Decisions/2026-152
Ordinance2026-152

Should Portland amend Portland Permitting & Development Fee Schedules to improve cost recovery to ensure an adequate level of service?

Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) collects fees under various fee schedules to fund inspections, plan review, permit issuance, land use review, customer assistance, and other functions. Most bureau programs have the goal to be self-supporting, while three programs receive General Fund support. Of the three programs receiving General Fund Support, two (Neighborhood Inspections and Noise) are affected by this ordinance.PP&D maintains a strong commitment to providing excellent programs and services while operating in a fiscally responsible manner. This commitment, coupled with recent decreases in demand for services and increasing costs, is resulting in proposed increases for most fees in FY 2026-27. PP&D continues to strive to use its resources efficiently and keep costs as low as possible.While the bureau recognizes the impact of increased fees on its customers, fee increases will be necessary to improve service levels, respond to current and future service level demands, and to operate closer to cost recovery. PP&D is therefore proposing the following fee schedule increases:9% to Building/Mechanical, Environmental Review, Urban Forestry Review, and Water Review fees5% to Electrical, Field Issuance Remodel (FIR), Land Use Services, Neighborhood Inspections, Plumbing, Sign, Site Development, and Zoning Enforcement fees26% to Accessory Short-Term Rental (ASTR) fees41% to Noise Variance fees34% to Transportation Review fees

Official impact statement
See the official legal title

Amend Portland Permitting & Development Fee Schedules to improve cost recovery to ensure an adequate level of service

Next appearanceFinal action is posted; watch for implementation updates.
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01 · Understand it

What this proposal would actually do.

Plain-language orientation first. Every substantive statement below links to its official basis.

What would change

Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) collects fees under various fee schedules to fund inspections, plan review, permit issuance, land use review, customer assistance, and other functions. Most bureau programs have the goal to be self-supporting, while three programs receive General Fund support. Of the three programs receiving General Fund Support, two (Neighborhood Inspections and Noise) are affected by this ordinance.PP&D maintains a strong commitment to providing excellent programs and services while operating in a fiscally responsible manner. This commitment, coupled with recent decreases in demand for services and increasing costs, is resulting in proposed increases for most fees in FY 2026-27. PP&D continues to strive to use its resources efficiently and keep costs as low as possible.While the bureau recognizes the impact of increased fees on its customers, fee increases will be necessary to improve service levels, respond to current and future service level demands, and to operate closer to cost recovery. PP&D is therefore proposing the following fee schedule increases:9% to Building/Mechanical, Environmental Review, Urban Forestry Review, and Water Review fees5% to Electrical, Field Issuance Remodel (FIR), Land Use Services, Neighborhood Inspections, Plumbing, Sign, Site Development, and Zoning Enforcement fees26% to Accessory Short-Term Rental (ASTR) fees41% to Noise Variance fees34% to Transportation Review fees

Official proposal and impact statement
What would stay the same

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

Official matter record
Who may be affected

PP&D has been proactive in keeping customers and stakeholders informed regarding these proposed fee changes. The bureau has published information about the proposed fee increases on its website. Additionally, division managers have reached out to appropriate industry organizations and committees.The bureau knows these changes affect its customers' work and their willingness to do business in this area. PP&D's interests are in delivering excellent levels of service and increasing its effectiveness on both its customers' and the community's behalf.

Official community impact statement
What happens next

Passed

Latest official agenda appearance
02 · Evaluate it

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Financial implications

Percent increases are aggregated, however percentage change to individual fees may vary. This ordinance does not amend the PP&D budget.This legislation does not create, eliminate, or re-classify positions now or in the future. Additional staff time required is limited to performing outreach, preparing the revised fee schedules, and this subsequent legislation. Existing PP&D staff will implement and administer the revised fee schedule as part of the existing workload. There is no change to demographic impacts or changes in staffing. The legislation does not result in a new or modified financial obligation or benefit, including IAs, IGAs, MOUs, grants, contracts, or contract amendments.

Official financial impact statement
Open questions
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Can residents still participate?

Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.

Official Council agenda
03 · Verify it

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Official documents22 sources
Final legal actionOrdinance 192193

The operative official record after Council action.

Open at Portland.gov
Show 16 more documents
Read the full official text

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) promotes safety, livability, and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.In 1988-89, the Development Services Operating Fund was established with a policy that construction-related programs in the fund would be full self-supporting. Since that time PP&D, formerly known as the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), has kept these programs self-supporting by providing efficient, effective services and applying periodic, moderate fee increases that allow the bureau to respond to increasing costs and to be innovative and proactive in meeting changing customer needs.PP&D collects fees under various fee schedules, including building, land use, neighborhood inspections, plumbing, signs, site development, and others. These fees are used by PP&D to fund inspections, plan review, permit issuance, land use review, code enforcement, customer assistance and other functions.Fees charged for services delegated from the State Building Codes Division (BCD) must comply with the fee calculation methodologies as determined by BCD and described in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 918-050-0000 through 918-050-0170.Fees charged must be used to cover the costs of administering and enforcing the State Building Code only and may not be used to cover the costs of administering and enforcing local codes. Fees charged by PP&D should cover the costs of providing these services.PP&D has been proactive in informing bureau customers and stakeholders regarding the need and rationale for the proposed fee changes. The bureau has published information about the proposed changes on its website.NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:The Fee Schedules listed as exhibits A through Q to this ordinance shall be effective July 10, 2026.This ordinance is binding City policy.In support of this ordinance, the following Exhibits (A-Q) describe the current and proposed fees:Exhibit A: BuildingExhibit B: CannabisExhibit C: ElectricalExhibit D: EnforcementExhibit E: Environmental ReviewExhibit F: Land Use Services (LUS)Exhibit G: Life Safety (LUS)Exhibit H: Site Development (LUS)Exhibit I: MechanicalExhibit J: NoiseExhibit K: PlumbingExhibit L: SignsExhibit M: Site DevelopmentExhibit N: Transportation ReviewExhibit O: Urban Forestry ReviewExhibit P: Water ReviewExhibit Q: Hearings Office (LUS)

Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes4 meetings · 2 votes
Read all 1 exact motions
May 5, 2026 · Main · Passed

Motion to refer the Ordinance, Document Number 2026-152, to City Council with the recommendation it be passed: Moved by Green and seconded by Novick. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Koyama Lane, Novick, Green, Avalos)

Final Council action · Jun 11, 202610 yes · 1 no · 1 absent

Final action on 2026-152: Amend Portland Permitting & Development Fee Schedules to improve cost recovery to ensure an adequate level of service

Meeting-level motion or recommendation · May 5, 20265 yes

Motion to refer the Ordinance, Document Number 2026-152, to City Council with the recommendation it be passed: Moved by Green and seconded by Novick. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Koyama Lane, Novick, Green, Avalos)

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Complete
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Source record
First discovered
Aug 13, 2026, 1:04 PM PDT
Last checked
Sep 13, 2026, 2:23 AM PDT
Evidence hash
474afde98c5fb46c
Guide status
Deterministic baseline
Append-only timeline
  1. SOURCE UPDATED

    Passed

  2. DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

    Observed in the official source.

  3. Council Action

    Passed

  4. Council Action

    Continued

  5. Council Action

    Passed to second reading

  6. Council Action

    Referred to City Council