Portland, OR Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard height cap
- 30 ft in RF/R20/R10/R7/R5
- R2.5 zone cap
- 35 feet
- Governing table
- Table 110-4, § 33.110.215
- Enforced by
- Bureau of Development Services
- Key exceptions
- chimneys, dormers, solar panels, sloped lots
Summary
Portland caps single-dwelling home height at 30 feet in most residential zones and 35 feet in the denser R2.5 zone, per Table 110-4 under City Code § 33.110.215, with narrow exceptions for chimneys, dormers, and solar panels.
B. Maximum height. The maximum height allowed is stated in Table 110-4. The maximum height standards for detached and connected accessory structures are stated in 33.110.245, Detached and Connected Accessory Structures. The maximum height standard for narrow lots is stated in 33.110.260, Additional Development Standards for Narrow Lots. The maximum height standard for small flag lots is stated in 33.110.255, Additional Standards for Flag Lots. The maximum height standard for institutional uses is stated in 33.110.270, Institutional Development Standards.
C. Exceptions to the maximum height.
1. Chimneys, vents, flag poles, satellite receiving dishes and other similar items with a width, depth, or diameter of 3 feet or less may extend above the height limit, as long as they are attached to a building and do not exceed 5 feet above the top of the highest point of the roof. If they are greater than 3 feet in width, depth, or diameter, they are subject to the height limit.
2. Dormers are not included in the height calculation when:
a. The roof of the dormer has a pitch of at least 3 in 12 and no part of the dormer extends above the ridgeline of the roof;
b. The walls of the dormer are set back at least 12 inches from the plane of any exterior wall of the floor below; and
c. The width of the dormer is not more than 75 percent of the width of the roof from which it projects. See Figure 110-1
Full Breakdown
City Code § 33.110.215 sets maximum building height for the RF, R20, R10, R7, and R5 single-dwelling zones at 30 feet, rising to 35 feet in the higher-density R2.5 zone, per the standards in Table 110-4. Chimneys, vents, and flagpoles up to 3 feet wide may extend 5 feet above the roofline; roof-mounted solar panels get their own height carve-out; and lots sloping 20 percent or more get an alternative height calculation tied to street grade under 33.930. Accessory structures, narrow lots, flag lots, and institutional uses are each governed by their own cross-referenced height standard within the same chapter.
Violations & Fines
Building over the zone's height limit without an approved adjustment or variance blocks final inspection and can require the Bureau of Development Services to order the excess portion removed or altered before occupancy is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in Portland?
Does a chimney or antenna count toward the height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle structure height limits.