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  • Membership
    • Member Login
    • Join Now
    • Membership Rates
    • How your HBA membership saves you money
    • Good for your business
  • About Us
    • HBA's Brand Unveiling
    • Our Team
    • Our Board
    • Our History
    • Consumer Shows
    • Home Building Foundation
    • Oregon Home Builders Association
    • National Association of Home Builders
    • Contact Us
  • Info + Resources
    • Member Benefits
    • Home Building Association of Greater Portland Receives Two National Association Excellence Awards
  • Councils
    • Home Performance Council
    • Portland Building and Urban Development Council
    • Remodeling & Custom Building Council
    • Professional Women in Building
    • Government Affairs Committee
  • Advocacy
    • Support our Political Engagement
    • HBA PAC House
    • Advocacy Resources
    • News
  • Education
    • Building Science Program
    • Webinar Recordings
    • Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
    • Home Builders University
    • Lead Based Paint Classes
    • BuildRight Conference
    • Housing Forecast
  • Member Directory
  • Member Magazine

News

ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
3/26/2024 Member News

HBA Shapes Portland Permitting Office Budget Negotiations


Following several quarters of construction slowdown in Portland, the Bureau of Development Services (the city’s primary permitting agency) saw a significant reduction in revenue and was forced to layoff 72 employees in December. This was the city’s first attempt to stem the tide of BDS’ rapidly shrinking reserves, and help to stabilize its budget. However, that has proven insufficient as further talks of layoffs remain probable if further action is not taken. While in the past year Portland has achieved significant strides in improving a historically dysfunctional permitting agency, there is concern among the industry that further layoffs would derail that progress and return to an era of months-long wait times for residential permits. To help prevent this, HBA and a coalition of partners entered into discussion with city leaders to form a plan that would stabilize budgets, prevent further layoffs, and create new efficiency measures to existing operations. As part of these conversations, our proposal includes a $6 million general fund allocation, a modest agency-wide fee increase, and implementation of new efficiency tools like self-certification, third-party reviews, and permitting “shot-clock” deadlines. While this plan is still being vetted, we are confident that City Council and BDS leadership will develop an equitable proposal that includes new investments that incentivizes new housing production.

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15555 Bangy Road   | Lake Oswego, OR 97035
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