About TSDCs
Developers pay one-time Transportation System Development Charges (TSDCs) on all types of new construction in Portland—residential, commercial, or industrial. Each type of land use (single family residential, hospital, etc.) pays a different TSDC rate based on the number of “person trips” they generate during evening commute hours. The bigger the impact to the transportation system, in other words, the bigger the fee.
TSDCs help cover the cost of building new transportation infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and other parts of our transportation system. These fees are also collected on existing buildings when redevelopment of them will generate an increase in trips.
This short video helps explain how system development charges work:
TSDCs can only be used to fund specific projects from the TSDC project list. This list is updated every 10 years with input from the public. The most recent list was updated in 2017. It includes some projects from the city’s Transportation System Plan (TSP) and other adopted city plans.
On average, TSDCs cover about 30% of project costs, with the remainder coming from state and federal grants, the gas tax, or other sources.
TSDCs helped fund recent project such as:
- New sidewalks along SE 136th Avenue
- MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar system improvements
- Bike and pedestrian safety improvements along NE Cully Boulevard
- The new 50s Neighborhood Greenway, providing a safer connection for pedestrians and people biking between Northeast and Southeast streets in the 50s, such as 52nd Avenue
- SW Moody Avenue multimodal improvements
Calculate your permit fees today on the Bureau of Development Services’ fee estimator page.
Citywide project list (2017-2027)
City staff developed the current citywide TSDC project list (2017-2027) by looking at projects in both the Transportation System Plan and other recently adopted plans or studies. Working with the public, stakeholders, and other technical staff, they identified projects that help accommodate development and make improvements for the traveling public.
By law, TSDCs can only be used for projects that add capacity to our transportation system. These funds can’t be used for things like transportation studies or preventative maintenance like fixing potholes.
Staff narrow the list to projects that:
- Benefit all parts of the city
- Meet the needs of our diverse communities and reflect projects that Portlanders actually want
- Improve travel by all modes: walking (including use of mobility devices), biking, taking transit, driving, and transporting freight.
- Have grants or other financial support
If income from TSDCs are below projections, some projects may not be built. In that case, city council may amend the list as part of an annual capital improvement plan (CIP) process that begins each September. The CIP is reviewed and approved by PBOT’s Bureau & Budget Advisory Committee.
Download the latest TSDC project list (2017-2027), map, and the 2019 amendments below:
North Macadam overlay and project list (2009-2028)
Two districts have a TSDC Overlay: North Macadam and the Innovation Quadrant. This is an additional one-time TSDC charged on development in a specific area and spent in that zone. Development in the zone pay both citywide TSDCs and the Overlay TSDCs. As with citywide TSDCs, these funds are used on transportation projects that increase capacity. Exemptions are the same as for citywide TSDCs.
In 2009, the city adopted a TSDC Overlay for the North Macadam Urban Renewal Area based on the cost of specific projects benefiting that zone.
North Macadam overlay map pictured, below:
Eligible projects for TSDC Overlay investment in North Macadam (2008-2028):
| Project Name | Total Cost | Eligible TSDC Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SW Harbor Drive & River Parkway Intersection Improvements | $5,662,258 | $1,693,629 |
| South Portal, Phase I | $28,053,358 | $7,177,421 |
| Moody/Bond Street Improvement: East Leg Gibbs to Sheridan | $11,759,693 | $4,586,427 |
| South Light Rail | $101,463,030 | $12,175,564 |
| SW Kelly Way and Hood Avenue Ramp | $38,272,128 | $7,617,492 |
| North Portal: SW Corbett and Sheridan Street Improvements | $9,256,116 | $2,729,431 |
| TOTAL | $194,466,529 | $35,979,964 |
Innovation Quadrant overlay and project list (2011-2031)
Two districts have a TSDC Overlay: North Macadam and the Innovation Quadrant. This is an additional one-time TSDC charged on development in a specific area and spent in that zone. Development in the zone pay both citywide TSDCs and the Overlay TSDCs. As with citywide TSDCs, these funds are used on transportation projects that increase capacity. Exemptions are the same as for citywide TSDCs.
In 2011, the city adopted a TSDC Overlay for the Innovation Quadrant based on the cost of specific projects benefiting that zone.
