Development Services Center

City Office
Development Services Center
1900 SW Fourth Avenue
First floor lobby
Portland, OR 97201
Development Services Center at 1900 SW 4th Ave.

For more than 20 years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Development Services Center was the central location for purchasing construction permits in the City of Portland.

You can now apply, review and pay for most construction permits online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Limited in-person services are available in the Development Services Center at 1900 SW 4th Avenue. If you plan to visit the Development Services Center, here is helpful information about what to expect and how to plan ahead.

Services available at the Development Services Center

ServiceMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Paper permit application appointments(offered at the discretion of staff based on certain criteria)Unavailable8 a.m. to noon (last appointment at 11:30 a.m.)Unavailable8 to 10 a.m. (last appointment at 9:30 a.m.)Unavailable
15-minute in-person question appointmentsUnavailable8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last appointment at 3:45 p.m.)Unavailable8 a.m. to noon (last appointment at 11:45 a.m.)Unavailable
Public kiosksUnavailable8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Unavailable8 a.m. to noonUnavailable
Cashier*8 a.m. to 4 p.m.8 a.m. to 4 p.m.8 a.m. to 4 p.m.8 a.m. to noon8 a.m. to noon
Scanning of paper plansUnavailable8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Unavailable8 a.m. to noonUnavailable

*To meet with a cashier on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, please call 971-940-6004 after you arrive in the building. The cashier is not available between noon and 1 p.m.

Free in-person 15-minute appointments for asking general questions

Staff is available, by appointment only, to answer general permitting and zoning questions in 15-minute sessions at the Development Services Center on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon. These free appointments can also be held online or over the phone, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

These appointments provide opportunities to ask experts about requirements for permit applications, zoning allowances and building code requirements before applying for a construction permit. Scheduling an appointment ahead of time will reduce your wait and make the best use of your time.

Learn more about scheduling 15-minute question appointments.
 

Basic assistance for answering questions, uploading documents and scheduling appointments

Staff is available in the Development Services Center on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, without an appointment, to answer basic questions about services, provide guidance to upload documents into the City’s online permitting systems, and schedule in-person appointments if needed.

Self-service kiosks are available to:

  • research permit information
  • file records requests
  • submit a permit request
  • schedule appointments with City development review staff, and
  • receive more information about requirements for different types of construction permits.

Staff assistance is available to upload documents from a thumb drive as well as to scan and digitize printed materials.

A cashier is available to accept payments five days a week.

Limited 30-minute appointments for basic paper development permit application submissions

Customers who have limited access to the internet or need additional help may be offered 30-minute appointments to submit development permit application materials and meet with each required review group. These appointments are offered at the discretion of Permitting Services staff based on a customer’s needs and other criteria. Only permit applications for projects of limited scope and complexity are accepted in person at the Development Services Center. All other development permit applications need to be submitted online.
 

Building permit services available online, 24 hours a day

Customers who have regular access to the internet should use the City’s online permitting system, Development Hub PDX, primarily to apply and pay for permits. Development Hub PDX is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to submit most building permit applications. The City’s electronic plan review program, Project Dox, is also available anytime.
 

More online resources about permits

Here are links to additional information on how to obtain a building permit in the City of Portland:

Zoning and land use resources

Other resources from the Bureau of Development Services

Have questions?

We have staff available by phone and email to answer your permit process, land use, research and code questions. Click here for a list of phone numbers and email addresses for services offered by the Bureau of Development Services.
 

Parking and transportation information

  • Parking garage: There is a parking garage located under the building. It is managed by Portland State University. (For hourly and weekday rates, scroll to “4th Avenue Garage.”)
  • On-street parking: On-street metered parking is available nearby.
  • Disability parking: The closest disability parking spot is on SW 4th Avenue in front of the building entrance, located at the stop line of the SW 4th Avenue and SW Hall Street intersection on the east side of the street. A wheelchair-user disability parking spot is located just north of the SW 4th Avenue and SW Hall Street intersection on the east side of the street. For additional locations of disability parking, look at this online map.
  • Public transportation: There are several TriMet and Portland Streetcar stops within a few blocks of 1900 SW 4th Avenue.
  • Bicycles: Bicycle racks are located outside the building on its south side.