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Get permit and start work
Before you start your project, we strongly encourage you to schedule a pre-construction meeting with City staff. In some cases, you might be required to have a pre-construction meeting. If so, we’ll let you know after you apply.
Schedule a pre-construction Consultation Inspection. This is an optional inspection, but it is highly recommended to avoid costly rework.
We will review your approved plans and clarify all the required inspections you'll need to schedule.
- The Consultation Inspection is included with your approved permit. There's no additional cost for this consultation.
- Schedule before you start any work.
- To schedule a consultation inspection, use the following codes to request a consultation by discipline:
- 295 – Structural
- 155 – Electrical
- 397 – Plumbing
- 650 – Mechanical
- How it works:
- An inspector will call you between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the day of your scheduled consultation to determine whether your question can be resolved over the phone or if an on-site visit is needed.
- Keep approved plans on site.
- Important: Consultations do not count as approved inspections. All required inspections must still be scheduled and passed for the work to be approved.
These meetings can be formal, with a large group made up of your project team, City inspectors, and interagency partner staff. Or, they can be one-on-one with the inspector.
Review your approved plans for special requirements
Check your permit documents for any of the following:
- Tree preservation requirements
- For projects that require tree preservation, a Root Protection Zone must be set up.
- Before starting any ground-disturbing activities, get a Tree Preservation Inspection (507).
- Special inspections
- Special inspections (e.g., structural, soils) are identified in your approved plan set. If you're unsure whether they apply to your project, stop and confirm before proceeding. Work performed without the required special inspection oversight may need to be removed and redone.
- Special inspections (e.g., structural, soils) are identified in your approved plan set. If you're unsure whether they apply to your project, stop and confirm before proceeding. Work performed without the required special inspection oversight may need to be removed and redone.
- Deferred submittals
- All deferred submittals must be submitted and approved before continuing with the portion of work they affect. Proceeding without approval can result in failed inspections and delays.
- All deferred submittals must be submitted and approved before continuing with the portion of work they affect. Proceeding without approval can result in failed inspections and delays.
- Cesspool decommissioning
- If your project site includes a cesspool or other private sewage disposal system, it must be properly decommissioned in accordance with Oregon DEQ regulations and City of Portland requirements.
Will your project dig up the ground or add hard surface outdoors?
If your project will dig up more than 500 square feet of surface, or if you’re adding 1,000 square feet of impervious surface to your project site, you’ll need to get a pre-construction inspections.
For projects that dig up the ground, you’ll need erosion control inspections before and during your project, as well as a final inspection. The approved Erosion, Sediment, and Pollutant Control Plan must always be on site and available to both the on-site erosion control manager and City inspectors.
At your inspection, we’ll give you specific requirements for site work, stormwater, erosion control, and tree protection. These must be in place before site work begins. We’ll check these requirements throughout the project to make sure any issues are addressed quickly.
You can schedule an inspection in one of two ways:
- Use DevHub. After you sign in, go to Inspections and use your permit information to schedule.
- Calling the IVR number at 503-823-7000. Have your permit or IVR number ready when you call.
You can schedule up to ten (10) business days in advance. To schedule an inspection on the same day, call before 6 a.m. on the day you want the inspection. (We can't guarantee a same-day inspection.)
After 6 a.m., the available dates start with the next business day.
If you're scheduling with the IVR system:
- Pre-construction erosion control inspection is code 200.
- Ongoing inspection during construction is code 205.
- The final inspection is code 210.
- Tree Protection Inspection, if required as noted on approved plans, is code 570.
Have a question for your permit inspector?
If you have questions about your project before your inspection, call your inspector using these inspector maps:
For projects using a deferred submittal:
Deferred submittal plans must be submitted by the permit holder or their representative. We need to review and approve them before any related work or inspections can begin.
To avoid delays, include all deferred submittal dates in your construction schedule. Submit the plans to the City at least 30 days before the work is scheduled to start.
State rules (OAR Chapter 918, Division 50) declare that projects can't move forward beyond what the Building Official has approved. Starting deferred submittal work without approved plans may result in a stop work order.
We won't do any inspections of deferred submittal work until approved deferred submittal plans are on site.