These fee increases were reviewed and approved by the Portland City Council on May 18. The Bureau of Development Services also provides permitting and land use review services for properties located in unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, and those fees were reviewed and approved by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on June 23.
Fees are set to cover the costs of services. The Bureau of Development Services faces increased costs of services during the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2022. Much of these increases are due to the cost-of-living adjustments and employee wage increases included in the recent collective bargaining agreement with the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU). The DCTU represents more than 150 employees at the Bureau of Development Services.
A summary of the proposed fee changes is provided below:
| Service | Fee Increases, Effective July 1, 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Portland (adopted May 18) | Unincorporated Multnomah County | |
| Building | 5% | 5% |
| Mechanical | 5% | 5% |
| Electrical | 5% | 5% |
| Plumbing | 5% | 5% |
| Field Issuance Remodel | 9% | 9% |
| Facilities Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Site Development | 9% | 9% |
| Environmental Soils | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Signs | 7% | 7% |
| Zoning Enforcement | 0% | 0% |
| Neighborhood Inspections | 5% | 5% |
| Land Use Services | 5% | 5% |
For a complete list of changes, please review the fee schedules. These fees apply to all new permit applications received on or after July 1, 2022. Learn more about how to submit a permit application under fees in effect before July 1.
What about Systems Development Charges?
The fees listed above are different from Systems Development Charges (SDCs). SDCs are charged by bureaus that provide utilities and other public facilities such as the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Portland Water Bureau, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and Portland Parks & Recreation.
If you have questions about whether particular SDCs may increase on July 1, 2022, please contact those bureaus directly. General contact information is provided below. For more detailed information, please visit the SDC information page.
- Portland Bureau of Transportation: 311@portlandoregon.gov
- Portland Water Bureau: devrev@portlandoregon.gov
- Bureau of Environmental Services: BESDevelopmentReview@portlandoregon.gov
- Portland Parks & Recreation: parks.sdc@portlandoregon.gov