Multnomah County, OR Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

Multnomah County is located entirely inland in northwest Oregon - its waterways are the Columbia River (north boundary) and the Willamette River (bisecting Portland), not the Pacific Ocean. Oregon's Statewide Planning Goals 17 (Coastal Shorelands) and 18 (Beaches and Dunes) apply only to Oregon's 18 coastal counties/cities along the Pacific; Multnomah County is not subject to Oregon Coastal Zone Management Program review. The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) does enforce Statewide Planning Goal 15 (Willamette River Greenway) through PCC 33.440 and MCC 39.6200, which regulates development within the Willamette Greenway (generally 150 feet from ordinary high water) requiring Greenway Review for new structures, excavation, and vegetation removal. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act (1986, 16 USC §544) governs development east of Troutdale in Corbett, Bridal Veil, and the scenic area - administered by the Columbia River Gorge Commission. Required review for buildings over 500 sq ft, tree removal, and land division. FEMA NFIP floodplain rules and Oregon's new Pre-Implementation Compliance Measures (PICM, 2024) apply to riverfront development. There is no 'coastal development permit' in Multnomah County because there is no coast.