Mission
Portland Permitting & Development promotes safety, livability and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.
Goals
To meet the needs of our community, we pursue the following goals:
- Support community vitality and protect life, property, and natural resources by promoting compliance with applicable codes and regulations
- Provide cooperative and responsive internal and external customer service
- Process all Bureau functions efficiently
- Create a collaborative workplace that promotes mutual respect through trust, fairness and open communication
- Support continual professional growth of the workforce and organization through education, technology and diversity
Values
- Dedication to serving the public
- Pride in our work
- Care for the long-term viability of our community
- Recognition of worth, quality and importance of each employee and member of the community
- Support of continual learning, education and innovation
Equity Commitment
Portland Permitting & Development is committed to the elimination of racism and discriminatory practices in our services and in our workplace because we understand the positive value of equitable systems. View our Equity Commitment Statement:
Contact Us
General inquiries
- 503-823-7300
- 711 Oregon Relay Service
- ppd@portlandoregon.gov
- Contact PP&D managers or supervisors
- List of all PP&D department phone numbers
Need help? Schedule a 15-minute appointment
You can book a free 15-minute appointment with us. Get help with the permit process, zoning requirements, building codes, and more. Language access is available. Learn more about 15-minute appointments and schedule an appointment online.
Visit us
Address
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 5000, Portland, OR 97201
View additional information about this location and the services available in the Development Services Center.
Get directions via Google Maps
PP&D organizational chart
Interim Director David Kuhnhausen
David Kuhnhausen was appointed interim director of Portland Permitting & Development as of Dec. 19, 2023.
David has served in various capacities at Portland Permitting & Development since 2008. From January 2018 until he was appointed interim director, he managed the Permitting Services division that receives and processes building and trade permit applications. He helped lead the bureau’s transition from paper-based to online permitting, improve reporting metrics for permit processing and revise its customer service model. Previously, he served as a project coordinator and technician assisting customers and bureau leadership in matters concerning building code application and plan review.
David also served as a right-of-way analyst with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, a project manager with the Columbia River Economic Development Council, and a real estate appraisal analyst.
A Portland native, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in business from the University of Oregon.
In his free time, David enjoys an active lifestyle. A casual runner and bike rider, his happiest place is exploring the various natural areas around town and searching for the perfect puddle for his daughter to jump in, or finding a new restaurant to try with his wife.