Innovation Quadrant overlay map pictured, below:
Eligible projects for TSDC Overlay investment in the Innovation Quadrant(2011-2031):
| Project Name | Total Cost | Eligible TSDC Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail | $55,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Close the Loop | $22,518,465 | $5,425,243 |
| SE Water Avenue Relocation | $4,633,839 | $1,565,478 |
| SW 4th Avenue Streetscape | $2,402,138 | $1,301,088 |
| Broadway Cycle Track and Streetscape | $1,244,573 | $674,107 |
| Clinton to the River Multi-Use Path | $4,625,597 | $600,000 |
| TOTAL | $90,424,612 | $14,565,916 |
TSDC Rates (Citywide)
Rates effective July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024, or as amended
Assessments are determined by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). If your type of development does not appear here, contact PBOT staff listed at the top of this page.
Rates calculated by based on the ITE’s Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition. GFA = gross floor area. VFP = vehicle fueling position.
| Type of Development | Unit of Measure | TSDC Per Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | ||
| Single Family (1,200 square feet or more) | dwelling | $5,882.00 |
| Single Family (1,199 square feet or less) | dwelling | $2,941.00 |
| Multiple Family | dwelling | $2,894.00 |
| Senior Housing / Assisted Living / Nursing Home | dwelling/bed | $1,492.00 |
| Commercial - Services | ||
| Bank | sq ft/GFA | $42.98 |
| Day Care | sq ft/GFA | $7.86 |
| Hotel / Motel | room | $3,959.00 |
| Service Station / Gasoline Sales | VFP | $35,322.00 |
| Movie Theater / Event Hall | sq ft/GFA | $14.83 |
| Carwash | wash stall | $20,663.00 |
| Health Club / Racquet Club | sq ft/GFA | $17.82 |
| Commercial - Institutional | ||
| School, K-12 | sq ft/GFA | $5.76 |
| University / College / Jr College | student | $671.00 |
| Church | sq ft/GFA | $2.67 |
| Hospital | sq ft/GFA | $4.73 |
| Park | acre | $537.00 |
| Commercial - Restaurant | ||
| Restaurant (Standalone) | sq ft/GFA | $33.50 |
| Quick Service Restaurant (Drive-Through) | sq ft/GFA | $105.48 |
| Commercial - Retail | ||
| Shopping / Retail | sq ft/GFA | $13.13 |
| Convenience Market | sq ft/GFA | $103.77 |
| Free Standing Retail Store / Supermarket | sq ft/GFA | $26.87 |
| Car Sales – New / Used | sq ft/GFA | $11.85 |
| Commercial - Office | ||
| Administrative Office | sq ft/GFA | $6.08 |
| Medical Office / Clinic | sq ft/GFA | $18.05 |
| Industrial | ||
| Light Industrial / Manufacturing | sq ft/GFA | $3.94 |
| Warehousing / Storage | sq ft/GFA | $1.13 |
| Self-Storage | sq ft/GFA | $1.12 |
TSDC Rates (North Macadam)
Rates effective July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024, or as amended
North Macadam overlay rates are in addition to citywide TSDCs and apply to all properties within the North Macadam overlay boundary. Download North Macadamoverlay map here.
Assessments are determined by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). If your type of development does not appear here, contact PBOT staff listed at the top of this page.
Rates calculated by based on the ITE’s Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition. GFA = gross floor area. VFP = vehicle fueling position.
