Welcome to the Residential Infill Project online “customer service” page. We’re glad you’re here.
- Perhaps you received a notice in the mail that looks like this, and you’re not sure exactly what it means.
- Or maybe you heard about proposed rules that would govern new development in residential neighborhoods from a friend or neighbor, and you’re concerned.
- Or you want to find out how these proposals would address the housing shortage.
- Or you care about what new houses in your neighborhood look and feel like.
- Or some or all the above.
You are not alone! Owners of more than 135,000 properties recently received the mailing pictured above from the City of Portland. This is required by state law whenever a change in the zoning could affect the value of a property — up or down. Your address was pulled from the County Assessor’s Office.
First things first
First thing to know is that these changes are proposals — not the law. We hope you’ll learn more about them and tell the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) what you think. Any new rules must be adopted by City Council before they become effective. And before adoption, they are refined and changed based on public testimony, as well as PSC and City Council amendments.
Second, these proposals do not require you to sell your house or do anything to your property or home. They would only apply if you add to your existing house or build a new unit on your land.
If or when you do, the proposal would allow more housing units to be built in residential neighborhoods, but only if they conform to new limits on size and scale.
Here’s a simple summary of the proposed new rules.
We’re here to help
This is complicated stuff. So, we want to help you understand the proposals and how they may affect you and your property. You can:
- Call the Helpline at 503-823-0195. Friendly staff will look up your address and tell you how the proposals would affect your property.
- Come to a drop-in session in your neighborhood for one-on-one consulting with a planner. We’ve scheduled them all over town for your convenience.
- Look up your address on the Map App to find out what rules apply now and what could be proposed.
- Send us an email at residential.infill@portlandoregon.gov, and a knowledgeable person will respond.
More questions? Consult our FAQs.
Then share your feedback with the Planning and Sustainability Commission via the Map App or in person at a public hearing.
Renters matter too
You don’t have to be a property owner to weigh in on these proposals. Renters are also affected by the housing shortage and the lack of housing options. So, look and imagine how these changes might affect how you live in and experience Portland. Then share your thoughts with the Planning and Sustainability Commission.
Again, you’re not alone
Many people are feeling a sense of rapid change in their neighborhoods and throughout the city. As we spoke with hundreds of Portlanders around the city over the past two years, we heard that people want to take care of and improve their neighborhoods as the city grows.
They want more opportunities to live in complete neighborhoods — and not just for themselves. For their parents, so they can age in place. For their children so they can afford to live in the city they grew up in. For the teachers, nurses, grocery clerks and firefighters who contribute to our communities. And the many newcomers who are moving here every day.
So, we’re revisiting the rules that shape our residential neighborhoods to create opportunities for more people to enjoy the benefits of these vibrant communities. Alone, a zoning change won’t solve our housing crisis. But the rules that govern what types of housing are allowed in our neighborhoods affect not just how they look and feel — but who can live in them as well.