Portland, OR Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- plumbing, sewer, water, rainwater systems
- Issuing agency
- Portland Permitting & Development
- Exception
- fire systems under Title 31
- Not covered
- ordinary faucet/valve repair
- Applicable code
- Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code
Summary
Portland requires a permit or minor label for nearly all plumbing work, from new water and sewer systems to rainwater harvesting and fixture removal.
a permit, or minor label as outlined in Section 25.04.040, must be obtained for the installation, construction, alteration, or repair of any plumbing or sewage system, fire hose valve, water supply system, water supply well, rainwater harvesting system, sewage holding tank, fire hose cabinet, or the installing of any device if the device requires either water supply, or waste connection to drainage system or both; for capping of a sewer where a building has been demolished or moved; and for removing plumbing fixtures and sealing openings. All of the above work is covered by the regulations of this Title and the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code. As used in this Section, the word “repair” does not apply to ordinary repairs to faucets or valves, or to the clearing of obstructions from a fixture, sewer, or waste pipe, if the fixture or device is not disconnected, or if there is no opening of, or cutting into, the sewer or waste pipe or fittings.
Full Breakdown
Portland City Code § 25.05.010 requires a permit, or a minor label under § 25.04.040, for installing, altering, or repairing plumbing or sewage systems, water supply systems, wells, rainwater harvesting systems, sewage holding tanks, or any device needing a water or drainage connection. It also covers capping a sewer after demolition and removing fixtures and sealing openings. Fire systems under Title 31 are excepted, and ordinary faucet or valve repair does not require a permit. Work is regulated under this Title and the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, and Portland Permitting & Development issues the permits.
Violations & Fines
Working without a required permit exposes the person to a stop-work order under § 25.04.015, and Portland Permitting & Development can charge an investigation fee under § 25.05.070(C) for unpermitted work discovered on inspection, unless the contractor self-reports and secures a permit within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does fixing a leaky faucet need a permit in Portland?
Can a homeowner do their own plumbing work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon building safety overview
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Plumbing Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle plumbing permits.