The Portland City Council has officially approved the creation of the Portland Permitting & Development bureau, set to launch on July 1, 2024, marking a pivotal moment for local development services. This new bureau will serve as a centralized hub for residential and commercial permits, ranging from tree planting to home construction, streamlining the process for Portland residents and businesses. City Commissioner Carmen Rubio highlighted the importance of providing excellent customer service to ensure projects are completed efficiently. The new bureau will consist of about 350 professionals, primarily drawn from the existing Bureau of Development Services, which is being phased out. Additional staff will come from various departments, including Environmental Services, Parks & Recreation, Transportation, and Water.

Over the next 18 months, the bureau will focus on refining its processes, including improvements to the website and public works review. The project team expects to roll out various enhancements by early 2025 to optimize the development permit processes. Overall, this initiative is a significant step toward improving the construction permitting landscape in Portland.