wells

   The tree well program is administered by the City Forester. The City Forester approves the type of tree to be planted and its location within the public right-of-way. Tree well width must be the width of the furnishing zone and the length as indicated in the Pedestrian Design Guide. 

8. Pedestrian Through Zone

   All public sidewalks must meet the Pedestrian Through Zone widths prescribed in the Pedestrian Design Guide.

III. Authority

The authority to develop this Administrative Rule is provided by PCC Chapter 3.12.