Additional efficiencies implemented in commercial permit review

Starting today, customers seeking commercial building permits with plan sets reviewed in ProjectDox, the City’s online plan review software, must submit corrections for every review group, at once, in each round of reviews.

This process improvement will enhance the efficiency with which plans are reviewed and permits issued. It ensures a more holistic review of a permit on each review cycle while reducing multiple iterations of updates on portions of construction plans. This effort will save time for City staff and customers and streamline the review process.

This practice will be a change for customers who may respond quickly to corrections requested by one or a few review groups while letting other review groups’ concerns go unaddressed for longer periods of time. A permit will not advance to the next round of reviews until all corrections identified in the previous round are addressed. Some accommodation may be made, in limited circumstances, for plans that require additional reviews for zoning and public works requirements.

This approach to plan review will be expanded over the next few months and apply to all commercial permits. Customers are encouraged to prepare for this now.

Questions about this new approach may be directed to the staff of the Permitting Services division of Portland Permitting & Development through the General Inquiries contact information listed above.