Name revealed for new Portland permitting bureau

Starting July 1, developers and others will work with a modified entity Portland Permitting & Development for most types of residential and commercial permits.

City leaders on Wednesday released the new name and structure for the bureau. The Portland City Council is expected to vote May 22 on the proposed reorganization.

Portland’s new approach has been taking shape since August 2023, when the council approved Commissioner Carmen Rubio’s resolution directing city staff to unify permitting. A project team has worked with customers and employees to develop the proposal, a city press release states.

Portland Permitting & Development will feature nine work teams, including one dedicated to customer support for all types of permitting. Other teams will specialize in specific parts of the development process, such as public infrastructure and building permit review.

The proposal calls for staff from the Portland Bureau of Development Services which will be phased out to begin working with teams from Portland Parks & Recreation , the Portland Bureau of Transportation , the Portland Water Bureau and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services . In all, Portland Permitting & Development will have about 350employees, according to the press release.

Over the past month, city staff helped select the name through committee meetings, focus groups and a ranked-choice voting exercise a nod to voter-approved changes to Portland’s election method and form of government. Portland will host its first ranked-choice election in November and launch the mayor-council form of government in January 2025.

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