Mechanical Permits- Commercial

When you need a mechanical permit

You need a commercial mechanical permit to:

• New installations, additions, or alterations to mechanical systems.
• Not all installations require mechanical plans, but all must conform to the Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code.
• Examples include
  • Rooftop mechanical units
  • Natural gas lines
  • Walk-in coolers
  • Ducting or hood ventilation systems

Who can do commercial mechanical work

If the work proposed is in a building that is not intended for rent, sale, lease or exchange, the property owner, an owner’s representative, or the tenant can perform the work, as well as an Oregon-licensed general contractor.  

All contractors working in the State of Oregon must have a license to work in Oregon. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) issues licenses to contractors and maintains records on licensed contractors and any claims filed against them. Contact the CCB at (503) 378-4621 for further questions.

Apply for a commercial mechanical permit

You can submit your permit application request online via Development Hub PDX.

Get step-by-step instructions for submitting a permit application request online. 

If you need to submit paper plans, you can set up an appointment to pick up plans or drop off plans in person. Or, please call us and we will work with you.

Mechanical information required for a commercial permit

Commercial Permit Submittal Requirements

Projects that do not need plans

Generally, these are the projects that can be issued without plan review:

• Push/Pull (Like for Like) of commercial equipment under 5 tons
• Gas piping < $5000
• Condensing units inside a building associated with a commercial building permit (CO) for a walk-in freezer/cooler
• Moving or replacing ductwork not involving fire dampers or penetrations of fire walls, fire assemblies, or floors
• Moving or replacing grills in ductwork

If the project does not fall in the list above, a Mechanical plan review is required. You'll need to submit plans for review to ensure compliance with the Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code as well as any applicable city code.

Submittal standards (projects with plan review)

For mechanical permits that require plans, you must provide all required documents and plans. This includes:

• A mechanical permit application
• Mechanical drawing plans (black & white ink only)
• Any structural sheets, calculations, or equipment specification sheets

Plan requirements

Your plans must:

• Be black and white only (no color or color legends – plans are scanned in grayscale)
• Be drawn to scale – no sketches, photos, or screenshots
• Minimum sheet size: 11" x 17"
• Minimum text size: 3/32" or 12-point font
• Clearly show the scope of work covered by your permit application. Do not include unrelated work.
• Plans may be hand-drawn if they are clear and legible. Use printed text, not cursive handwriting.
• If using drawings created by a licensed professional (architect, engineer, etc.), you must have permission from the professional who signed them.
• When using architectural or engineering drawings, mechanical work must be clear, and non-mechanical work must be minimized and shown only as a background.
• Include a mechanical plan cover sheet with an equipment list for all equipment subject to structural support or seismic attachment requirements in the OSSC.
• Include the equipment product data
• Include a simple site plan, floor plan, and roof plan (if applicable).

Additional requirements (if needed)

You may need to include:

• Engineering calculations and details if:
  • Added roof load exceeds 400 lbs
  • The structure needs reinforcement
• Plans or details prepared by an Oregon-licensed structural engineer
• Engineered drawings/details integrated into plans or submitted separately with cross-references

Additional information about specific project types

Rooftop units

HVAC systems

Mechanical hood ventilation systems

Plan review and permit/case search 

The review groups that will check a typical mechanical permit are:

• Mechanical Plan Review
• Fire Plans Examiner
• Structural Review (addition of equipment weighing more than 400 lbs.)
• Planning and Zoning (any exterior work or interior work with exterior penetrations) 

Every project is unique, and additional information may be required for review. Permit status can be reviewed on Portland Maps permit/case search.

If you need to make corrections

Checksheet: Prepare and submit corrections electronically

Commercial mechanical permit fees

Commercial Mechanical permit fees are based on the value of the work to be performed and may include any review fees by City Reviewers. Visit the Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule. The fees are also listed on the Mechanical Permit Application.

Commercial mechanical inspections

Once the project has been approved and final fees have been paid, you can request an inspection.

To schedule an inspection, the IVR and/or permit number is needed, and the three-digit code for the inspection.

Inspection results

Get complete and timely inspection results on DevHub.

Inspection corrections

If the inspection is Not Approved and corrections are needed, the inspector will list the corrections needed on the inspection report and provide a copy for the site. After those corrections are completed, reinspection can occur.

Here are some common reasons why the work did not get approved:

• No access - the inspector may not have been able to inspect the work
• Incomplete work
• Code violation

After the corrections have been addressed, schedule a reinspection. Use the same three-digit inspection code when calling for the original inspection.

There is a reinspection fee charged for more than one reinspection for a single issue.

Contact commercial mechanical inspectors

If you have questions before your inspection, you can talk to an inspector. The commercial mechanical inspector area map lists the inspector's name, area, and phone number. The best time to reach an inspector is between 7:30 am - 8:00 am. 

Expired permits or permits about to expire

Apply for a permit extension or reactivation.