Portland's Public Works Permit Process

If you are building a project that requires:

• Street improvements;
• Sidewalks and curbs;
• Driveway connections to adjacent streets;
• Storm drainage facilities;
• Sanitary sewer extensions; or
• Other public works improvements in the public right-of-way;

You will need to work with Portland's public works bureaus to obtain the necessary permits to construct these improvements. Once your project is permitted and completed, the public works improvements become public assets that are maintained permanently by the city.

Beginning at the earliest stages of project planning, Portland's public works permitting bureaus will work with you and your project team to efficiently plan, design, permit, inspect and accept public works improvements.

• City development review staff are located on the 4th floor of the Development Services Center, 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, near Portland State University.
• Developers and city staff meet regularly throughout the process, beginning at the earliest stages of project planning.
• The city uses specific design standards and review criteria to evaluate project plans.
• City staff is responsible for timely review and turnaround of plans at each review stage. The city guarantees that final plan review and permitting will be completed in 10 to 11 weeks of city review time, if you successfully complete all of the steps in the process and submit complete plans for final review based on the guidance provided during the plan development process.
• The city uses uniform procedures with set turnaround times to process public works permitting appeals.

Portland's public works permitting agencies are the bureaus of Environmental Services, Transportation and Water. These lead agencies work closely with the Parks Bureau, Fire Bureau and Bureau of Development Services to complete a comprehensive and efficient review of your public works permitting request.

Please call the Public Works Permitting hotline at 503-823-1987 or email publicworkspermitting@portlandoregon.gov for more information about the process.