| Type of Development | Unit of Measure | TSDC Per Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | ||
| Single Family (1,200 square feet or more) | dwelling | $3,763.00 |
| Single Family (1,199 square feet or less) | dwelling | $1,881.00 |
| Multiple Family | dwelling | $1,852.00 |
| Senior Housing / Assisted Living / Nursing Home | dwelling/bed | $954.00 |
| Commercial - Services | ||
| Bank | sq ft/GFA | $27.50 |
| Day Care | sq ft/GFA | $5.03 |
| Hotel / Motel | room | $2,533.00 |
| Service Station / Gasoline Sales | VFP | $22,597.00 |
| Movie Theater / Event Hall | sq ft/GFA | $9.49 |
| Carwash | wash stall | $13,219.00 |
| Health Club / Racquet Club | sq ft/GFA | $11.40 |
| Commercial - Institutional | ||
| School, K-12 | sq ft/GFA | $3.68 |
| University / College / Jr College | student | $430.00 |
| Church | sq ft/GFA | $1.71 |
| Hospital | sq ft/GFA | $3.03 |
| Park | acre | $343.00 |
| Commercial - Restaurant | ||
| Restaurant (Standalone) | sq ft/GFA | $21.43 |
| Quick Service Restaurant (Drive-Through) | sq ft/GFA | $67.48 |
| Commercial - Retail | ||
| Shopping / Retail | sq ft/GFA | $8.40 |
| Convenience Market | sq ft/GFA | $66.39 |
| Free Standing Retail Store / Supermarket | sq ft/GFA | $17.19 |
| Car Sales – New / Used | sq ft/GFA | $7.58 |
| Commercial - Office | ||
| Administrative Office | sq ft/GFA | $3.89 |
| Medical Office / Clinic | sq ft/GFA | $11.55 |
| Industrial | ||
| Light Industrial / Manufacturing | sq ft/GFA | $2.52 |
| Warehousing / Storage | sq ft/GFA | $0.72 |
| Self-Storage | sq ft/GFA | $0.72 |
TSDC Rates (Innovation Quadrant)
Rates effective July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024, or as amended
Innovation Quadrant overlay rates are in addition to citywide TSDCs and apply to all properties within the Innovation Quadrant overlay boundary. Download Innovation Quadrant overlay map here.
Assessments are determined by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). If your type of development does not appear here, contact PBOT staff listed at the top of this page.
Rates calculated by based on the ITE’s Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition. GFA = gross floor area. VFP = vehicle fueling position.
| Type of Development | Unit of Measure | TSDC Per Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | ||
| Single Family (1,200 square feet or more) | dwelling | $3,030.00 |
| Single Family (1,199 square feet or less) | dwelling | $1,515.00 |
| Multiple Family | dwelling | $1,491.00 |
| Senior Housing / Assisted Living / Nursing Home | dwelling/bed | $769.00 |
| Commercial - Services | ||
| Bank | sq ft/GFA | $22.14 |
| Day Care | sq ft/GFA | $4.05 |
| Hotel / Motel | room | $2,040.00 |
| Service Station / Gasoline Sales | VFP | $18,196.00 |
| Movie Theater / Event Hall | sq ft/GFA | $7.64 |
| Carwash | wash stall | $10,645.00 |
| Health Club / Racquet Club | sq ft/GFA | $9.18 |
| Commercial - Institutional | ||
| School, K-12 | sq ft/GFA | $2.96 |
| University / College / Jr College | student | $346.00 |
| Church | sq ft/GFA | $1.38 |
| Hospital | sq ft/GFA | $2.44 |
| Park | acre | $276.00 |
| Commercial - Restaurant | ||
| Restaurant (Standalone) | sq ft/GFA | $17.26 |
| Quick Service Restaurant (Drive-Through) | sq ft/GFA | $54.34 |
| Commercial - Retail | ||
| Shopping / Retail | sq ft/GFA | $6.76 |
| Convenience Market | sq ft/GFA | $53.46 |
| Free Standing Retail Store / Supermarket | sq ft/GFA | $13.84 |
| Car Sales – New / Used | sq ft/GFA | $6.10 |
| Commercial - Office | ||
| Administrative Office | sq ft/GFA | $3.13 |
| Medical Office / Clinic | sq ft/GFA | $9.30 |
| Industrial | ||
| Light Industrial / Manufacturing | sq ft/GFA | $2.03 |
| Warehousing / Storage | sq ft/GFA | $0.58 |
| Self-Storage | sq ft/GFA | $0.58 |
Lower rates, credits, exemptions, and disputes
Lower rates
If developers want a lower TSDC rate, they can submit information showing their project doesn’t generate as many trips as shown in the city’s rate study. The TSDC program administrator decides whether to accept the data and whether credits or exemptions are warranted.
Credits
Developers who participate with building projects on the TSDC list may be entitled to a credit against their current TSDC assessment. These credits must be used on the development site and may not be transferred or given away to a different development.
Exemptions
The city offers exemptions from TSDCs for:
- Permits that have only a small impact on person trips, i.e. increasing them by less than 15%, and fewer than 25 trips, during evening peak hours
- Permits for remodels that don’t change the use of the building
- Permits to change the use of an existing building 3,000 square feet or less. Buildings between 3,001-5,000 square feet are assessed on a graded scale. For example, a building that’s 3,500 square feet would get a 75% discount; a building that’s 4,500 square feet would get a 25% discount.
