Plumbing Permit in Portland, Oregon (2026)
Your contractor can't legally start work and your renovation schedule grinds to a halt without a Plumbing Permit from the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS), also known as a plumbing installation authorization. This official approval is required for any new, altered, or replaced plumbing work to ensure it meets state and local code. Key facts:
- 26 fields to complete — ApronPrep auto-fills 22
- $150–$500+ government filing fees (determined by project scope)
- Timeline varies — permit issuance typically takes 7-14 days after application
Analyzed from Plumbing Permit
85% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Plumbing Permit
In Portland, a Plumbing Permit is mandated to ensure your restaurant's installation or alteration complies with the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC), which incorporates the Uniform Plumbing Code, and is locally enforced under Portland City Code Title 24 - Building Regulations. The Plumbing Permit specifically addresses water supply, distribution, drainage, and venting systems. The Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) administers these permits to verify that work meets safety, sanitation, and water conservation standards, protecting both public health and the integrity of the city's infrastructure.
Working without this permit carries significant and costly consequences, as Portland BDS conducts active inspections and responds to complaints. The immediate and long-term penalties include:
- Stop-work orders that halt all construction, delaying your opening by weeks or months.
- Substantial fines, typically assessed per day the violation exists, until compliance is achieved.
- Denial of your final Certificate of Occupancy, preventing you from legally opening your restaurant to the public.
- Forced demolition of non-compliant work at your expense, requiring you to pay for the original work and its removal.
- Voided contractor warranties and potential denial of insurance claims if a failure occurs in unpermitted work.
- Complications with lease compliance and future property sales, as unpermitted improvements become a legal liability.
Legal code: State building code (locally administered), local building ordinances, state accessibility code
Recent update: As of 2026, the Oregon Building Codes Division has adopted new energy conservation and water efficiency amendments to the state plumbing code, which Portland BDS now enforces for all new permit applications.
Who Needs a Plumbing Permit?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Portland City Code Title 25.05 requires a permit for any plumbing installation, alteration, or repair in a commercial kitchen with sinks, dishwashers, and grease interceptors. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required for installation of bar sinks, glasswashers, ice machines, and any drainage for floor sinks or mop basins under Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code § 104.1. |
| Food Truck | Required | Requires a separate Oregon DEQ Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit for its onboard plumbing system; the City of Portland plumbing permit applies only to the commissary or servicing station's permanent connections. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Needed for installation of espresso machine water lines, under-counter sinks for prep, and any drainage for a three-compartment sink per Portland Plumbing Code § 10.02.020. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (26 Fields)
22 of 26 auto-filledBusiness Legal Name
textEnter the exact, full legal name of the business entity that owns the restaurant, exactly as it appears on your Oregon Business Registry filing or Articles of Incorporation.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a DBA, the restaurant's brand name, or an abbreviated version instead of the registered legal entity name.
Applicant Phone
textProvide a direct, working phone number for the business owner or primary contact person where Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS) can reach you with questions about the permit.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing a disconnected number, a contractor's number, or a personal cell number you don't regularly monitor.
Applicant Email
textEnter a valid, monitored business email address that will be used for all official permit correspondence, inspection scheduling, and approval notices from the city.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a personal email likely to be flagged as spam or an email address you do not check daily.
Restaurant Address
textEnter the complete street address of the restaurant property where the plumbing work will occur, including suite or unit number if applicable, matching the address on your lease.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a mailing address, a P.O. Box, or the address of a management company office instead of the physical job site address.
Contractor Type
checkboxCheck the appropriate box to indicate if the plumbing work will be performed by a licensed Oregon contractor or by the property owner (owner-builder).
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly selecting 'owner-builder' when a licensed contractor is required for commercial work, which violates Portland City Code Title 24.
Contractor Name
textIf using a contractor, enter the exact business name of the licensed plumbing contractor as it appears on their active Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a nickname, a foreman's name, or a company name that does not exactly match the CCB registration.
Contractor Phone
textProvide the primary business phone number for the licensed plumbing contractor, which inspectors will use to schedule and confirm site visits.
COMMON MISTAKE: Providing a number that is no longer in service or a personal cell number for an employee who may not be reachable.
Contractor Email
textEnter the official business email address for the licensed plumbing contractor, used for sending inspection results and permit updates.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using an outdated or generic company email that is not monitored for time-sensitive city communications.
Oregon CCB License Number
textEnter the active, valid license number issued by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board for the plumbing contractor performing the work.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an expired, suspended, or inactive CCB number, or a number for a different trade (e.g., general contractor instead of plumbing specialist).
General Liability Insurance Certificate
textAttach a current certificate of insurance from the contractor showing general liability coverage meeting Portland BDS minimum requirements, typically at least $1 million.
COMMON MISTAKE: Submitting an expired certificate, one that lists the wrong project address, or one that lacks the required 'Portland Bureau of Development Services' as a certificate holder.
