Portland launches new bureau to streamline permitting process

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The city’s former Bureau of Development Services is now known as Portland Permitting and Development.

Portland leaders first announced the change in late April , and it went into effect on Monday.  The new agency includes permitting review teams from all BDS divisions and Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division, along with the bureaus of environmental services, transportation and water.

“These structural changes enable the newly formed bureau to resolve conflicts and concerns more quickly, establish uniform customer service protocols across review teams, and continue improving the timeliness of reviews and inspections,” city officials said.

David Kuhnhausen will act as Portland Permitting and Development’s interim director. He was appointed as BDS’ interim director in mid-December 2023, and has prior experience in “other permitting-focused leadership roles” spanning back to 2008.

The permitting office will have about 350 employees in total.

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