- Permits for low-income housing that meets affordability criteria and timelines
- Permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with covenant that prohibits use as short-term rental for a period of 10 years
Disputes
If you disagree with your assessed TSDC, you have two options:
- Submit information showing the project doesn’t generate as many evening peak hour person trips as shown in the city’s rate study.
- Appeal to the TSDC Administrator within 180 days from when the building permit was issued
Payment options
The obligation to pay TSDCs is established when you’re building permit is issued. You have four options:
- Pay in full when the permit is issued.
- Pay in full plus interest either 6, 9, or 12 months from when the permit is issued. Terms of deferral are based on the value of the project.
- Pay in monthly installments, with interest, for a period of 5, 10, or 20 years.
- Through June 30, 2025, projects providing new housing units may elect to pay in full 24 months from when the permit is issued without interest. Failure to pay TSDC in full within 24 months will result in the accrual of interest at the City’s default interest rate, calculated from the day of permit issuance.
You are required to make an irrevocable commitment to one of these options before the permit will be issued. If you defer payments or finance, the city will file a priority lien against the subject property. There is a service charge for establishing the lien account.
Forms
Resources
Administrative Procedures Guide: Transportation System Development Charge administrative rules
City Code 17.15 (Transportation System Development Charge code
Rate studies
Annual Report
Definition of important terms
Gross Floor Area (GFA): The sum (in square feet) of the area of each floor level in the building, including cellars, basements, mezzanines, penthouses, corridors, lobbies, stores and offices, that are within the principal outside faces of exterior walls, not including architectural setbacks or projections. Included are all areas that have floor surfaces with clear standing head room (6 feet, 6 inches minimum) regardless of their use. If a ground-level area, or part thereof, within the principal outside faces of the exterior walls is not enclosed, this GFA is considered part of the overall square footage of the building. However, unroofed areas and unenclosed roofed-over spaces, except those contained within the principle outside faces of exterior walls, should be excluded from the area calculations. For purposes of trip generation and parking generation calculations, the GFA of any parking garages within the building should not be included within the GFA of the entire building. The unit of measurement for office buildings is currently GFA; however, it may be desirable to also obtain data related to gross rentable area and net rentable area.
Definitions of Land-use Categories
The following land-use definitions are derived from the ITE Trip Generation (10th Edition) publication. They have been modified as appropriate for the City of Portland. ITE land-use codes are shown; where multiple codes are listed, the code used for trip generation is marked with an asterisk (*). Several categories (Multiple Family, Convenience Market and Administrative Office) have definitions that are derived from the ITE but use trip rates based on observed Person Trip data (survey sites in Portland, California, and Washington, D.C.) These land use codes are marked with a caret (^).
Residential
Single Family, detached: Includes all single-family detached homes. (ITE # 210) Homes are stratified by size within the fee schedule. Single family homes (including ADUs) smaller than 1,200 square feet are charged at 50% of the full Single Family rate.
Multi Family: A building designed to house two or more families living independently of each other. Includes low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise apartments. (ITE # 220) Also applies to row houses/townhouses/condos. (ITE # 230^)
Senior Housing/Assisted Living/Nursing Home: Residential units similar to apartments or condominiums restricted to senior citizens. (ITE # 252*). Also includes assisted living facilities (ITE # 253) and nursing homes (ITE # 620).
