Start Guide: How to get a permit

Your project must follow state and city codes and rules.

Find application requirements for

• 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)

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

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
• Zoning
  • Find your zoning using PortlandMaps.
  • Find out what you can do on a site.

Permit history and land use decisions

• Commercial sites: find the last permitted occupancy or use.
• Residential sites: Altering a home or duplex, check past permits.
• All sites: find any land use decisions that could impact your project.

Historical records (before June 1, 2012): Use our Find Public Records page.

• Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits (trade permits)
• Zoning permit
• Demolition permit
• Site development permit
  • For clearing, grading, groundwork for new subdivisions, landslide repair, private streets, and tree cutting.
• Public works permit
  • Projects that typically require a Public Works permit include: 
    • Curb and street pavement construction
    • Sewer mainline extensions
    • Sidewalk reconstruction
    • Stormwater facilities for street drainage
    • Street lighting
    • Water main extensions for subdivisions in proposed (new) public rights-of-way

Visit our most Current Fee Schedules. Your project could have fees from several fee tables.

Estimate the cost of your building permit.

Find out if you are eligible for a fee reduction.

System Development Charges

System development charges (SDCs) are fees for new development, additions, and changes of use. SDCs help to offset the impact your project will have on the city’s storm and sanitary sewer systems, parks and recreation facilities, water, and street systems. 

Check permit timelines within the last 20 days.

Contractor doing the work

Find licensed contractors in Portland.

Contractor License Requirements.

Homeowner doing the work

Trade permits

Homeowners, you can sign the trade permit applications. You can only do the electrical work if you own and occupy the home and 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 for a video call to answer simple questions about the building and land use code, application process, and submittal requirements.

Request a paid and scheduled early assistance meeting to answer complex land use, zoning, building code, or fire code issues.

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 forms you may need for your permit application.

Plans must show existing work and all proposed work.

Plans you need for a building permit.

• 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 door? You will need these drawings of the outside of the building and the slope of the ground adjacent to the building.
• Structural plans: For projects that require an engineer. Structural plans include drawings, calculations, and specifications that illustrate 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.

Depending on your project you may need to provide

• Structural calculations
• Product specifications 
• Geotechnical reports 

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

For most projects, all drawing plans must be combined in a single PDF file.

Large-scale projects such as commercial new construction are submitted through PDX E-plans and ProjectDox.

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.

Intake fees are required 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

During the technical review, if we need additional information or changes to your plans, 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. Once permits are paid, we'll email your permit, approved plans, and 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. 

Work can begin.

Schedule an inspection online or by phone.

Request Inspections and Inspection Results by phone (IVR system).

You will need the IVR number on your inspection card to schedule inspections.

Inspections for trade permits (without plan review) purchased on DevHub can be scheduled on DevHub.

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.

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

If you disagree with the results or a specific code, file a building code, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing code appeal online.

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.