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The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday unanimously confirmed 5 percent fee increases for building permits within unincorporated areas.

The county has intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with the cities of Portland, Gresham and Troutdale to administer and enforce portions of Multnomah County Code (MCC) Chapter 29, Building Regulations, within unincorporated areas. The IGAs were established in September 2024.

The city of Portland proposes fee amounts for its administration and enforcement of MCC Chapter 29 within the Portland Permit Services Area; fees are then set by Multnomah County under IGA terms. The city manages building regulations and permitting for the unincorporated areas of west Multnomah County as well as urban pockets administered by the city for planning services, Multnomah County principal planner Kevin Cook said.

Portland Permitting & Development fees are updated annually and are subject to approval by the Portland City Council and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. These include fees for permits involving residential and commercial projects, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, site development, sign and awning installations, and others.

鈥淢ost fees within the Portland Permit Services Area are increasing by 5 percent to help Portland Permitting & Development cover its operating costs,鈥� Cook said.

Approximately 98 percent of Portland Permitting & Development鈥檚 funding comes from fees and service charges, so they鈥檙e set at levels that cover the full costs of providing services. Currently, Portland Permitting & Development is operating below cost recovery, the county鈥檚 resolution states.

The city of Portland has approved the fee increases under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code. They will apply to all new applications for permits or other services, effective immediately.

Fees will not be impacted by the city鈥檚 temporary exemption of system development charges (SDCs), said Kyle O鈥橞rien, budget and finance manager for the city of Portland. The exemption, passed by Portland City Council on Wednesday, will be in effect for three years or until 5,000 housing units are built.