Start Guide: How to get a building permit

You will need information about the property. You will use the information to complete the permit application and draw the plans. 

Find the information on PortlandMaps.

• Construction site address
  • No address? Use the Tax map/parcel no. (the Property ID on Portland Maps).
• The property owner's name and address
• Utilities and Public Safety
  • Flood hazards or areas where water can overflow onto land
  • Slopes or steep lots
  • Sewer and stormwater facilities
  • Water supply
• Find your zoning using PortlandMaps.

• Check past permits
  • Find the last permitted occupancy and use of the space.
  • Find how the space was laid out.
  • Find if the space was converted.
• Find any land use decisions on your property

Permits issued after June 1, 2012: All plans and applications are free view on PortlandMaps.

Permits issued on or before June 1, 2012: Many plans and applicationsmay be found through a Public Records Search.

Use our Find Public Records page to learn how to find information on PortlandMaps and how to research different types of records.

All State and City codes and rules that will impact your project must be met.

Where to start:

• First, find out what you can do on a site.
  • Before your begin designing, meet with a City Planner.
• Next, find out how you can build.
  • Meet with a Building Code Reviewer

For any other questions, check our free 15-minute appointments page.

• Residential projects (1 and 2-family homes)
• Commercial projects (3 or more family homes and businesses)
• Search for all other permit types (like solar or signs)

Search tip: Search portland.gov for project requirements. For example, "Commercial Alteration" or "Residential Decks".

Other permits you may need

• Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits (trade permits)
• Zoning permit
  • Building a patio or deck in environmental zones.
  • Creating a new or enlarged parking area or driveway.
• Demolition permit
• Site development permit
  • Clearing
  • Grading
  • Groundwork for new subdivisions
  • Landslide repair
  • Private streets
  • Tree cutting
• Permits to connect to city infrastructure
  • You might need permits for:
    • Work impacting the street, curb, or sidewalk
    • Driveway installation or removal
    • Connecting to sewer, storm sewer, or water
    • Sewer, storm sewer, or water main extensions
    • Plant, prune, or remove a street tree
    • Utility relocation
    • Closure of the right-of-way

Find permit fees for your permit. Fees are based on a project's estimated cost of construction and materials. We call this estimate the project valuation.

• Visit our most Current Fee Schedules. Your project could have fees from several fee tables.
  • How are these fees calculated? Learn about our valuation methods.
• Estimate the cost of your building permit.
  • Tip: Use the fee schedule to understand which fees are included and not included in the estimate.
• Find out if you are eligible for a fee reduction.

Charges and taxes

• System development charges (SDCs) applies to
  • New development (new builds)
  • Additions
  • Changes of use
     
• School construction excise tax applies to
  • Building new structures
  • Adding square footage to an existing structure
     
• Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax applies to
  • Residential and commercial building projects with improvements valued at $100,000 or more.

See how long it often takes to get a permit based on the permit type.

• Check permit timelines within the last 20 days.
• Review timeframes are listed on check permit status.

Contractor doing the work

• Find licensed contractors in Portland.
• Contractor License Requirements.

Homeowner doing the work on single-family homes

Trade permits

Homeowners, you can sign the trade permit applications.

You can do the electrical work if you

• Own and occupy the home
• Are not planning on selling or renting within 6 months

• For quick questions, call our General Inquiries line at 503-823-7300.
   
• Schedule a free 15-minute appointment to ask about
  • Building codes and land use regulations
  • Permit application process
  • Application requirements
     
• For complex land use, zoning, building code, or fire code issues.
  • Request a paid and scheduled early assistance meeting.
     
• Black, Indigenous, people of color, and persons with disabilities.
  • Get support from our Empowered Communities Program.

• Get help with the building permit application form.

You will need to know:

• Address: Where is the site located?
• Description of work: What work are you doing? For example: Adding a bedroom and bathroom to the first floor of a single-family home.
• Contractor: Who is doing the work? You will need the contractor's name and their "CCB" number. If you are a homeowner doing your work you can put "Owner doing work" instead.
• Applicant: Who should we contact about the permit? This person will upload plans.
• Valuation: What is the fair market value for the project? This means the cost of labor and materials. Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to include what it would cost to hire someone.

Browse other permit and inspection forms you may need for your application.

Plans must show existing work and all proposed work.

• Site plan: Shows the whole property and the footprint of all structures and driveway. Often called a "plot plan."
• Floor plans: These must label the existing layout and the proposed new layout. Even if you only work on a small part of the building, you still need to show the whole floor layout.
• Elevation drawings: Are you doing anything on the exterior, like adding a window or a door? You will need drawings of the outside of the building and the slope of the ground next to the building.
• Structural plans: For projects that change existing structural elements or propose new structural elements. These plans include drawings and calculations. Show how the structure will be built and how it will perform under different conditions.
• Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing plans: For larger commercial new construction.
• Civil drawings: For larger commercial new construction.

For the full list of required plans, visit:

• Commercial building permit required plans.
• Residential building permit required plans.

Depending on your project you may need to provide

• Structural calculations
• Product specifications
• Geotechnical reports
• Surveyed location of the property line

Apply for many permits using our online permitting system, Development Hub PDX (DevHub).

Note: Some permits require email submission. Check the specific submission requirements for each permit type.

Paper plans: Find out if you qualify to apply in person.

You must pay intake fees to get reviews started.

Pay permit fees online, by phone, or in person.

After you submit your permit application, we will review your plans.

Permit applications are reviewed in three phases. Check the status of your permit and respond to feedback on DevHub.

Different groups will review your permit.

Make corrections and resubmit your plans

Technical review

• We may need more information or changes to your plans. If we do, you will receive feedback in checksheets.
• You must address all items on all checksheets until we approve your plans.

Pay permit fees online, by phone, or in person.

When you pay for permits, we'll email your

• Permit
• Approved plans
• Permit inspection card.

Download and print your permit, approved plans, and permit inspection card.

• Place your permit inspection card in a visible location on the project site.
• Keep your printed plans at the site for the inspector to use during visits.
• Schedule any required pre-construction inspections
  • Inspections that need approval before starting or digging (ground disturbance). These include:
    • Tree preservation
    • Erosion control
    • Demolition
• Work can begin.

Schedule an inspection online or by phone.

Please refer to your issued permit for who to contact for inspections.

Your approved plans, permit, and inspection card must be on the project site.

• What to expect
  • Residential inspections (1 and 2 family dwelling units)
  • Commercial inspections

Look up Today's Residential Inspections Schedule.

Our inspectors will examine whether your work is done according to your approved plans.

• After the inspection, your inspector will email you an inspection report.
• If the inspection is approved, your permit status is final.
• You may need to get a series of inspections.
• To complete your permit, you will need a Final Inspection.
• For failed inspections, your inspection report will list the corrections required to get approved.
• You will be responsible for making the corrections.

Re-inspections

Option 1 (fastest option): Schedule through Remote Video Re-inspections (RVR)

• Learn how to schedule a Remote Video Re-inspection (RVR) for residential projects.

Option 2: Schedule through IVR

• Call for a re-inspection at 503-823-7000 after making the corrections. Use the same three-digit inspection code.
• If you make the corrections the same day, wait until 5 p.m. to request a re-inspection. The inspector needs to enter their results before you can schedule the re-inspection. 

Permit revisions

• If you did the work differently than what was on the plans, the inspector may ask for a permit revision.
• Get the application and apply for a permit revision.

File an appeal

• Want to request an alternative way to meet code?
  • Request to appeal the building code, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing code.
  • Request to appeal the zoning code.

Permits expire 180 days after the Under Review date. If you cannot obtain an inspection approval within 180 days, you may request a permit extension or reactivation.