Solar Permitting in Portland

Program Guides for Solar Contractors

The City of Portland’s Bureau of Development Services (BDS) has updated the residential and commercial solar permitting process. The new requirements are outlined in the program guides posted on the City of Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS) Program Guide webpage.

In addition, to review a power point presentation that outlines the residential and commercial requirements, please visit the BDS Lunch and Learn website. There is a downloadable PDF on the left hand side of the site.

For an aerial map of your home and lot, please visit the Oregon Clean Energy Map. The map allows you to type in your address and assess your solar potential as well as let you know if your home has any special overlays that could affect your permitting process.

Electronic Residential Permitting Now Available

The City of Portland is now offering electronic permitting for residential prescriptive path projects for contractors who have been trained in the program.

Once trained, contractors can email plans and permit applications to: bdssolarpermits@ci.portland.or.us. The permit technician sets up the permit in the computer and routes the plans to Planning & Zoning and and a Plans Examiner for review, with an approximate 24-hour turn around. Once approved, the installer must come in person to pick up the permit. Prior to being accepted into the program, installers will be required to meet with BDS to discuss what the review staff are looking for on the plans. An installer whose plans typically generate multiple questions or corrections from the reviewers will be better served by coming into the Development Services Center (DSC) in person for their review.

For contractors interested in participating in the electronic permitting program please call Keith Hansen at 503-823-7966.

Background

The Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (BPS), previously the Office of Sustainable Development (OSD), spearheaded a work group to clarify and formalize the solar permitting process for Portland residential and commercial installers. This work group included the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), Bureau of Planning (Planning), Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association (OSEIA), Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO), and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE).

In March 2007, BDS issued a draft program guide outlining the permitting process and solicited feedback from industry stakeholders and partners. BPS worked with the groups mentioned above to gather and compile feedback to BDS.

Highlights from the BDS program are:

1) A prescriptive process for residential installations that will eliminate the need for structural engineering in most residential installations.

2) A cap on fees for residential installations that meet prescriptive requirements.

3) The Field Issuance Remodel (FIR) program. FIR is an existing program for residential remodelers that is now available to solar contractors. The program provides an alternative for contractors that do not wish to spend time at the permitting office, but would rather be met out in the field.  The FIR program offers high-level, customer service in exchange for higher fees. Once a contractor is registered with the program, a designated FIR inspector works with the contractor in the field to issue all necessary permits and advise the contractor of any planning or zoning issues associated with the project.

Last updated October 2009.