How to Get a City of Portland Building Permit: Steps & FAQs
Starting a home renovation, addition, or new build in Portland? You’ll likely need one or more permits before you begin. The City of Portland oversees permitting to ensure safety, compliance, and quality. Thanks to online tools, it’s easier than ever to transition from planning to approval.
This guide walks you through the requirements for the City of Portland permits (including plumbing, electrical, and mechanical), the application process, inspection steps, key timelines, and common homeowner questions.
When Do You Need Building a Permit in Portland?
A permit is typically required for:
- New construction: homes, ADUs, detached buildings
- Additions & major remodels: basements, new rooms, bathroom conversions
- Decks & stairs: more than 30" above grade
- Retaining walls: over 4' tall or supporting slopes
- Fences: taller than 7'
- Accessory buildings: over 200 sq ft or taller than 15'
- Demolition/relocation of most structures. For example, removing a load-bearing wall during an open-concept conversion.
- Site work: moving over 10 yd³ of soil, high driveways/paving
- Solar installations
- Plumbing: relocating fixtures like toilets or sinks (plumbing permit required)
- Electrical: moving outlets, switches, fixtures (electrical permit required)
- Mechanical: installing or moving components like bathroom fans, HVAC, ducting, or vents (mechanical permit required)
You typically don’t need a permit for:
- Cosmetic changes, painting, siding (non-fire-resistant), storm windows, gutters
- Insulation
- Replacing doors/windows in place
- Reroofing with the same material
- Fixture swaps in the same location (e.g., a new light or faucet)
- Small, compliant play structures or patio covers
- Fences under 7'
Note: If you are simply replacing plumbing and light fixtures in a bathroom or kitchen remodel, no permit is required. This can save weeks to months in total project time. Our typical construction timeline for kitchen remodeling in Portland is 2-3 weeks.
Step-by-Step Permit Process in Portland
Step 1: Research Your Property
Use PortlandMaps to check zoning, past permits, flood zones, and utilities.
Step 2: Gather Required Documentation
Includes site plan, floor and elevation drawings, structural details (if needed), trade specifications, and the appropriate application forms.
Step 3: Apply Online via DevHub or In Person
Apply through the Development Hub PDX (DevHub). If needed, paper submissions can be dropped off by appointment.
Step 4: Plan Review
City staff assess your submission. If revisions are required, you’ll get a checksheet to update and resubmit.
Step 5: Pay Fees & Get Your Permit
Once approved, pay fees and receive your permit, inspection card, and documentation, ready to post on-site.
Step 6: Schedule Inspections & “999 Final Permit”
- Each trade permit (plumbing, electrical, mechanical) requires rough-in and final inspections.
- After all other inspections are passed, you must schedule the “999 Final Permit” inspection to officially close the permit. Without a successful 999 inspection, the permit remains “under inspection.”
- Once the 999 Final Permit passes, the permit is considered complete and closed.
Step 7: Permit Closure
After the 999 Final is approved for all trade and building permits, your overall project permit can be closed.
Permit Inspection Insights
| Permit Type | Inspection Stages | Final Closure |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical | Rough-in → Final → 999 Final Permit | Permit closed only after 999 Final inspection |
| Overall Building Permit | Final building plus all trade closures | Closed after 999 Final inspections |
Portland uses a combination of on-site, DevHub, and IVR-based scheduling, including options for remote video re-inspections. Permits expire 180 days after the last inspection.
Typical Timeline to Pull a Permit
Portland’s internal statistics show many permits take approximately 4-12 weeks for approval, though simple projects often go faster with complete, responsive submissions.
FAQ: Portland Building Permits
Most structural or trade-related work, such as construction, additions, and relocating systems like plumbing, electrical, or HVAC, requires a permit.
Cosmetic updates like painting, window replacements (in place only), or fixture swaps are typically allowed without permitting, but always verify with Portland Development Services.
Yes, anyone can view issued permits and project history via PortlandMaps.
Unpermitted work can lead to stop-work orders, fines, and required demolition or retroactive permitting, often at a higher cost.
Yes, a plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permit is required if relocating fixtures. Replacing fixtures in the same location usually does not require a permit.
A detailed drawing showing property boundaries, building placement, and exterior features like HVAC units or driveways, used by reviewers to assess code and zoning compliance.
Based on recent data, the typical processing time to get a permit pulled is 4-12 weeks, depending on project complexity and how quickly revisions are handled. Simpler, fully-documented projects may be processed faster.
