Plumbing Permit in Portland, Oregon
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before repairing, replacing, or moving plumbing pipes, adding new piping, capping pipes where a fixture was removed, installing or replacing fixtures, replacing a water heater, installing rain drains or drywells, installing or replacing water service lines, installing a backflow device for a lawn sprinkler system, or installing or capping a sewer line.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Portland requires a residential plumbing permit for nearly all pipe and fixture work, including repairing, replacing, or moving any plumbing pipes, installing or replacing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, and dishwashers, replacing a water heater, and installing or capping a sewer line. The published exemptions are narrow: fixing or maintaining existing plumbing fixtures or parts, and replacing plumbing-related items that do not use water such as a toilet seat. The city's general residential permit page adds one more, allowing replacement of accessible plumbing fixtures for emergency repairs, or replacement of freeze-damaged or leaking concealed plumbing pipes no more than five feet in length, without a permit. Adding a new bathroom needs a building permit as well as the plumbing permit.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before repairing, replacing, or moving plumbing pipes, adding new piping, capping pipes where a fixture was removed, installing or replacing fixtures, replacing a water heater, installing rain drains or drywells, installing or replacing water service lines, installing a backflow device for a lawn sprinkler system, or installing or capping a sewer line.
What a plumbing permit costs in Portland
How to apply in Portland
You apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- A permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- The application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Portland Permitting & Development sets the exact checklist for Portland.
Where to apply in Portland:
Portland Permitting & Development
- Development Services Center, 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, First floor lobby, Portland, OR 97201
- Phone: 503-823-7300
- Email: permittingservices@portlandoregon.gov
Inspections and closing out your permit
Plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- Piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- Rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- Rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- The water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- The framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- At the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- Final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Portland permit portal or by phone at 503-823-7300.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Portland
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Usually needed: Before repairing, replacing, or moving plumbing pipes, adding new piping, capping pipes where a fixture was removed, installing or replacing fixtures, replacing a water heater, installing rain drains or drywells, installing or replacing water service lines, installing a backflow device for a lawn sprinkler system, or installing or capping a sewer line.
- Budget the fee. Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10, 2026. Per fixture or item: water heater $63.00, water closet $63.00, tubs, shower or shower pan $63.00, sinks, basins or lavatories $63.00, clothes washer $63.00, dishwasher $63.00, backflow preventer $63.00, fixture or sewer cap $63.00, sewer cap $159.00, solar units (potable water) $139.00. Exterior lines, first 100 feet: rain drain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, or water service $180.00 each, then $137.00 for each additional 100 feet or portion thereof. New 1 and 2 family dwellings only, including 100 feet for each utility connection: single family residence 1 bath $792.00, 2 bath $1,187.00, 3 bath $1,388.00, each additional bath or kitchen $334.00. A 12% State of Oregon surcharge applies. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. You apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Portland permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Portland Permitting & Development. Phone: 503-823-7300. Address: Development Services Center, 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, First floor lobby, Portland, OR 97201.
- Plan for inspections. Plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Portland?
- Portland requires a residential plumbing permit for nearly all pipe and fixture work, including repairing, replacing, or moving any plumbing pipes, installing or replacing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, and dishwashers, replacing a water heater, and installing or capping a sewer line. The published exemptions are narrow: fixing or maintaining existing plumbing fixtures or parts, and replacing plumbing-related items that do not use water such as a toilet seat. The city's general residential permit page adds one more, allowing replacement of accessible plumbing fixtures for emergency repairs, or replacement of freeze-damaged or leaking concealed plumbing pipes no more than five feet in length, without a permit. Adding a new bathroom needs a building permit as well as the plumbing permit. Always confirm with the Portland Permitting & Development before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Portland?
- Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10, 2026. Per fixture or item: water heater $63.00, water closet $63.00, tubs, shower or shower pan $63.00, sinks, basins or lavatories $63.00, clothes washer $63.00, dishwasher $63.00, backflow preventer $63.00, fixture or sewer cap $63.00, sewer cap $159.00, solar units (potable water) $139.00. Exterior lines, first 100 feet: rain drain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, or water service $180.00 each, then $137.00 for each additional 100 feet or portion thereof. New 1 and 2 family dwellings only, including 100 feet for each utility connection: single family residence 1 bath $792.00, 2 bath $1,187.00, 3 bath $1,388.00, each additional bath or kitchen $334.00. A 12% State of Oregon surcharge applies. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a plumbing permit take in Portland?
- The city states the application takes 15 minutes to complete and permits are issued within 24 hours after payment. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Portland?
- You can apply through the Portland permit portal or contact the Portland Permitting & Development directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Portland?
- Under Oregon law (ORS 701.010(7); ORS 701.325(1), (2), (3)): A homeowner may pull the permit and do the work. ORS 701.010(7) exempts from Construction Contractors Board licensing a person performing work on property that person owns, or on that person's own residence whether or not they own it, so no CCB license is needed to act as your own builder. That exemption does not cover someone working in the pursuit of an independent business with intent to offer the structure for sale. Oregon does require a signed disclosure at the counter: ORS 701.325(1) makes every city, county, or state permit office collect a written statement signed by the applicant, and an applicant claiming a licensing exemption must state the basis for it. ORS 701.325(2) requires the office to give the applicant the Information Notice to Property Owners About Construction Responsibilities and withhold the residential building permit until the applicant signs a statement, one option of which is that they are performing work on property they own or a residence they live in or will live in, and that any contractors they hire will be CCB licensed and properly endorsed. The Information Notice itself is a CCB rule form under ORS 701.325(3) covering payroll tax, workers' compensation, and liability and property damage insurance responsibilities. Confirm how Portland applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Portland
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of the deck walking surface above adjacent grade, taken 36 inches out from the edge of the deck | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electrical Permit Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10, 2026. |
| Fence Permit | It depends | wood and similar materials; 4 feet for masonry or concrete, 8 feet for woven wire or chain link, and any barrier around a swimming pool | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10, 2026, One &... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | area of an attached patio cover, porch cover, carport, or other open-sided roofed structure | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of water in a structure used for swimming or recreational bathing | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Not specified | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | in area, or a height over 15 feet from the grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface; on lots over 2 acres the area trigger rises to 400 square feet when the structure is at least 20 feet from property lines and other structures | Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule for the City of Portland, effective July 10... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Portland Permitting & Development publishes solar permit fee estimates, noting 'The fees... |
Plumbing Permit in other Oregon localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Portland documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Portland Permitting & Development. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Oregon localities