• Property lines, with dimensions
• Total area (in square feet) of the lot
• Adjacent streets and any easements
• Property address and R number
• North arrow
• Grade elevations at property corners and corners of structure(s)
• Distance between buildings and between buildings and property lines
• Area (in square feet) of any existing or proposed buildings
• Area (in square feet) of any proposed paving
• Location of sewer and water lines and method of stormwater disposal
• Major geographical features (e.g. flood plain, natural drainage courses with elevation and centerline)
• Location of existing septic tanks, cesspools and drainfields

• Fully dimensioned floor plans (including existing and proposed walls, window/door sizes and locations) of each floor affected
• Use of each room
• Plumbing fixture layout
• All exterior building elevations affected by the addition
• Building sections showing typical wall, floor, ceiling, roof and foundation
• Stair details with dimensions for risers, treads and handrails
• Insulation R value for ceiling, walls and floors
• Gas/oil furnace and water heater location
• Electrical light fixtures, smoke detectors and fans
• Details of all non-typical construction

• Foundation plan including ventilation, underfloor access and holdowns
• Cross sections showing framing members, insulation, blocking, materials and floor to floor dimensions
• Floor framing including member size, spacing and span
• Roof framing including member size, spacing and span
• Prescriptive wall bracing floor plans (not required if structure is engineered)
• Any engineering calculations may be attached to the plans and engineering details incorporated into the plans or cross-referenced on the plans
• Prescriptive wall bracing worksheets (not required if structure is engineered)
  
• Connections to existing construction

If you are hiring sub-contractors to do work on your project, and know who they are when applying, they will be listed on your permit at that time. If you don't know when you apply for your permit, they can be added after issuance. Sub-contractors you hire must be registered with the State of Oregon and carry a current CCB license.

(1) Adding an Attached Garage

The City of Portland Title 24.45 (Parking and Driveway Surfaces) requires that vehicle maneuvering areas for a new garage be accessed via a driveway. If you don’t currently have a driveway, you will be required to install a new one. The driveway will need to be paved if it is within 150’ of an improved public right-of-way. For additional information on paving surfaces, see Portland City Code, Title 24.45.020.

If your project requires construction in the public right-of-way, the Portland Department of Transportation will review the project and issue a separate transportation permit for this work. For more information about right-of-way requirements, contact the Portland Department of Transportation at (503) 823-7002.

If your new garage is attached to within six feet of the house, or attached by way of a breezeway, then the interior walls of the garage must be covered with a layer of ½” gypsum board for additional fire protection. Any openings (such as doors and windows) within this distance may be required to be protected, depending on the configuration.

Your project must be designed to meet all the requirements of the building code. This usually means that a full foundation with footings to the frost depth, and a complete lateral force resisting system are required.

The building code has two options for showing the building will resist lateral loads. More information on residential engineering.  

Note that plans and calculations will not be required to show that a structure will resist wind and earthquake loads if it can be considered a "minor" addition. See Lateral Bracing for Minor Dormer Additions.

If your house is located in a floodplain, there are restrictions that may limit your ability to add to or significantly improve your house without retrofitting it to be flood-resistant. Please contact Site Development staff at (503) 823-6892 to discuss your project.

When enlarging the footprint of an existing structure, septic tank/cesspools must be located and shown on the site plan.

• Visit the records staff at the Development Services Center to research plumbing records showing septic systems/cesspools
• If the septic system/cesspool has been decommissioned, and is within 10 feet of the new structure, you must sign a disclaimer for on-site-sewage disposal system form
• If the septic system/cesspool is within 10 feet of the new structure and has not been pumped and filled, it will need to be decommissioned

Call Environmental Soils staff at (503) 823-6892 for more information on decommissioning septic tanks and cesspools.