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1. Home
2. Permitting & Development
3. Commercial Permits and Inspections
4. Commercial Permit Inspections

In-person services in the Development Services Center at 1900 SW 4th Ave. are restricted to Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to twelve noon. Pre-scheduled consultations are required for the majority of in-person services. Many building authorization services are offered online 24 hr a day. Find out more.

Permits for newly created housing systems provided from Aug. 15, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2028, may be exempt from system development charges under certain conditions.

Read the news statement

Discover more about the exemptions and how they are applied


Commercial Alteration - Tenant Improvement Building Permits & Inspections

The City of Portland invites the chance to deal with you on your industrial alteration- tenant improvement structure permits and examinations. Find out more about what's needed for a complete business alteration application. You can also investigate a residential or commercial property or schedule a consultation to discuss your job.

You can start with this list of forms (if you know what you require) and continue reading to learn more about when some forms are needed.

Commercial building permit application and crucial types

The following details is part of the application. This is whatever you might require when looking for a commercial alteration-tenant improvement permit. Since every task is distinct, there may be some situations where you will be asked to offer extra information. Things you need to obtain this authorization might include some or all of the following.

If you aren't sure what you need, get in touch with Permitting Services. Forms consist of:

Building code summary worksheet

Building permit application

Commercial food facilities

Commercial systems advancement charge type

Guide to assessments

More info about change of usage or tenancy

Change of use or change of tenancy web page

Life Safety forms

Requirements for Rack Storage System Permits

Shell permit acknowledgement declaration

Simplified technique type

Submittal guidelines and submittal requirements

Submittal Requirements Commercial for the following can be found on Commercial Permit Submittal Requirements

- Major Interior Alterations

- Minor Interior Alterations

- New Construction, Additions, Alterations with Exterior Work or Structural Changes


Step 1: Research your residential or commercial property and what you need for your task

A building permit is required to repair, modify or alter tenancy or usage of an existing commercial structure or multi-family property task with 3 or more systems.

Before you look for an authorization it is very important to investigate the status quo developed through reviewed, authorized and last building licenses. If no authorization can be found, existing occupancy may be developed through a Life Safety appeal process. Otherwise all work without benefit of permit will be treated as new, regardless of when it was set up.

Other items to research study:

the zoning of the residential or commercial property

the suitable codes

- existing licenses on website

- tenancy of the existing building

- the authorization expense

SDC charges

- feasibility of the task

- time an authorization remains active

Kind of building (URM).


Codes in result in Portland include City Codes, such as Titles 24 and 33, in addition to State building codes. See our Codes website for more details.

Find out how to investigate your residential or commercial property and where to find the details in preparation for your authorization application.

Code summary

Applications need to demonstrate how they satisfy the building regulations with a code summary. The structure code summary is important to communicate design assumptions made for the structure:

Change of use or change of occupancy

Projects that alter the tenancy of the existing space can be extremely complex. The Change of Use orChange of Occupancy webpage has info on this kind of project. You can likewise discover more information in this brochure:

Fire and Life Safety summary

For extremely complicated projects, a life-safety summary might be needed. This summary has more detail about sprinkler, smoke alarm, detection systems and other building and construction details about the building:

Shell allows

" Shell" implies the original building authorization did not establish tenancy. Tenant Improvement permits will be taken in and routed to the original customer.

- Tenant Improvement permits can not be submitted for review till the Shell permit has been issued.

- Tenant Improvement allows can not be issued till:- Shell permit has last approval or.

- Shell permit has reached substantial conclusion figured out by the Building Inspector.

Under the Shell permit, the owner was required to complete the Shell Permit Acknowledgement Statement as part of that submittal:

Seismic Strengthening Requirements

Portland City Code, Title 24.85 consists of requirements that may trigger requirements for additional seismic fortifying when the work involves an existing building.

Step 2: Get Early Assistance

If you have questions after examining the details on this web page, we recommend you reserve a totally free 15-minute appointment with us. This is an optional action. We're here for you if you have questions about the information and products you require to apply.

For tasks with complex building or fire code problems that need additional help, consumers may ask for a preliminary Life Safety meeting.

