Building Plans Review

The Portland Police Bureau created the Development Site Plan Review web page to help builders and developers understand the Police Bureau's Minimum Security Recommendations and what the steps are to complete a Site Plan Review.

Please take a few minutes to read through the information and learn how to complete and respond to the site plan review process.

The City of Portland Bureau of Development Services currently awards 10 percent bonus density points to housing developers if the developer incorporates the Portland Police Bureau’s Minimum Security Recommendations into their building plans.

If builders incorporate the Bureau's guidelines for locks, strike plates, door frames, etc., they are allowed to add 10 percent more units to their building (i.e., 110 units instead of 100 in an apartment complex).

Steps for a Site Plan Review

Here is what you need to do:

1. Obtain a copy of the Portland Police Bureau’s Minimum Security Recommendations. 
2. Contact the Strategic Services Division to schedule a review of your site plans to ensure basic security.  This division is located in the Justice Center at: 1111 SW 2nd Avenue, Room 1552, Portland, OR 97204.   General phone number is 503-823-0283 and the FAX is 503-823-0289.
3. Plan to bring copies of your building blueprints that show the floor plans where lighting, doors, windows, garages, landscaping and fences are placed.
4. After the site plan review, the developer will send a letter of agreement to the Planning and Support Division outlining the basic security recommendations listed below and include any additional security measures they will implement. The letter should also include the development’s permit number, address, name of development, if any, and the number of housing units.  It should be placed on corporate letterhead and signed by the developer or designee.

Basic security recommendations:

Upon receipt of the developer’s letter of agreement, the Strategic Services Division will issue a letter to the developer certifying that the bonus amenity points are approved.

For more information concerning these recommendations, you can read Chapter 41 of the Uniform Building Code for Oregon.   This is an optional security building code for multi-family and commercial buildings that local jurisdictions can approve for their own areas.

The Code

Title 33 (Planning and Zoning) of the City of Portland Code contains:

33.120.265 Amenity Bonuses, Section C, Number 6 Crime Prevention.  The density bonus for this amenity is 10 percent. 

The City Code states:

“The bonus is allowed if all units have security features which comply with items 1 through 6 of the Residential Security Recommendations of the Portland Police Bureau. In addition, exterior lights which comply with the lighting standards of the Crime Prevention Division of the Portland Police Bureau must be provided. Development plans must be certified by the Crime Prevention Division of the Portland Police Bureau as complying with these provisions.”

Note: The review and standards are currently the responsibility of the Portland Police Bureau’s Strategic Services Division.  The former Crime Prevention Division was eliminated and its responsibilities reassigned.