Portlanders will see a new fee on their utility bills starting July 1, 2026. The Flood Safety Benefit Fee will pay for flood safety infrastructure along the Columbia River. Collecting this fee will help the City of Portland make required payments to the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District. The UFSWQD maintains a network of levees, pump stations, and other equipment that works to prevent flooding where thousands of Portlanders work and live. While the fee will be collected through the utility bill, it is not a sewer, stormwater, or water rate increase. Additional information on the fee is outlined below.
It's not easy to ask Portlanders to pay a new fee. We recognize that all fees, taxes, and utility rates add up and increasing costs can be a challenge. That's why the Portland Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services will consider the added costs of the new fee as we work with customers to provide financial assistance through crisis vouchers, payment plans, and other programs.
What is the Flood Safety Benefit Fee?
The Flood Safety Benefit Fee supports critical infrastructure maintenance that helps protect people living and working along the Columbia River from flooding. The sloughs that redirect water flow, the levees that block storm surges, and the pump stations that drain excessive water near the Columbia are integral parts of a system that protects residents and property from natural disasters.
How does Portland benefit from the work funded by the fee?
The Flood Safety Benefit Fee funds a network of levees, pump stations, and other infrastructure that works to prevent events like the Vanport flood. That benefits thousands of Portlanders, their homes, and businesses along the Columbia River. The work also protects critical infrastructure that helps our city thrive including:
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Major transportation corridors like Interstates 5 and 205 and two interstate bridges (Interstate Bridge and Glenn Jackson Bridge)
- Portland's secondary drinking water source, the Columbia South Shore Well Field
- More than 2,000 acres of natural habitat and open space
Why is the fee being charged to my utility bill?
In 2024, the Oregon Legislature voted to allow the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District to charge cities and counties in their service area a Flood Safety Benefit Fee.
During the budget process for fiscal year 2024–25, faced with a growing General Fund shortfall, City Council directed the Chief Financial Officer to assemble a workgroup to explore ways to fund the fee outside of the General Fund.
The workgroup considered several options but determined that the preferred option was a line-item fee on all ratepayers' Portland utility bill because:
- The approach is consistent with state and local laws.
- It is manageable within the current utility customer service billing platform.
- The service provided by the fee benefits all utility customers.
- The approach provides long-term stability for collection of the fee and revenue forecasting.
The ordinance was heard by the City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on September 22, 2025. City Council held a first reading of the ordinance on October 1, 2025, and City Council approved the ordinance on Oct. 8, 2025.
How will the fee impact my bill?
The fee will be charged to all Portland utility customers: residential, commercial, and industrial.
Most customers will see the following increases in their quarterly bills after July 1, 2026:
- Average single-family home: $3.60
- Duplex: $7.20
- Small multifamily (five or fewer units): $18.00
- Small commercial: Amount varies; approximately 0.9% of sewer, stormwater, and water bill
- Mixed-use commercial (50 or more units): $180.00
Customers who are billed monthly will see the following increases after July 1, 2026:
- Average single-family home: $1.20
- Duplex: $2.40
- Small multifamily (five or fewer units): $6.00
- Small commercial: Amount varies; approximately 0.9% of sewer, stormwater, and water bill
- Mixed-use commercial (50 or more units): $60.00