Portland, OR

Portland has one of the few dedicated noise control offices in the country. Quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM daily. The daytime residential limit is 55 dB — tied with Denver for some of the lowest in the West. Portland measures at 25 feet from the source, not at the property line, which is a tighter standard. The Noise Control Office processes complaints and can issue administrative fines without police involvement. Persistent violators can face $5,000 per incident after multiple warnings.

Portland requires property owners to keep grass and weeds below 10 inches on residential lots. That's more generous than many cities that cap at 6 or 8 inches. The city also mandates that you maintain the sidewalk strip (the planting area between the sidewalk and street curb) — that's your responsibility, not the city's. Portland won't cite you for having a meadow-style yard or native plantings as long as they're intentional and maintained, which sets it apart from cities that require a traditional mowed lawn. The Bureau of Development Services handles complaints and inspections.

Portland splits home businesses into two types. Type A home occupations are small-scale businesses with no employees, no customer visits, and no visible signs — think freelancers, remote workers, and online sellers. These don't need any permit at all. Type B home occupations allow up to 1 non-resident employee, limited customer visits (8 per day), and a small sign. Type B requires a $234 permit and a land use review. The big rule for both: you can't use more than 25% of your home's floor area or any accessory structure (like a detached garage) for the business.