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Get records about building on private property. Get other records about code enforcement, permits, or land use review. Request records for liquor and cannabis businesses.
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Read this first: Many records are available online

The records you seek may be available online. Please review the list of records below before filing a records request.

Building and trade (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing) permit records

All plans and applications for permits issued after June 1, 2012 are free on Portland Maps. To find individual permit information:

See here for helpful guides for using Portland Maps.

Please note: We have staffing limitations. Most documents for permits issued after December 2023 aren't yet on Portland Maps. To get these records, you’ll need to file a public records request.

Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing code appeals records

Land use reviews, decisions, and notices

  • Completed land use decisions from 2017, and from 2020 to the present, are available in eFiles Enter the land use case file in the search window (for example, 21-001350 LU). The full case file includes the decision and exhibits.
  • Notices of pending land use proposals are available at Public Notices. You can also find recent land use decisions that are subject to appeal.

Cannabis information

See this map of locations related to the Cannabis Program. It shows how close medical dispensaries and cannabis shops are to schools.

Pending liquor license applications

Find liquor license applications currently under review.

Recent noise complaints and applications for noise variances

Code enforcement cases

Collected permit and land use data available in Portland Maps

With Portland Maps Reports, you can find:

  • Recent data about different permit types
  • Recent applications for permits
  • Recent applications for land use reviews

You can select your search parameters and download data from the following categories:

The advanced features of Portland Maps let you search by permit type, status, location, or time. The types of permits for which information can be retrieved and downloaded include:

  • Residential building permits
    • All permits, additions, alterations, demolitions, new construction
  • Commercial building permits
    • All permits, additions, alterations, demolitions, new construction
  • Permits issued through the Major Projects group
  • Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing)

Current codes, policies, and administrative rules

Get code and program guides that explain the administrative rules and how the codes work.


What is not provided in a public records request

The request process only provides records that exist at the time of your request. A public records request is not an appropriate medium for:

  • Asking questions of or requesting meetings with staff
  • Requesting City employees to research or provide analysis of a topic or issue
  • Engaging in policy discussions with City staff or advocating for changes
  • Seeking records not yet created, such as notes or documents from an upcoming meeting

Setting up an online account for public records requests

If you used these search methods and can't find what you need, submit a formal public records request. Use the City of Portland's online public request portal. Selectthe Community and Economic Development service area, then select the Permitting and Development bureau.


Submitting a public records request in person or through the mail

If you're having trouble with the City's online records request, you can still get help. You can submit your request in writing by completing this form:

You can file a request in person at the Development Services Center at 1900 SW 4th Avenue. Please check the hours of the Development Services Center before visiting.

You may also submit a written public records request through U.S. mail, addressed to:

Public Records Coordinator
Portland Permitting & Development
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 5000
Portland, OR 97201

The City of Portland will make reasonable accommodations for anyone with a disability. We can also accommodate anyone who needs language translation. 

Please note that records requests not submitted online may take longer to fulfill. This is because we must enter those requests into the system manually.


Building permit records

Using the online request portal, you can get different kinds of documents. From the Building Permit Records section, you can request:

  • Plans for building
  • Plans for site development
  • Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing)
  • Zoning permits
  • Permit inspection cards
  • Sign permits
  • Certificates of occupancy

If you're searching for records of permits from before June 1, 2012, you'll need to make a formal request.


How to request building permit records:

  • Step 1: Make sure the building records are not already available online. See the top of this page for how to search online.
  • Step 2: Log in or set up a new online account in the Portland Public Records Request portal. If you have trouble setting up or accessing your online account, go to Step 3.
  • Step 3: Request the records online or mail us a uniform public records request.
    • We'll provide all available permit records that are not available on Portland Maps.
    • Please note: More records, listed below, might be available upon request. Request any of these records in the online form under Describe Records Requested. Depending on the complexity of the permit history, there might be a fee. We'll give you an estimate of any additional fees and the chance to agree to them before we fulfill the request.
  • Step 4: Pay the minimum records request fee. We require a minimum records request fee of $8 per address. We charge this fee at the time you submit the request. This fee is for the research performed and does not guarantee that we'll find the records.
  • We can usually complete records requests within 7 to 10 business days. Depending on the size and complexity of the request, it might take more time, and there might be more fees.

