If you purchased a permit in error or no longer need a permit, you may apply for a refund using the permit refund request form.
Email your permit refund request form
To apply for a refund for commercial and residential permits complete the fillable permit refund request form. Your refund request will be processed faster if it's completed and saved as a PDF and not printed, scanned and emailed. Email the completed form to Portland Permitting & Development Inspections (ppdinspections@portlandoregon.gov).
Mail your permit refund request form
To apply for a refund for Commercial and Residential permits, print and complete the refund request form. Then mail the completed form to Portland Permitting & Development using the address on the Permit Refund Request form.
Overview of Title 24.10.102 Building Permit and Plan Check/Process Fee
- Requests for refunds must be made within six months of payment or permit issuance, whichever is later.
- Refunds may only be issued to the party who paid the fees, according to the payor information on record.
- Permit refunds for online permits are paid by check.
- The refund request form is used only for online permits and not for Land Use Service applications (such as Land Use Reviews, Early Assistance Appointments, Lot Confirmations, etc.). For Land Use Services application refunds, contact the assigned planner for your case file or call the Portland Permitting & Development General Inquiries phone number.
How much will be refunded?
As a general rule, if permit or plan review fees are paid by customers due to an error on the part of the City of Portland, these fees will be fully refunded at 100%.
However, the following applies to all permits purchased in error by customers, where the City was not at fault in accepting payment.
Refunds up to 80% may be issued
If the City services covered by the customer fees (reviews or inspections) HAVE NOT yet begun or have not been performed at the time a Refund Request is received by the City, refunds up to 80% may be issued.
Refunds will not be issued
If the City services covered by the customer fees (reviews or inspections) HAVE begun or have been performed at the time a Refund Request is received by the City, refunds will not be issued.
Get help with an online permit application
If you have questions about applying for a permit online, give us a call at the General Inquiries phone number.