Fees for various services of the Bureau of Development Services will change on July 1, 2023. Fees are set to cover the costs of providing services. Development Services faces increased costs for labor as well as for materials and services during the fiscal year that begins on July 1.
The Portland City Council approved the fee changes on May 31. Development Services also provides permitting and land use review services for properties located in some unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, and those fees were approved by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on June 15.
A summary of the fee changes is provided below:
| Service | Fee increases, effective July 1, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Portland | Unincorporated Multnomah County | |
| Building Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Mechanical Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Electrical Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Plumbing Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Field Issuance Remodel Program | 9% | 9% |
| Facilities Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Site Development Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Environmental Soils | 5% | 5% |
| Sign Permits | 5% | 5% |
| Zoning Enforcement | No change | No change |
| Neighborhood Inspections | 5% | 5% |
| Land Use Services | 5% | 5% |
| Cannabis Licensing | 5% | Not applicable |
| Noise Review | 5% | Not applicable |
For the complete details of the proposed changes, please review the fee schedules listed below. These fees apply to all new applications for permits or other services received on or after July 1, 2023. Learn more about how to submit a permit application under fees in effect before July 1.
What about System Development Charges?
The fees listed below are different from System 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, 2023, 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