Commercial-Services
Bank: A building, with or without a drive-up window, for the custody or exchange of money, and for facilitating the transmission of funds. (ITE # 911*, 912)
Day Care: A facility for the care of infant and preschool age children during the daytime hours. Generally, includes classrooms, offices, eating areas, and a playground. This also includes preschools. (ITE # 520)
Hotel/Motel: A place of lodging providing sleeping accommodations. May include restaurants, cocktail lounges, meeting and banquet rooms or convention facilities. (ITE # 310*, 320)
Service Station/Gasoline Sales: A facility used for the sale of gasoline, oil, and lubricants. May include areas for servicing or repairing vehicles. May include a minimart and/or carwash. (ITE # 945)
Movie Theater/Event Hall: Movie theaters consist of audience seating, with one or more screens, and a lobby and refreshment stand. Typically includes matinee showings. Also applies to event halls that offer entertainment activities. (ITE # 444)
Carwash: Manual operations where the driver parks and washes the vehicle in a stall, or an automated facility for the same purpose. (ITE # 947)
Health Club/Racquet Club: Privately owned facility that may include swimming pools and whirlpools, saunas, weight-lifting and gymnastics equipment, exercise classes, tennis, racquetball, and handball courts. May feature exercise sports and other active physical conditioning, as well as a broader range of services such as juice bars and meeting rooms. (ITE #s 492*, 493)
Commercial-Institutional
School, K-12: Covers full range of primary and secondary schools. Includes elementary, junior high, middle school and high school uses. Both public and private schools are included in this land use. (ITE# 520, 522, 530, average)
University/College/Junior College: Facilities of higher education including two-year, technical, four-year and graduate-level institutions. (ITE # 540, 550, average)
Church: A building providing public worship facilities. Generally, houses assembly hall or sanctuary, meeting rooms, classrooms, and occasionally dining facilities. (ITE # 560)
Hospital: A building or buildings designed for the medical, surgical diagnosis, treatment and housing of persons under the care of doctors and nurses. Rest homes, nursing homes, convalescent homes and clinics are separate uses. (ITE #610)
Park: Parks are typically owned and operated by the City, but may include private uses. They can vary widely as to location, type and number of facilities, including recreational centers, boating or swimming facilities, sport fields, playgrounds and picnic facilities. Fee applies to creation of a developed park from existing undeveloped park land or from newly acquired land. A developed park includes at least one built amenity that provides a park experience beyond open space. Land preserved for natural areas, trails and trailheads are not considered developed parks for TSDC purposes. (ITE # 411)
Commercial-Restaurant
Restaurant (standalone): An eating establishment that sells prepared food or beverages and generally offers accommodations for consuming the food or beverage on the premises. Usually serves breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner; does not have a drive-up window. Fees apply to standalone restaurants not directly connected to other shopping facilities. (ITE # 931)
Quick Service Restaurant (Drive-through): An eating establishment that offers quick food service and a limited menu of items. Food is generally served in disposable wrappings or containers, and may be consumed inside or outside the restaurant building. Restaurants in this category have a drive-up window. (ITE # 934)
Commercial-Retail
Shopping/Retail: Includes most forms of retail establishments, located in an integrated group of commercial establishments in a shopping center or designated retail area. Also includes retail space within a mixed-use building. (This definition does not cover Convenience Markets, Movie Theater/Event Halls or Quick Service Restaurants (Drive-Throughs); these uses will be assessed at their own respective rate.) For the purpose of this definition a mixed-use building consists of two or more of the following land use categories; residential, shopping/retail, entertainment, hotel/motel, or office. These land use categories have similar internal trip-making characteristics. (ITE #820)
Convenience Market: A use that combines retail food sales with fast food or take-out food service, is under 4,000 SF in area, requires a package store liquor license, and is open more than 15 hours per day. If gasoline sales are included on-site, use Service Station/Gasoline Sales TSDC rate. (ITE # 851^)
Free-Standing Retail Store/Supermarket: Includes free-standing retail stores, including big-box stores of various types and supermarkets. Use the Shopping/Retail category for retail stores in a mixed-use building. (ITE # 815)
Car Sales (New/Used): Facilities are generally located as strip development along major arterial streets that already have a preponderance of commercial development. Generally included are auto services and parts sales along with a sometimes substantial used-car operation. Some dealerships also include leasing activities and truck sales and servicing. (ITE # 840)
Commercial-Office
Administrative Office: An administrative office building houses one or more tenants and is the location where affairs of a business, commercial or industrial organization, professional person or firm are conducted. The building or buildings may be limited to one tenant, either the owner or lessee, or contain a mixture of tenants including professional services, insurance companies, investment brokers, and company headquarters. (ITE # 710^)
Medical Office/Clinic: A facility that provides diagnoses and outpatient care on a routine basis but does not provide prolonged in-house medical/surgical care. A medical office is generally operated by either a single private physician/dentist or a group of doctors and/or dentist. (ITE # 720)
Industrial
Light Industrial/Manufacturing: A facility that may contain industrial or manufacturing uses. Manufacturing facilities have the primary activity of converting raw materials or parts into finished products. In addition to the actual production of goods, manufacturing facilities may also have office, warehouse, research and associated functions. Light Industrial facilities may be characterized by a mix of manufacturing, service and warehouse functions. Many produce goods by assembling other products, such as assembly of computers or other electronics. (ITE # 110*, 130)
Warehouse/Storage: Warehouses are primarily devoted to the storage of materials, but may also include limited office and maintenance areas. (ITE # 150)
Self Storage: Buildings in which a number of storage units or vaults are rented for the storage of goods. Each unit is physically separated from other units, and access is usually provided through an overhead door or other common access point. (ITE # 151)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a TSDC?
