The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is updating TRN-1.22 - Infill Development on Streets with an Existing Sidewalk Corridor and TRN-1.29 - Sidewalk Corridor Widths within Historic Overlay Zones.
What is changing and why?
TRN 1.22 describes several situations in which the City will not require a development project to re-construct an existing sidewalk on the property’s frontage.
PBOT is proposing three main changes to TRN 1.22, along with minor changes for clarity, organization, and consistency with other polices.
Revise the conditional exception for local streets
On local streets, low-density residential or industrial development is exempt from rebuilding the sidewalk if there is an existing sidewalk that is close to the standard width and the entire block has the same sidewalk configuration. Currently, when a lot with high-density zoning redevelops and builds a wider sidewalk, all the properties on the block are disqualified. The proposed revision will mean that a property on a block with split zoning can qualify for the exemption and keep the existing sidewalk if it meets all the other conditions.
PBOT also proposes adding general employment zones EG1 and EG2 to the zoning that qualifies for the conditional exception. General employment zoning is often found in or near industrial areas and allows many of the same land uses.
Combine TRN 1.29 with TRN 1.22
TRN 1.29 allows a 12-foot sidewalk corridor to remain on Main Streets in certain Historic Overlay Zones, where a 15-foot sidewalk would normally be required. Combining TRN 1.29 with TRN 1.22 will make it easier for the public to find similar information in one place. The combined content will reside in TRN 1.22, and TRN 1.29 will be retired.
Make space for tree planting
Currently, TRN 1.22 allows some sidewalks with an existing 2.5-foot-wide planting strip/ furnishing zone to remain. This is narrower than the City’s 3’ minimum for tree planting (established by Portland City Code Title 11). The 3’ minimum allows trees to thrive and helps prevent tree root damage to the sidewalk pavement.
To allow these sidewalks to remain eligible for TRN 1.22, PBOT has developed a new standard drawing, P-553, that describes a modification to the typical pedestrian through zone to create space for street tree planting. The revision to TRN 1.22 makes that modification a requirement for development sites with a 2.5’ furnishing zone that meet all the other criteria of TRN 1.22’s conditional exemption. Requiring this design will create opportunity to plant new street trees in neighborhoods where the typical furnishing zone is just shy of the city’s minimum for tree planting.
Portland City Code (PCC) Section 3.12.010 establishes the authority of the City Administrator to adopt administrative rules.
Changes to this administrative rule will be effective two weeks after adoption.
Note green text in the proposed rule change is TRN-1.29 language that has been incorporated into TRN-1.22. The rule's text also references a standard detail, which will be available on the Standard Details and Drawings page when finalized.
Per PCC 1.05 and TRN 16.01 – Administrative Rules and Procedures, PBOT is publishing the proposed administrative rule for 30 days of public comment. PBOT will be accepting public comment for this Tier II update until 5 p.m. on September 8, 2025. Comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to pbotpolicycomments@portlandoregon.gov. A summary of comments received and the City's response will be posted below.
There was no request received for a public hearing, so the public hearing is cancelled.