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The city of Portland is considering the temporary suspension of some of its development upgrade requirements to reduce permitting delays. The ordinance would temporarily suspend four cost upgrade requirements through Jan. 1, 2029.

The city is working on simplifying its permitting processes through the Code Alignment Program. This first project under the code alignment program is focused on aligning upgrade requirements for existing buildings across multiple development codes.

The requirements include street tree planting for property additions and alterations (Title 11), sidewalk and street improvements for significant alterations (Title 17), on-site upgrade mandates for non-conforming situations (Title 33) and a seismic vulnerability report for older buildings (Title 24).

鈥�(These are) common sense changes that will help modify buildings in Portland that already exist and just make people’s lives easier and better,鈥� Councilor Angelita Morillo said during a Portland City Council meeting on Wednesday.

The cost reductions benefit permit applicants who otherwise would have to make additional costly improvements and experience added time and complexity in the permit process, a city staff report states. In the short term, the changes represent a potential reduction in staff review time, as there will be fewer requirements to review.

Portland Permitting & Development has noted there are many permits that have completed most steps of the city review process, but applicants are holding off pulling their permit, including paying issuance fees. The proposal aims to incentivize permit completion and thus increase permitting fees and revenue.

Some projects that are currently in the inspection process plan to seek to revise their approved permits to remove some of the requirements allowed through this ordinance, according to the staff report. These projects will be subject to current cost recovery-based charges.

New street trees are currently required for additions, alterations or new construction for projects greater than $25,000. The proposed change would suspend requirements for additions and alterations but continue street tree planting requirements for new buildings.

Existing requirements for street improvements apply to addition/alteration projects with a value greater or equal to 35 percent of the assessed property value. Required upgrades may include sidewalks, curbs, ramps, planting wells and driveway approaches. The proposed change would suspend significant alterations but would continue to apply to significant alterations for schools, hospitals and parks, as well as new projects and projects that increase occupancy or trips to the site.

Existing requirements for nonconforming upgrades apply to non-residential addition/alteration projects with a value greater than $356,300. They include landscaping and trees, pedestrian paths, bicycle parking, screening and paving. The proposed change would suspend non-conforming upgrades for all projects.

The proposed change for seismic evaluations would suspend the requirement for an evaluation report.

Morgan Tracy, city planner at the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, said there is an immediate need for action, and while the temporary suspensions are in place, staff will look for permanent solutions for development in the city.

On Wednesday, the Portland City Council passed the ordinance to a second reading. A final vote is scheduled for Sept. 24.