Permits Online is a website developed and maintained by the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services. It provides a quick, easy alternative for contractors and homeowners to purchase simple electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits that do not require plan review. Forget driving Downtown and finding a place to park – forget waiting in line! Once you have successfully completed your application and your permit has been issued, a copy of your permit will be sent to you via email attachment - that's it – that's all there is to it!

Permits Online is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Like any other website, there is an occasional need for maintenance. We try to schedule maintenance on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and noon. If other non-routine maintenance is required, we will post a message at the top of the BDS Permits Online webpage. We recommend you bookmark this page.

To access the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services online permitting system use the BDS web address: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds, and choose the Quick Link, from the list on the left side of the page: Apply for an Online Permit.

1.  One of the following browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.02.28
• Mozilla Firefox 0.8
• Netscape 7.1

2.  A credit card: VISA or MasterCard

3.  A valid email account that accepts PDF attachments

At this time, Permits Online accepts VISA and MasterCard only.

Your permit will be created and entered into the Bureau of Development Services database as soon as you have completed the simple steps in the application process. Once fees are paid, your permit will be issued and you can schedule inspections. You will receive a copy of your permit via PDF email attachment within minutes. Please be sure your email system will accept email attachments from BDSPermitsOnline@portlandoregon.gov, or your permit may be rejected by your email server. It may also go to your Junk Email if our address is unknown to your system.

If you need additional help, we're just a phone call away. If you have specific questions about your online permit purchase and you need assistance, our helpful permit/technical staff can be reached at (503) 823-7420. Permits Online phone hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday – Friday.

You may apply for simple plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits under your own name and licensure. General Contractors may NOT purchase "third party" permits for subcontractors online. You must be the property owner or a contractor specifically licensed to perform the permitted work. It is important to note that permits applied for using Permits Online must not require plan review.

If your permit requires plan review, it cannot be purchased online. See what types of permits require plan review?

If any of the following are applicable to your project, then your permit requires plan review and cannot be purchased online:

If any of the following are applicable to your project, then your permit requires plan review and cannot be purchased online: