Building permits in Portland, OR

Short answer: In Portland, permits are issued by City of Portland Permitting & Development; of the 6 common projects we checked, 1 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Portland Permitting & Development. Rules shown are for one- and two-family homes. Zoning rules apply even when no building permit is needed; overlay zones and flood hazard areas may add requirements.

Permit rules in Portland
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No permit for a deck 30 in or less above grade. Higher decks need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project No building permit for wood fences up to 7 ft, masonry or concrete up to 4 ft, or chain link up to 8 ft. Any fence enclosing a swimming pool…	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Cabinets and wall or floor coverings need no permit. New plumbing fixtures need a plumbing permit, and adding a bathroom needs plumbing and …	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	No permit required No building permit to reroof with material of similar weight, including replacing sheathing. Wildfire Zones, townhouses and solar roof cover…	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No building permit for a non-habitable shed of 200 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less tall (zoning still applies). Larger or taller sheds need …	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.portland.gov/ppd/residential-permitting/do-you-need-permit/residential-permits

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Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.