This is not an exhaustive list, as the multiple bureaus that operate within the right-of-way have developed a variety of documents that inform their work and may apply to a given city-led or private development project.
Refer to the city’s Public Works Permitting page for information related to public works projects, including permit, fee and technical resources. For more information on the development review process, refer to Development Review and Permit Process (BDS) and Transportation Development Review and Early Assistance.
Sidewalks and Pedestrian Crossings
Sidewalk standards are defined in the Pedestrian Design Guide and are applied based on the Street Design Classificationof the street. Private development projects that meet the triggers in 17.88.020 are required bring their frontage up to current standards. Note that a Streetscape or Area Plan may apply which could inform the overall width or configuration of right-of-way improvements.
- Pedestrian Design Guide
- Sidewalk standards by zone of the sidewalk
- Minimum dimensions for constrained situations
- When furnishing zones are required to be landscaped vs. hardscaped
- Alternate walkways and criteria for use in capital projects
- TRN 1.22 - Infill Development on Streets with an Existing Sidewalk Corridor
- Establishes the situations in which the City will accept the existing sidewalk configuration as the standard for the block length.
- TRN 1.29 Sidewalk Corridor Widths within Historic Resource Overlay Zones
- Identifies Main Streets in historic districts where the sidewalk corridor may be less than the 15’ standard to honor the historic building line.
- TRN 1.28 Curb Extensions for Building and Planning Actions
- Defines where curb extensions are required in relation to corner reconstruction, as well as where PBOT will not require curb extensions on a subset of city streets identified for near-term capital improvements intended to provide protected bicycle lanes (or any curb tight bicycle facility) or enhanced transit priority lanes.
Every intersection, and certain midblock locations, are legal crosswalks in Oregon (ORS 801.220).
- Crosswalk Guidelines and Design
- PBOT crosswalk guidelines describe how it identifies crosswalks needing safety enhancements and, if needed, the design options to meet safety standards.
- Crossing spacing standards
- The PedPDX Citywide Pedestrian Plan establishes spacing guidelines for marked pedestrian crossings.
Street Trees
Chapter 11.50 (Trees in Development Situations) regulates the removal, protection and planting of trees through the development process to encourage development, where practicable, to incorporate existing trees, particularly high quality or larger trees and groves, into the site design, to retain sufficient space to plant new trees, and to ensure suitable tree replacement when trees are removed.
- 11.50.040 Tree Preservation Standards
- City or Street tree removal requires the approval of the City Forester. A street tree considerations checksheet is a tool for assessing the relative preservation value of street trees, and clarifies preservation options when developing a site, which can support conversations with Urban Forestry about City or Street tree preservation and, if necessary, removal.
- 11.50.060 Street Tree Planting Standards
- Establishes that One Street Tree shall be planted or retained for each full increment of 25 linear feet per side of street frontage.
- Approved Street Tree Planting Lists identify allowed trees by size of planter strip and proximity to overhead high voltage power lines.
- Tree clearances
- PP&R Urban Forestry Street Tree Planting Standards identifies required clearances from other infrastructure for new plantings.
- Tree removal and replacement procedures
- PRK-2.04 describes permit requirements and removal and replacement procedures for right-of-way improvements, sidewalks and underground utilities.
- Tree planting priority
- Planting Priority | Portland.gov describes Urban Forestry's data driven approach to guide tree planting, education and outreach resources.
Access and Loading
Requirements for access and loading on private property influence the space available for other infrastructure in the pedestrian zone, such as street trees, furnishings such as bike racks, or utility connections.
- Chapter 17.28 Sidewalks, Curbs and Driveways and TRN 10.40 - Driveways - Operation and Location
- Identifies conditions and requirements for receiving a driveway permit.
- Exceptions to these requirements can be sought through a driveway design exception.
- Chapter 33.266 Parking and Loading
- Establishes requirements for on-site loading areas.
- Chapter 33.510.263 Parking and Loading Access in the Central City Plan District
- Provides parking and loading access restrictions on select streets.
Stormwater
The Bureau of Environmental Services regulates stormwater management (PCC 17.38).
- ENB-4.01 - Stormwater Management Manual
- Sets City policy and design requirements for stormwater management on all development, redevelopment, and improvement projects on both public and private property in Portland. Chapter 4 provides requirements and guidance for designing public facilities, facilities that manage stormwater in or from the right-of-way (ROW), to meet the requirements in Chapter 1. Chapter 4 includes design considerations for green streets and their relationships other infrastructure including sewer laterals, waterlines, street trees, parking and pedestrian infrastructure.
Utilities
- P-504 - Typical Utility Locations
- Portland Bureau of Transportation Standard Drawing indicating the typical utility locations in the right-of-way and minimum clearances.
- Portland Water Bureau Engineering & Technical Standards Admin Rule
- Standard separations table for different types of water infrastructure
- ENB-4.14 - Sewer and Drainage Facilities Design Manual (SDFDM)
- The Bureau of Environmental Services regulates public works for sanitary and storm systems (PCC 17.32). The SDFDM provides information to assist City staff, Consultants, designers and others who are responsible for planning, designing, constructing, reviewing and approving sewer and drainage facilities. Separation distances are covered in Chapter 4.4. (General Vertical Alignment).
- Occasionally a sewer extension will be required to provide sewer service to a property. A public works permit is required to construct sewer extensions. Information about determining sewer service, and the rules for sewer extensions is available in the following resources: Exploring Your Connection to the Public Sewer, ENB-4.07 - BES rules for Route-of-service.
- ENB-4.17 - Administrative Rules for Sewer Connection and Lateral Repair Permitting by the Bureau of Environmental Services
- Administrative rule governing sanitary sewer connections and repairs in the right-of-way. Perpendicular connections are required. A variance is needed for angled connections. Additional details about separation distances are in the SDFDM. Additional information about connection permits is available here: Guide to UR and UC Permits.
- Efficient layout of utilities
- Chapter 16 (Utilities) of the Civil Design Guide for Public Street Improvements identifies principles for the efficient layout of utilities along a frontage to help preserve tree planting sites and space for stormwater management which depends on gravity to channel runoff to facilities typically located at corners.
- TRN 8.13 - Utility Vault or Structure for the Benefit of the Adjacent Property Owner
- Applicants are expected to “Plan for Power” on private property. When placed in the right-of-way, vaults housing this type of infrastructure impacts tree planting spaces, infringes upon the pedestrian through zone, and creates challenges for other utility connections servicing the property. This rule identifies the exceptions process when requested to meet other city policies including those related to ground floor activation along sidewalk frontages.
Lighting
- Chapter 17.68 Street Lights
- Identifies requirements for lights on new or reconstructed streets.
- PBOT Street Lighting Design Guide
Bicycle
A street’s presence on the existing or planned bicycle network is determined by its TSP Bicycle Classification.
- Protected Bikeway Design Guide
- Identifies how motor vehicle speed and volumes inform the appropriate facility type for an all ages and abilities bikeway (Figure 17).
- PBOT Traffic Design Manual Volume 1
- Traffic Control and Design for People Biking chapter covers signage, pavement markings, bicycle signals, and bicycle facility design.
Transit
A street’s presence and level of priority on the transit network is determined its TSP Transit Classification.
- Enhanced Transit Corridors Toolbox
- Identifies a collection of potential capital and operational treatments that can be applied to improve transit performance and create safer, more predictable interactions with other travel modes.
Freight
A street’s Freight Classificationin the TSP provides guidance on the extent to which the design of a street should facilitate or accommodate truck movements.
- Designing for Truck Movements and Other Large Vehicles in Portland
- Freight designations may impact design elements such as travel lane widths or turning radii.
Travel and Parking Lane Widths
Road and lane widths are informed by factors such as a street’s traffic classification (e.g., local vs. higher order streets) as well as presence on designated transit or freight routes.
- Traffic Design Manual Vol 1
- Section 2.2. (Lane Widths) identifies the City of Portland’s preferred travel lane width on roadways with lane markings, as well as when wider lane widths may be desirable.
- PBOT Development Review Manual to Creating Public Streets and Connections.
- Identifies roadway widths for streets with a TSP Traffic Classification of local service.
- Vision Clearance at Intersections
- PBOT guidelines support setting back on-street parking at "uncontrolled" approaches to crosswalks on pedestrian priority streets. Uncontrolled approaches are the legs of intersections that do not have stop signs or signals.
Community Uses
The Portland Bureau of Transportation prioritizes people by encouraging the use of the right-of-way for community gathering spaces, placemaking and programming.