ADU Owner Occupancy: Gresham vs Portland
How do adu owner occupancy rules compare between Gresham, OR and Portland, OR?
Gresham, OR
Multnomah County
No data available yet for Gresham.
Portland, OR
Multnomah County
Portland removed the owner-occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in 2017. Under current PCC 33.205, neither the primary home nor the ADU must be owner-occupied to obtain a permit. This made Portland one of the first U.S. cities to fully decouple ADUs from owner occupancy. Oregon HB 2001 (2019) and HB 2583 (2021) reinforced the policy statewide.
View full Portland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Gresham | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Rule Status | - | Removed in 2017 |
| Code Section | - | PCC 33.205 (Accessory Dwelling Units) |
| State Preemption | - | Oregon HB 2001 (2019); HB 2583 (2021) |
| STR Exception | - | PCC 33.207 — 270-day on-site requirement for STRs |
| SDC Waiver | - | PCC Title 17.13 (continuing policy) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Gresham FAQ
No FAQs available.
Portland FAQ
Do I have to live on-site to build an ADU in Portland?
No. Portland removed the owner-occupancy requirement in 2017. Under current PCC 33.205, you may build and rent both the primary dwelling and ADU without living on the property — unless you're using the ADU as a short-term rental.
Can I rent out my Portland ADU on Airbnb without living there?
Not legally. PCC 33.207 (short-term rentals) requires the host to reside on-site at least 270 days per year for Type A/B STR permits. Long-term rentals of the ADU have no owner-occupancy requirement.
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