Permitting & City Planning

Permitting: Oregon and the City of Portland
Department of Consumer and Business Services

• Building Codes Division 

The Building Codes Division (BCD) provides code development, administration, inspection, plan review, licensing, and permit services to the construction industry. These are integral to the safe and effective construction of structures in Oregon. The division was added to the newly formed Department of Consumer & Business Services in 1993.

Mission

The mission of the Building Codes Division is to work with Oregonians to ensure safe building construction while promoting a positive business climate within the State of Oregon.

This mission is accomplished by:

• Administering uniform statewide building codes that set standards for construction.
• Providing code and rule interpretation.
• Investigating license and code violations.
• Certifying inspectors and licensing trade professionals.
• Issuing construction and operating permits.
• Conducting program review for jurisdictions.
• Conducting inspections.
  
  *State of Oregon, Building Codes Division

In 1980, the Portland City Council adopted a comprehensive plan for the city, including goals, policies, objectives and a plan map, to guide the future development and redevelopment of the city. Portland's Comprehensive Plan Map reflects a 20-year vision of the city. Community and neighborhood planning efforts work to transition land uses from their current zoning designations to the Comprehensive Plan Map designations to reflect this 20-year vision as the city changes and grows.

The Plan provides the City and its citizens with the following:

• A set of land use and public facilities goals and policies to guide the development and redevelopment of Portland
• A Comprehensive Plan Map and a set of regulations for development, including a revised Zoning Code, to carry out the policies,
• The Comprehensive Plan is the current adopted land use plan for the City of Portland. This plan guides the future growth and development of the city.
  
• Visit the City of Portland's Bureau of Planning Web site for further details about planning in Portland.
  

The Planning Commission acts in the following capacities:

1. “To advise the City Council on any proposal that directly affects any goal or policy or the type, density, and location of any element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission may also, from time to time, review and comment on city policies and their implementation in relation to land use issues.”
2. “To advise on street vacations, dedications and name change requests, amendments to the Planning & Zoning Code (Title 33), urban renewal plans, open space tax abatement, public buildings, and various citywide policies.”
   
   *City of Portland, Oregon, Bureau of Planning

Urban Sprawl
Measuring Sprawl and Its Impact:
The Character and Consequences of Metropolitan Expansion

Smart Growth America - October 2002
Portland registered the eighth least area with urban sprawl of 83 metropolitan areas in this study.
The Portland Metropolitan Area serves as a benchmark for the rest of the nation when it comes to positive, constructive urban planning and land use. 

To Learn more visit the City of Portland's Bureau of Planning Web site.