Portland’s Driveway Standards
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) can only authorize driveway curb cuts to access legal vehicle parking or loading spaces. Curb cuts for trash rooms, bike rooms, or other uses are not permitted. PBOT has multiple rules that impact the design of driveways. These include:
Title 17.28.110 - Driveways - Permits and Conditions
TRN-10.40 - Driveways-Operation and Location
TRN-10.42 - Access Requirements for Parking Structures
The application of some driveway standards depend on the street classification as defined in the Transportation System Plan.
The standards of 17.28.110 and TRN 10.40 always apply to any driveway accessed from a City of Portland right-of-way.
In the case of right-of-way managed by another jurisdiction (i.e.; ODOT, Washington County, Multnomah County, Gresham), the applicant must also contact that jurisdiction for specific driveway requirements.
Permit Requirements
In Portland, installing or changing a driveway always requires a permit, even if the driveway will access an alley, a gravel street, or a right-of-way that is not currently passable. Permits are primarily issued by the Portland Permitting & Development Bureau (PP&D), though the type of permit(s) required depends on where the work is being done—on private or public property.
Construction or repair of a driveway in the public right-of-way (ROW) will require a Minor Improvement Permit or a Public Works Permit, depending on the scope of the project. Typically, the portion of a driveway that crosses the sidewalk and connects to the street is in the public right-of-way (see Figure 1).
Construction on private property will require a different permit from PP&D. Additional permits or reviews from PP&D may be required for new paving or if a tree must be removed. The necessary City permits can be obtained together online via the Development Hub, though fees will be assessed for each permit and separate inspections will be required for the private and public portions of your driveway project.
Other agencies may also need to permit the work depending on the scope of the project. For example, if a utility pole needs to be relocated to accommodate the driveway, you will need to contact the utility provider who owns the pole.
If the right-of-way being accessed is an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) or Multnomah County facility, a permit must be obtained from ODOT or Multnomah County, respectively.
Required changes to existing driveways
PBOT places high importance on the safety and movement of pedestrians and bicyclists. Because a driveway may require a vehicle to cross over sidewalks, bike lanes, or transit lanes, it is a source of conflict, raising safety concerns. Many existing driveways in the City of Portland do not comply with the current requirements of 17.28.110 or TRN 10.40.
Whether you are seeking a land use action or applying for a building permit, the City may require changes to any driveway that does not meet the current standards. This can include the need to close or relocate an existing driveway, even if that will have implications for the way the site operates. The project does not have to meet thresholds requiring public improvements to trigger changes to a driveway.
Commercial Example:
A commercial property has two existing driveways. One driveway is on a local service street and the other is on a Neighborhood Collector. A building permit application shows a remodel of the building on the site, but the owner was not planning on changing the driveways. The triggers for public improvement requirements described in TRN-1.30 are not met. The City may still ask that the driveway onto the Neighborhood Collector be closed, as the current requirements of TRN-10.40 allow access only from the lower classified street. This may mean the site loses access to an existing parking area or has to substantially reconfigure the parking area due to the loss of an access point. Re-configuring the parking area may trigger zoning requirements related to new parking areas.
Residential Example:
A single-family home has a driveway that backs out onto a Neighborhood Collector street. A building permit application shows an addition to the house. The current requirements of TRN-10.40 require all driveways accessing a roadway with a traffic classification of Neighborhood Collector or higher be built to allow forward motion ingress and egress. This means the car must be moving in a forward motion when coming onto the property and moving in a forward motion when leaving the property. Backing out is not allowed. The City may ask that the driveway be closed or an on-site turnaround be built to allow vehicles to enter and exit the site without backing out. This may trigger zoning requirements or stormwater management requirements related to new or modified paving.
Please visit PBOT’s Driveway Design Exception page for more information on how to apply for an exception to the driveway standards.