A: Whenever a new building is constructed in Portland, including a home, store, office, etc., the developer pays Transportation System Development Charges, or TSDCs. These are one-time fees paid by developers when they build something new. The fee covers part of the cost of building transportation facilities to serve development—things like roads, sidewalks and other facilities that get people to where they need to go. TSDCs also apply to redevelopment of existing buildings when that redevelopment will generate an increase in trips to and from the site
Q: What do the fees pay for?
A: The fees pay for specific projects that are on the TSDC project list.
Q: Who pays and what kind of development is included?
A: TSDC fees apply to all types of development—residential, commercial, and industrial. Developers pay TSDC fees when they receive a building permit from the City of Portland for a new development, or changes of use to existing buildings that will increase the number of person trips to and from the site.
Q: How much do developers pay?
A: The fees are based on how many person trips a new development will create during the evening commute hour. For example, a single family home will have much less impact than a large grocery store, so the fee is substantially less for a home than for a grocery store. The greater the impact a new development will have on our transportation system, the higher its rate.
The City classifies developments into different land use categories. There are 27 land use categories—things like single family residential, multi-family residential, movie theaters, churches, hospitals, convenience stores, self-storage, etc. Each of these uses pay a different rate based on the number of person trips they generate.
Q: What are overlay zones (North Macadam and the Innovation Quadrant)?
A: In addition to the Citywide TSDC, developers may pay additional fees when they develop in specific “overlay” zones. A TSDC Overlay is an additional TSDC that is charged only in, and for, that specific zone. Currently there are two overlay zones in Portland: North Macadam and the Innovation Quadrant. Fees collected from developers who build in the overlay zones will be used on transportation projects to serve future users within the boundaries of the overlay zone. You can learn about TSDCs for the overlay zones on the TSDC Rates Page.
Q: Can developers do anything to pay a lower or different fee amount?
A: Yes. Developers can submit information showing that their development does not generate as many trips as shown in the City’s rate study. The TSDC program administrator has the ultimate decision whether or not to accept the data. There are also certain credits and exemptions available in some instances.
Q: Are TSDC credits available and how are they determined?
A: If you participate in building a project that is on the TSDC list of capital projects, you may be entitled to a dollar-for-dollar credit against your current TSDC assessment.
Q: Can I give away or sell my TSDC credits?
A: A TSDC credit may only be used on the development site. TSDC credits may not be transferred to a different development site.
Q: Are TSDC exemptions available?
A: Exemptions from TSDC assessments are: permits that will have a negligible impact on the overall trip generation of a site (by increasing the total number of PM Peak Hour person trips generated by the site by less than 15% and fewer than 25 trips); permits for remodels that do not change the use of a building; and changes of use within an existing building, when the entire building is under 3,000 square feet. Buildings between 3,001 and 5,000 square feet are assessed TSDCs on a graded scale. For example, a 3,500-square-foot building would receive a 75 percent discount and a 4,500-square-foot building would receive a 25 percent discount. Exemptions also are available for low-income housing projects that meet affordability criteria and timelines.
Q: What if I disagree with the amount of the TSDC my development is assessed?
A: You have two options: 1) you can submit information showing that your development does not generate as many PM peak hour person trips as shown in the City's rate study; or 2) you can appeal to the TSDC Administrator within 180 days of when your building permit was issued.
Q: When and how do I pay the TSDC?
A: The obligation to pay the TSDC is established when your building permit is issued. You have three options to pay: 1) at the time the permit is issued; 2) in one payment, six, nine, or twelve months of the date of permit issuance with interest (deferral term based on project valuation); or 3) in monthly installments, with interest, over a period of five, 10 or 20 years. You will be required to make an irrevocable commitment to a payment option before the permit will be issued. Whether you choose to defer payments or finance the TSDC over time, the City will file a priority lien against the subject property. There is a service charge for establishing the lien account.
Q: Where can I find the TSDC rate that applies to my development? Who ultimately determines my total TSDC cost?
A: See the rate charts above. The Portland Bureau of Transportation is responsible for determining the cost. If your type of development does not appear in the chart, use contact information at the top of this page.