Land usage Early Assistance demands help candidates prepare a complete job proposition, usually a land usage evaluation application. A Land Use Pre-Application Conference is needed for all Type III and IV land usage examines prior to submittal of the application. They are likewise readily available however optional for lower tier land use evaluations.

Step 3: What you require for an industrial change - tenant improvement building license (submittal requirements)

The submittal standards in the needed applications and forms offer a breakdown on what needs to be supplied with the application.

As part of the evaluation process, a total submittal is needed which includes a finished structure license application, life safety efficiency checklist for commercial authorizations, a Shell TI Acknowledgement declaration, architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and landscape illustrations.

Review the drawings requirements:

- Drawings, drawn to scale where necessary to verify compliance with code.

- Drawings may be handwritten/drawn if clear and legible. Text or keep in mind will remain in print.

- Minimum drawing size: 11x17. All required information is to be clear and clear. Minimum printed text is to be 3/32" or the comparable 12-point font.

- Can not utilize professional's drawings without the consent of the specialist who signed the original drawings. For instance, an architect's stamped strategy set can not be used without their consent.


Prepare the following info:

Building authorization application.

Erosion control strategy.


Stormwater strategy.


- If the task consists of space that postpones occupancy to a future renter enhancement permit.


Your task may likewise need commercial electrical, mechanical, and pipes permits

Your project will more than likely need separate electrical licenses, mechanical permits and pipes licenses. Make an application for these licenses once the job has been approved to get a building permit.

Step 4: Get a building license and submit your strategies

You can send your permit application demand online using Development Hub PDX. Read step-by-step directions for submitting an authorization application request online or in individual.

For a lot of projects, electronic plans are submitted through the Single PDF process. Large projects such as commercial new building are submitted though PDX E-plans and ProjectDox.

If you need to send paper plans, you can establish a consultation to get plans or drop off plans face to face. Or, please call us and we will work with you.

Step 5: Plan evaluation process and making corrections to an application (checksheets)

You can check the status of a permit evaluation on Portland Maps permit/case search. Lots of people might examine a single authorization. The Permit Review Process web page has more info about the groups who review permits.

A checksheet is sent out to the candidate when a reviewer needs extra info or a correction needs to be made to the strategies. Learn more about how to send us corrections and how to prepare fixed paper plans.

Step 6: Getting your authorization and paying authorization fees

We'll contact you when your license is prepared, and inform you of any charges due. You'll get instructions for how to get your approved authorization and pay your costs. Your license is not provided till all fees are paid. Learn more about the pre-issuance procedure.

Step 7: Start structure and prepare for assessments

The inspection card notes all the inspections you will likely require during your building and construction project, and what work needs to be done initially.

Once your building permit is released, erosion control measures and in some cases tree security measures need to be installed, checked and approved prior to starting any additional ground-disturbing activities.

All licenses require a last approval evaluation to be complete.

Step 8: Commercial examinations, results and corrections

To schedule an inspection, call the automated Ask for Inspections contact number. You will need your IVR or permit number and the three-digit code for the inspection. You must call before 6:00 a.m. or the evaluation will be set up the following organization day.

Get the results of the examination on Portland Maps permit/case browse the next day.

Find out more about why work does not get authorized and how to arrange a reinspection.

Small Business Empowerment Program

The Small Company Empowerment Program assists Black, Indigenous and individuals of color entrepreneur and service owners with impairments recognized by the ADA who have experienced barriers in the review procedure. Learn more about how we can help.

Donate recyclable construction materials

The City of Portland deals with the ReBuilding Center to make it easy to contribute recyclable structure materials. Homeowners and organization owners that certify can get materials totally free to assist make their residential or commercial properties safe. Donating structure products likewise assists keep waste out of landfills. Find out more about the From Excess to Access program.

Contact commercial inspectors

If you have questions before or after your evaluation, you can talk to an inspector.

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The City of Portland guarantees significant access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and fairly offers: translation, analysis, adjustments, lodgings, alternative formats, auxiliary help and services. Request an ADA lodging or call 503-823-4000, Relay Service: 711.