Fee-related services include permits for new and altered buildings and their properties, land use reviews, certificates and registrations, inspections, and other compliance services and fees collected for other Portland bureaus.
The following information outlines the individual fees and charges that might be part of your total project cost:
- Your project could have fees from several fee tables. For example, a residential addition could have fees from the building permit, site development, plumbing, and electrical fee tables.
- System Development Charges and development fees. In addition to System Development Charges, other City bureaus may charge development fees. Please review their fee schedules below.
- Metro Tax. Your project could be affected by Metro Excise Tax.
- Surcharge. For all building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits, a 12% surcharge is applied by the State of Oregon.
- Contact the Development Services Center for the estimated costs associated with your specific project.
City of Portland fee schedules
| Permit or Service (listed in alphabetical order) | Fee Schedule |
|---|---|
| Building and other permits | |
| Electrical permit | |
| Enforcement and penalties | |
| Land use services | |
| Marijuana regulatory license | |
| Mechanical permit | |
| Noise variance | |
| Plumbing permit | |
| Sign, awning permit and registration | |
| Site development |
Unincorporated Multnomah County fee schedules
The fee schedules for unincorporated Multnomah County were approved by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 5, 2024, and are effective as of that date.
| Permit or Service (listed in alphabetical order) | Fee Schedule |
|---|---|
| Building and other permits | |
| Electrical permit | |
| Enforcement and penalties | |
| Land use services | |
| Mechanical permit | |
| On-site sewage disposal | |
| Plumbing permit | |
| Sign, awning permit and registration | |
| Site development |
Other City Bureaus - Fee Schedules
System Development Charges (SDCs)
If you are applying for a building permit for development in the City of Portland, system development charges (SDCs) may apply to your project. SDCs are one-time fees based on the proposed new use or increase in use of a property. They apply to both new construction and residential projects which increase the impact on city infrastructure.
Important! Depending on the project, SDCs may increase a project's budget substantially. It is important to determine the impact of SDC fees as early as possible in the process.
There are four City of Portland bureaus that have approved SDC charges. To find out if the SDCs apply to your project, and how much they will be, please use the following handout:
- System Development Charges (SDCs) - Portland Permitting & Development has compiled information about all the City's SDC fees into one webpage.
- Commercial Projects
- Residential Projects
Environmental Services
Service: Sewers: 503-823-7761
There is a sanitary sewer system SDC and a stormwater SDC.
Housing - Housing Development
Residential: 503-823-3270
Commercial: 503-823-9042
Portland Housing Bureau administers SDC exemption for affordable housing programs.
Parks and Recreation
Residential development; park capital improvements: 503-823-5105
These are one-time fees assessed to new residential and some commercial development in Portland. The fees cover a portion of the cost to provide for parks and recreation facilities that are needed to serve new residential development.
Transportation
Transportation Projects: 503-823-7002
You will be assessed an SDC if you receive a building permit from the City of Portland for new development or change the use of an existing building in a way that will generate additional trips to the site.
Water
Water Projects: 503-823-7368
The charge is based on the size of the meter installed and is assessed for all domestic and irrigation services. Fire lines are not assessed an SDC fee.
Joint Office of Homeless Services
Contact: 503-988-2525
The Joint Office of Homeless Services administers SDC exemption for mass shelters and short-term housing.
School construction excise tax
Oregon law allows school districts, in cooperation with cities and counties, to tax new residential and non‐residential development to pay for a portion of the cost of new or expanded school facilities.
School construction excise taxes may be imposed only on improvements to real property that result in a new structure or additional square footage in an existing structure. The tax is assessed per square foot on structures or portions of structures intended for residential or non-residential use.
A school construction excise tax pays for capital improvements including land acquisition; construction, reconstruction or improvement of school facilities; acquisition or installation of equipment, furnishings or other tangible property; architectural, engineering, legal or similar costs associated related to capital improvements; or the payment of obligations and related costs of issuance that are issued to finance or refinance capital improvements.
School construction excise tax rates as of Sept. 1, 2024:
| School district | Rate per square foot on structures intended for residential use | Rate per square foot on structures intended for non-residential use | Maximum for non-residential use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverton | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| Centennial | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| David Douglas | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| Lake Oswego | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| Parkrose | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| Portland | $1.63 | $0.82 | $40,800 |
| Riverdale | $1.00 | $0.50 | $25,000 |
| Scappoose | $1.41 | $0.70 | $30,700 |
Portland Permitting & Development applies and collects school construction excise taxes on construction permits issued to properties located within its jurisdiction. Exemptions may be provided for certain types of buildings as listed on the School CET Exemption Application Form.
Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax
Effective August 1, 2016, the City of Portland is collecting a tax on residential and commercial building projects with improvements valued at $100,000 or more. The tax is calculated as 1% of the permit valuation. The Portland Housing Bureau proposed the tax to help fund affordable housing programs and Portland City Council approved it in June, 2016.
Previous City of Portland and Unincorporated Multnomah County fee schedules
You can also review past Portland and unincorporated Multnomah County fee schedules if you need to apply the previous fiscal year's fees (effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024).
Valuation methods
Read more about valuation methods.