Portland Permitting & Development promotes safety, livability and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.

The percentage of commercial and residential building permits reviewed within the scheduled end dates shows how efficient and timely building plans are being reviewed and approved.

Timely and efficient building plan review in Portland is crucial for ensuring public safety by thoroughly checking designs against building codes before construction. This proactive approach promotes safety, livability and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes. 

These permits include: 

• Additions: These are permits that involve extensions or increases in the floor area, number of stories or height of a building or structure. 
• Alterations: These are permits for any construction or renovation of an existing structure other than repairs or additions. 
• New Construction: These are permits for the development of new structures. 

The trend shows a steady increase in the percentage of plans reviewed on time. This indicates that bureaus are becoming more efficient in their review processes. This improvement likely comes from process improvements, using consistent review methods, and setting clear expectations. A focus on tracking key metrics, using internal dashboards, also helps monitor progress and ensure things stay on track.

Permitting data is collected in the City of Portland's software system that manages the entire permitting lifecycle, from application submission to final inspection.  

Both the applicant and the City play crucial roles in the time it takes to get a building permit. City staff (plan reviewers) have designated goals for each review round depending on the type of project (like an addition, remodel, or new building) and whether it's residential or a business. Each "review round" is a stage in the building permit process where City staff check submitted plans and documents. Reviewers look for completeness, code compliance, design details, and safety. After each round, the city will either approve the plans or request revisions. A permit may go through multiple review rounds before approval. This data shows how well City reviewers are meeting these goals for all review rounds for commercial and residential building permits. 

Our goal is to have the first review completed within the timeframes listed below. Timeframes can be impacted by the current workload and staffing. 

The first review may result in approval or a checksheet to address missing information or additional requirements.

The average number of business days permits are taking from the time the permit is submitted through completion of all mandatory reviews over the past 20 business days is available on Portland Permit Metrics Dashboard and is updated weekly.

To check the status of your building permit, trade permit, or other residential and commercial permits, visit the Check permit status webpage. Project status reports are updated daily. 

For instructions on applying for a residential or commercial permit, visit the Apply for permits webpage. Not sure if you need a permit? Visit the Do you need a permit? webpage.