TRN-10.19 - Utility Permits in the Right-of-Way

The full text of the guide is available as a PDF document (264 KB). What follows in the rule's Purpose section.  

Any person desiring to make a public improvement, do work in, or use the public right of way must first obtain a permit from the City Engineer as prescribed in Title 17. Utility permits, aka Street Opening Permits, are issued to franchised utilities, the Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland City Streetcar, the Street Lighting and Traffic Signals sections of the Bureau of Transportation and other public entities. Utility permits are required for installation, reconstruction, relocation or repair of utility service facilities within the public right- of-way. Utility mains, service connections, conduits, vaults, hydrants and utility poles are examples of, but are not limited to, installations requiring permits from Portland’s Bureau of Transportation, Utility, Construction and Inspections Division. For more information on the Design Exception process, see the Design Documents – City of Portland, Oregon section on the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation website.