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The City’s Regulatory Program oversees several business activities to ensure public safety, consumer protection, fairness, and compliance with city code. This page summarizes each regulated program, proposed changes, clarity in code language, and the public process.
Public Process
- Early August 2026, notification letters to impacted businesses
- August 24, 11 a.m. City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, In person meeting for Pay and Park stakeholders to review proposed code changes and provide feedback. No registration required.
- August 24, 4p.m. virtual meeting for stakeholders to provide feedback on proposed code changes for Secondhand Dealers. Registration required.
- August 31, public comment period closes.
- September 11, sign up to testify at Finance and Governance Committee of the Whole Meeting held September 16
- September 16, Finance and Governance Committee of the Whole presentation of proposed code changes
Amusement Devices, Games and Machines
Purpose of Program
Regulate use of amusement devices, games and machines to reduce unlawful gambling, adverse neighborhood impacts, and adverse impacts on the welfare and education of children in the City.
Current Code | Proposed Code Changes
Summary of Proposed Code Changes
- Retire the requirement for businesses who have amusement devices, games, or machines to have a permit
Pay and Park & Non‑Pay Private Parking Facilities
Public feedback session held August 24, 11 a.m., in person at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, to discuss proposed code changes. No registration required.
Purpose of program
To ensure that the regulation of parking at Pay and Park and Non-Pay private parking facilities is applied objectively with proper notice; and to protect fairness and convenience for the parking public.
Current Code | Proposed Code Changes
Summary of Proposed Code Changes
- Increase the annual fee from $200 to $400 per lot to adjust for inflation and better reflect the actual cost of program administration
- Establish a new $400 Operator Application Fee to pay for the administrative and legal review required for new applications
- Add Consumer Price Index based fee adjustment language to allow future fee adjustments that better align with inflation
- Establish a mandatory grace period of no more than seven minutes to accommodate parker mobility needs and technical difficulties
- Require payment machines to display signage advising potential parkers not to park in the facility if the machine does not accept payment
- Require all signs, not specifically addressed in Code, have minimum lettering heights of 2 inches, and ADA stickers and/or signs have minimum lettering heights of 1 inch, to enhance visibility and accessibility
- Clarify the definition of "payment machine" to mean "any device capable of accepting or receiving parking fee payments by cash or coin, as well as credit card and providing proof of payment" to align with State of Oregon requirements and the City Attorney's interpretation of those requirements
- Clarify that parking validations issued through agreements with nearby businesses are a valid form of payment and must be accepted and processed accordingly
- Require Lot Operators issuing Parking Penalty Notices (PPN) and Penalty Payment Letters (PPL) to include complete and accurate license plate or VIN information to the extent possible. Allow for dismissal when PPNs and PPLs include incomplete or inaccurate information.
- Require Lot Operators (or their patrollers) document issued PPNs by capturing a photo of the notice placed on a vehicle, as well as a photo of the vehicle license plate (if present), make/model, and VIN to support enforcement and substantiate the violation
- Require Lot Operator respond to the parker or the Revenue Division within a specified time frame; failure to respond within the timeframe will result in dismissal of the PPN
- Require acceptance of PPN payments submitted by mail, including payments made by check
- Clarify that parking facilities with disconnected areas or separate access points must be registered as multiple lots and cannot be treated as a single continuous facility
- Clarify that when a registered facility includes both Pay-to-Park and Non-Pay sections, the entire facility must comply with the minimum standards for both lot types, including additional signage indicating which portion of the lot the parker is in, entering or leaving
- Require compliance with Business License Law pursuant to Portland City Code Chapter 7.02
- Fees were last increased in 2009
Secondhand Dealers
Registration required for this virtual event being held August 24, 4 p.m. to discuss proposed code changes.
Purpose of Program
To regulate certain business activities that present an extraordinary risk of being used by criminals to dispose of stolen property.
Current Code | Proposed Code Changes
Summary of Proposed Code Changes
- Require that all employees submit a Personal History Form, regardless of whether they acquire regulated property on behalf of the business
- Require submission of an employee roster as part of the annual renewal process
- Eliminate the Occasional Secondhand Dealer application and fees and establish a single Secondhand Dealer fee for all businesses, regardless of business size
- Adjust the Secondhand Dealer application and renewal fees from varying amounts to $600 to better align fees with current program costs and service needs
- Add a new $25 fee for Portland Police Bureau background checks
- Add Consumer Price Index based fee adjustment language to allow future fee adjustments that better align with inflation
- Require compliance with Business License Law pursuant to Portland City Code Chapter 7.02
- Fees were last increased in 2013
Payday Lending
Purpose of Program
To minimize the detrimental effects that certain payday lending practices have on individuals and families.
Current Code | Proposed Code Changes
Summary of Proposed Code Changes
- Adjust the application/renewal fee from $1,500 to $2,400 to better align fees with current program costs and service needs
- Add Consumer Price Index based fee adjustment language to allow future fee adjustments that better align with inflation
- Fee's were last increased in 2006
Social Games
Purpose of Program
To regulate the operators of social games, restricting location, age, dollar amount of play, and other rules to protect the public peace, safety, and morals; and also as required by Oregon law.
Current Code | Proposed Code Changes
Summary of Proposed Code Changes
- Adjust the Social Game application fee from $500 to $1000 to better align fees with current program costs and service needs
- Add Consumer Price Index based fee adjustment language to allow future fee adjustments that better align with inflation
- Require compliance with Business License Law pursuant to Portland City Code Chapter 7.02
- Fees were last increased in the 1970's