Portland Permitting & Development proposes fee changes, effective July 1, 2025

Portland Permitting & Development is proposing increased service fees for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2025, due to increased labor, materials, and service costs. Most fees are proposed to increase by 5%.

These proposed fee increases are intended to cover cost increases and help maintain service delivery. Ninety-eight percent of the bureau’s revenues are derived from service fees.

Changes in these fees are subject to review and approval by the Portland City Council. Permitting & Development also provides permitting and land use review services for properties located in some unincorporated areas of Multnomah County, and those fees are subject to review and approval by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.

For the complete details of the proposed changes, please review the fee schedules listed below.
 

What comes next

These proposed fee increases that apply to properties located within the City of Portland were discussed with the City Council’s Finance Committee at its meeting on April 7.

Learn more about the April 7 Finance Committee meeting.

The proposed fee increases were discussed with the Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) at its meeting on April 17. DRAC is a community advisory body representing those with interests in the outcome of policies, budgets, regulations, and procedures that affect development review processes.

Learn more about the April 17 DRAC meeting.

Following those two committee meetings, the Portland City Council will consider the proposed fee increases in a public hearing on Wednesday, May 7. The City Council meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. 

Learn more about the May 7 City Council meeting and providing testimony.

The proposed fees will be discussed with the City Council's Homelessness and Housing Committee at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13, beginning at 12 p.m.

Learn more about the May 13 Homelessness and Housing Committee meeting.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to approve the fee increases that apply to properties located within the City of Portland at its meeting on Wednesday, May 21.

Learn more about the May 21 City Council meeting.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will likely consider and vote on the proposed fee increases for properties in unincorporated areas in a hearing on Thursday, June 12. Please consult the Multnomah County Board Clerk’s website for information on how to provide testimony.

If the fee increases are approved as proposed, they will apply to all new applications for permits or other services received on or after July 1, 2025.
 

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, 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: waterpermit@portlandoregon.gov
• Bureau of Environmental Services: BESDevelopmentReview@portlandoregon.gov
• Portland Parks & Recreation: parks.sdc@portlandoregon.gov

Proposed fee schedules for the City of Portland

Proposed fee schedules for Unincorporated Multnomah County