Are you a developer or contractor of large projects or a frequent customer interested in advising Portland’s permitting processes? Apply to serve on the Development Review Advisory Committee.
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Source: Are you a developer or contractor of large projects or a frequent customer interested in advising Portland’s permitting processes? Apply to serve on the Development Review Advisory Committee. ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:07:59 GMT
Purposes and roles of the Development Review Advisory Committee
The Development Review Advisory Committee ↗ (DRAC) advises the City of Portland, including the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) and other bureaus involved with construction-related permits. The DRAC fosters a timely, predictable and accountable development review process that implements the City's goals for land use, transportation, housing, economic development, neighborhood livability and the environment. The DRAC advocates for and supports the consistent and fair application and implementation of regulations.
DRAC provides public input into the development review process by:
- Providing leadership and expertise on issues affecting development;
- Providing feedback to City Bureaus, public review bodies and City Council on the impact of potential regulations and administrative rules on the development review process, taking into consideration the full range of City goals and objectives;
- Providing recommendations for regulatory, code and administrative rule changes affecting the development review process;
- Monitoring the application and enforcement of regulations for their effectiveness in achieving the City's development goals;
- Recommending customer service, permitting, process and compliance improvements to City Bureaus, public review bodies and City Council;
- Serving as an advisory board to City Bureaus engaged in development review on review processes and procedures;
- Providing input to ensure budgets of development review bureaus are adequate to meet service goals and desired system outcomes.
Development Services and the DRAC
As the primary bureau engaged in development review, the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) provides staff support to DRAC. BDS is what many people think of as the Building Department. It administers and enforces regulations that affect development proposals from office towers to kitchen remodels.
For the most part, BDS does not write the regulations; it just administers and enforces them. For example, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability writes the City's zoning code, and BDS administers and enforces these zoning regulations.
Other City bureaus also administer and enforce regulations that affect development. For example, rules relating to stormwater and sewer management are administered by the Bureau of Environmental Services. Other bureaus involved in development review and permitting include the Bureau of Transportation, the Water Bureau, Portland Fire and Rescue, and Portland Parks and Recreation's Urban Forestry staff. DRAC advises BDS and these partner bureaus on development review, permitting and enforcement work.
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve on the DRAC, members must live, play, worship, work, or do business in the City of Portland.
The DRAC consists of 17 members who represent different aspects of the development community, neighborhoods, and other interests. There are currently three specific seats open (see below). Members are appointed by the Commissioner in Charge of the Bureau of Development Services and confirmed by the City Council.
The City of Portland is actively seeking individuals who have experience as, or who share the perspectives of, the following stakeholder groups:
- Frequent development review customers
- Large construction contractors
- Large developers
Applications received from individuals who are not chosen through this recruitment will be retained for consideration for future openings.