TL;DR (generated, confidence: high)

Portland Planning & Development provides four tiered services for zoning questions, from simple email/phone inquiries to formal Early Assistance appointments with written analysis.

Key points:

Contact General Inquiries at 503-823-7300 or ppd@portlandoregon.gov for general zoning or property information (Common Zoning Questions ↗)
General Inquiries service provides response within 1-2 business days with up to 15 minutes of planner assistance (Common Zoning Questions ↗)
Free 15-minute question appointments available online for detailed site discussions and follow-up questions (Common Zoning Questions ↗)
Zoning Confirmation Letters available in two tiers: Tier 2 for current zoning info, Tier 3 for complex project analysis (Common Zoning Questions ↗)
Early Assistance appointments provide written responses after staff research, recommended for complex questions and site analysis (Common Zoning Questions ↗)
When contacting General Inquiries, provide property address or tax number, be specific about zoning needs, and state preferred response method (Common Zoning Questions ↗)

Entities: service: General Inquiries · 15-Minute Question Appointments · Zoning Confirmation Letter · Early Assistance Appointment | phone: 503-823-7300 | email: ppd@portlandoregon.gov

Common Zoning Questions

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Source: Common Zoning Questions ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:04:06 GMT

To ask a general zoning question

First, check the information on this web page. If your question is not answered on this web page, then:

Contact General Inquiries at 503-823-7300 or email ppd@portlandoregon.gov. Call or email for general zoning, property information, or other resources. When you call the General Inquiries or email the Web Mailbox, please:
- Have the property address or tax account number ready
- Be as specific as possible about the zoning information you need
- State a preference for a return phone call or email response
Planners strive to return calls or email messages within 1- 2 business days and will spend 15 minutes answering your questions. This service is recommended for simple zoning questions about a specific site or for process questions. This service is not recommended when you need a written land use determination or zoning questions that are not specific to a site.
Schedule a free 15-Minute Question Appointment online with a planner. This service is recommended for having a conversation about a site in more detail or follow-up questions. For more information, please visit 15-Minute Question Appointments: Free Building Permit and Zoning Help ↗.
Apply for a Zoning Confirmation Letter. This service is recommended for obtaining information on current zoning for a property (Bank Letter Tier 2) or for complex projects to obtain a response to specific zoning questions (Zoning Analysis Tier 3). This is also called a land use determination. For more information, please visit Zoning Confirmation Letters ↗.
Apply for an Early Assistance Appointment. If you wish to receive answers in writing for zoning questions about a specific site, you may apply for an Early Assistance appointment. This service allows staff time to research the site, land use or permit history; may or may not include a one-hour meeting, and provide a detailed written response to questions. This service is recommended for complex questions, complex sites, or getting information in writing. For more information, please visit Early Assistance Zoning and Infrastructure Review ↗.