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PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a set of temporary code suspensions aimed at streamlining the city’s permitting process for development projects that add to or alter existing buildings.
The changes, set to take effect Oct. 24, will remain in place through Jan. 1, 2029. They do not apply to new construction.
City officials say the move will help reduce permitting delays, support small businesses, and boost housing and economic development.
The four suspended requirements are:
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Street tree planting (Title 11): Temporarily waives street tree planting requirements for additions and alterations valued over $25,000 — except where sidewalk improvements are already required.
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Frontage improvements (Title 17): Suspends sidewalk and curb ramp upgrades for most alterations to existing buildings, unless those changes increase daily trips to the site. Schools and hospitals are excluded.
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Seismic evaluation (Title 24): Pauses the requirement for seismic reports on pre-1974 buildings undergoing alterations worth more than $362,000.
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Zoning code upgrades (Title 33): Extends an existing pause on requirements like bike parking and landscaping upgrades to all projects — not just housing — through 2029.
The suspensions will apply to building permits currently in review or inspection that have not yet received final inspection. Applicants may need to revise existing applications to take advantage of the new rules.
The suspensions are the first in a series of proposals from the Code Alignment Project, which launched in 2024 to eliminate bureaucratic overlap and improve permitting services. City staff are expected to propose additional reforms in the coming months.
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Grant McHill
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