Additional permit records available upon request include:

  • Trade permit applications and inspection forms:
    • Electrical Permits from 1983-1994
    • Mechanical Permits from 1960-2005
    • Sign Permits from 1970s-2005
  • Permit folder information:
    • Review process comments
    • People associated with the project (applicant, contractor, etc.)
    • Checksheets (plan check comments)
  • Certificates of Occupancy (when available)
  • Building Code Appeals
  • Information about permits currently under review

Land Use review applications and decisions

The Land Use Services Division keeps these records:

  • Land use review
  • Pre-application conference
  • Early assistance appointment
  • Public registry
  • Design advice requests

To request completed records from 2018 or 2019, submit a public records request. Completed records from 2017 and from 2020 to the present are available on eFiles. For all other years, submit a public records request.

To request active records, contact the planner listed on the land use review notice. You can also find a name under Staff Contact in Permits section in Portland Maps.

You can find the status of land use application in Portland Maps.


Code enforcement records

The Property Compliance Division maintains records for code enforcement cases, including the following:

  • Housing
  • Nuisance
  • Zoning
  • Dangerous Buildings
  • Work without a permit
  • Noise code violations
  • Accessory short-term rentals
  • Home occupation permits
  • Violation notices
  • Other violations of City code

Submit a public records request if you need information on a closed enforcement case.

For active cases, you can request records by:

Under Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.355(4)), some information must stay undisclosed. That happens when someone gives us confidential information. For example, if someone files a complaint, we can't tell you about them, unless they first agree.


Cannabis and liquor license records

Liquor licenses

Portland Permitting & Development provides City-level review of liquor license applications. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is the agency that issues them.

You can get records of the City's license recommendations dating back to 2015. To do that, make a public records request. See the liquor license applications page for permits that are currently pending.

Cannabis licenses

Since 2015, the Cannabis Program has managed licenses and compliance for cannabis-related businesses. An advisory group gives the program recommendations to support the City's cannabis policies.

For license or compliance records about a business, make a public records request.


Septic and on-site wastewater records

Some properties in Multnomah County do not have physical or legal access to a public sewer. In these cases, Portland Permitting & Development keeps records of those septic systems.


Unreinforced masonry building list

You can get a free copy of the latest unreinforced masonry building list. To do that, make a public records request.


Right-of-way permits

Public Infrastructure Permit Review maintains records for right-of-way permits. These include the following:

  • public works permits
  • minor improvement permits
  • encroachment permits
  • public works alternative reviews
  • driveway design exceptions

To request these records, please make a public records request.


Other types of public records

Not all kinds of records are discussed on this page. To request records about policy and procedure development, make a public records request.

To request these materials:

  1. Go to the Public Records Request Center
  2. Select Permitting & Development Records
  3. Under Records Requested, select Email searches, statistics, and reports

News media requests

Members of the press seeking records that aren't online can submit a public records request.

Request public records online


Fees for public records searches

Portland Permitting & Development needs to recover costs involved in providing public records. This includes the cost of staff searching for and reviewing records.

For building permit records, the fee is $8 per address. Payment of this fee is due before work begins on a request.

If staff believe a request will take more than an hour to fulfill, they'll prepare an estimate of your fee. You'll get a copy of the estimate and have an opportunity to revise your request. Paying one half of the estimate authorizes the staff to begin work on your request. Once they've found and prepared your records, you'll get a final invoice with the actual costs. You must then submit your final payment before they release the records to you.

PP&D may waive some or all of these fees under any of these conditions:

  • The work to locate and review the requested records takes less than one hour of staff time. (This condition doesn't apply to building permit records. For those, there is a minimum $8 fee.)
  • You request a fee waiver and can show how fulfilling the request would serve the public interest.
  • You request a fee waiver because payment of the fee may pose a financial hardship.

For public interest and financial hardship waivers, you must answer a series of questions. The public information officer will review your request and determine whether to grant it. You will be notified of the fee waiver decision before work begins on your records request.


Additional resources

Administrative rule

Find the City Auditor's administrative rule governing the provision of public records.

Personal safety exemption request

If you feel your name should be withheld from the City's records released to the public due to concerns about your personal safety, please complete a personal safety exemption request form. The Office of the City Attorney will review the information submitted and determine whether it may remove your name, address and/or phone number from City records.

The City is only permitted to withhold an individual’s contact information if the person meets the criteria established in Oregon law (ORS 192.368) by showing that the release of the information would put a person in danger. If the City Attorney approves the removal of your name or contact information from City records, Portland Permitting & Development and other bureaus will be instructed by the City Attorney to remove that information.

Contact

General Inquiries

Portland Permitting & Development
phone number503-823-7300The phone is answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please leave a message if you call outside of those hours.
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