TL;DR (generated, confidence: high)

Step 2 of the permit process requires understanding Portland's zoning regulations, primarily governed by City Title 33 (Zoning Code) and Title 11 (Trees), which are enforced by Land Use Services to control what development can occur on properties.

Key points:

City Title 33 (Zoning Code) and City Title 11 (Trees) are the two main City codes controlling development and tree requirements on Portland properties (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)
All Portland properties have a base zone designation; base zones starting with 'R' allow residential uses, while 'C', 'E', or 'I' designations are for commercial uses (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)
Zoning information for a property can be found on Portland Maps (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)
Properties may have additional zoning standards including overlay zones, plan districts, historic and conservation districts, and historic landmark rules (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)
Most development projects only need a permit from PP&D; some sites require a Land Use Review, which is a detailed evaluation against approval criteria (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)
General Inquiries line (503-823-7300) provides zoning information (formerly the Zoning Information Line) (Find out what you can do on a site ↗)

Entities: code: City Title 33 · Zoning Code · City Title 11 | tool: Portland Maps | department: Land Use Services · Portland Permitting & Development | process: Land Use Review | classification: Base zone

Find out what you can do on a site

← Home

Breadcrumb: Home > Find out what you can do on a site

Source: Find out what you can do on a site ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:00:38 GMT

After completing the first step, Research Information Needed for Your Permit, ↗ the next step to getting a permit is to learn more about zoning regulations.

“Zoning regulations" are rules about development that are adopted by the City of Portland’s City Council with input from neighbors, interested groups, and many other citizens. The Zoning regulations for Portland are contained in City Title 33, also called the “Zoning Code.” In addition, another City Code (Title 11: Trees) contains rules that control tree preservation and planting requirements on private property, which can sometimes have a large impact on the development of property.

Those two City codes control what kinds of activities and development can occur on most properties. The Land Use Services group in Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) makes sure development projects comply with City Title 33 Planning and Zoning and City Title 11 (Trees). Land Use Services does this by reviewing development proposals against these codes in building permit approval processes and in processes called, “Land Use Reviews.”

Planning and zoning: base zones, overlay zones, and plan districts

Update: The Zoning Information Line is now the General Inquiries line. Call General Inquiries at 503-823-7300.

You can find the zoning of a property on Portland Maps ↗.

Zoning regulations affect all new construction, as well as most changes to development that already exists. Zoning rules also apply to property line changes and most site activity including some tree cutting and landscaping.

Base zones

All properties in the City of Portland have a “base zone.” A base zone explains what types of uses and activities can occur on a property. Base zones also explain the rules for how big development can be, where it can be located on properties, and many other things. For example, properties with a base zone designation that starts with the letter, “R” can be used mainly for residential uses with some exceptions. Commercial uses (businesses) are mainly located in base zones that start with the letter, “C,” or sometimes, “E or I.” Find more information on the Base Zones webpage ↗.

Standards to follow

Some properties may also have additional standards you must follow:

Overlay zones ↗
Plan Districts ↗
Historic & Conservation Districts ↗
Rules for Historic Landmark buildings ↗
If the rules for development in all the levels of zoning above are followed, most development projects only need a permit issued by PP&D before construction can begin. However, some sites and projects will need a Land Use Review ↗. A Land Use Review is a detailed evaluation of requirements that are called, “Approval Criteria.”