ApronPrep auto-fills 22 of 26 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Plumbing Permit Mistakes
1. Submitting Incomplete Fixture Schedules
Leaving fixture counts or rough-in locations blank on the plumbing schedule form (BDS Form 2105-7) causes immediate rejection. The Bureau of Development Services (BDS) reviewers can't calculate the permit fees or verify compliance with the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code (OPSC). For example, listing '2 toilets' but omitting the '2 lavatories' that serve the same restroom stalls will stall your application. This mistake adds 1-2 weeks to your timeline as the application is sent back for completion.
2. Using Expired Contractor Licensing Numbers
Entering a CCB number that is expired, inactive, or not registered for plumbing work in the city of Portland is a top rejection reason. The BDS cross-checks all contractor details with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) database in real-time. If your plumber's license lapsed last month, the application won't proceed. Always verify your plumber's CCB status is 'Active' and their license class includes plumbing before you submit. This oversight can cause a 5-10 business day delay while you scramble to find a qualified contractor.
3. Incorrect Valuation for Permit Fee Calculation
Under-reporting the total job valuation to try and lower the permit fee triggers a review and potential audit. The BDS uses your stated valuation to calculate the permit fee based on their current fee schedule (e.g., $X per $1,000 of value). Stating a $5,000 valuation for a full kitchen remodel with new gas lines, when typical cost is $15,000, will flag your application. Provide the true total installed cost, including materials and labor. Miscalculation leads to fee reassessment and adds 3-5 business days to processing.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Plumbing Permit
ApronPrep auto-fills 22 of 26 fields from one compliance interview.
No credit card required
Plumbing Permit by City in Oregon
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene | Contact authority for current fees - fees are determined upon application approval and paid online | 3 business days for intake staff review; permit issued immediately upon online fee payment |
| Portland | Contact Portland BDS for current permit fees (typically $150-$500+ depending on project scope; grease trap installation fees may be separate) | 7-14 days for permit issuance after complete application submission; inspections scheduled within 3-5 business days of request; total project timeline 2-4 weeks depending on contractor availability |
| Salem | Contact authority for current fees - plumbing permit fees vary based on scope of work | Typically 5-10 business days for initial permit review; inspection scheduling and completion depends on contractor availability and workload |
Government Filing Fees
Contact Portland BDS for current permit fees (typically $150-$500+ depending on project scope; grease trap installation fees may be separate)
Timeline: Varies
Step 1: Obtain completed Plumbing Permit Application form from Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS)
Download the current 'Plumbing Permit Application' (Form #BDS-101) directly from the Portland BDS website. Do not use older versions; using outdated forms is a top-3 cause of administrative rejections. This form contains approximately 45 fields, and ApronPrep can auto-fill over 30 from your profile.
Step 2: Prepare plumbing plans showing kitchen sink, grease trap, and all related piping installations with specifications
Your licensed plumber or designer must draft scaled plans showing fixture locations, pipe sizes, materials, and venting. For restaurants, explicitly detail the grease trap/interceptor location, size, and connection to the sanitary sewer line as required by Portland City Code Title 25. Incomplete grease trap details are the #1 reason plan review is delayed by 2+ weeks.
Step 3: Submit application with plans, contractor license information, and proof of liability insurance to BDS
Submit your complete packet via the BDS Permitting Portal, or in person at the Development Services Center. You must include a copy of your Oregon-licensed plumbing contractor's CCB license and their current certificate of insurance naming the City of Portland as additionally insured. Missing contractor documentation results in an immediate 'incomplete' status.
Where to Apply
Applications are handled by your local building department in each city. Select your city below for authority details, fees, and processing timeline.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Oregon.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsProcessing timelines are categorized as 'Varies' per the Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) application guide. This means approval time depends entirely on the complexity and scope of your plumbing project. A simple water heater replacement may be reviewed in days, while a major renovation requiring coordinated review with a Building Permit could take several weeks.
Government filing fees for a plumbing permit in Portland range from $150 to $500 according to the city's fee schedule. The exact amount is calculated based on the valuation of the plumbing work being performed. Not legal advice — verify the final fee with the Portland Bureau of Development Services.
No. Plumbing permits are issued for work at a specific address and cannot be transferred. If you move your business, you must apply for a new permit for the new location. You will also need to secure a new Certificate of Occupancy for the new space.
Plumbing permits do not require annual renewal — they are project-specific and expire upon completion of the permitted work or after 180 days of inactivity, per Portland City Code. However, any installed devices, like backflow preventers, require separate, ongoing annual Backflow Prevention Device Certification.
A City of Portland plumbing inspector will visit the job site to verify the work complies with the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code and the approved permit drawings. They will check for proper materials, venting, drainage, fixture installation, and safety compliance. Failing an inspection adds significant delay, requiring correction and a re-inspection fee.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Oregon specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Eugene, Portland, Salem), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 26 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State building code (locally administered), local building ordinances, state accessibility code
- Eugene — Building Department / Inspectional Services
- Portland — Building Department / Inspectional Services
- Salem — Building Department / Inspectional Services
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
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