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 improvements in the public right-of-way;

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

Beginning at the earliest stages of project planning, Portland's public works infrastructure bureaus: the Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Water Bureau, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation, will work with you and your project team to efficiently plan, design, permit, inspect and accept public works improvements. 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.

• City development review staff are located in the Development Services Permit 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. Typically, plan review and permitting will be completed in approximately 11 to 12 weeks of city review time, if you successfully complete all of the steps in the process and submit complete plans for review based on the guidance provided during the plan development process.  Additional time is required to review interim submittals, and for the review of more complex projects.  Time estimated does not include time when the City waits for the developer and their engineering consultant responses to redline comments or phase approvals.  NOTE: Due to the current COVID-19 emergency and related staffing furloughs, we are experiencing significant backlogs and delay in processing and review of plans and other permit documents. 
• The city uses uniform procedures with set turnaround times to process public works permitting appeals. 

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

Contact Public Works Construction at publicworksconstruction@portlandoregon.gov or by voicemail at 503-823-0988.