Oregon Construction Pros
Construction & Remodeling in Portland, OR
Portland has the oldest housing of the cities in this profile, with a median build year of 1966 and about 27 percent of homes built before 1940. Projects to plan for include kitchen and bath updates in older houses, work in condo and apartment buildings, reroofing timed around the rainy season, and new infill and middle housing, all permitted through Portland Permitting & Development.
Services
Services in Portland
Start with the services that have Portland-specific planning notes, or browse everything offered across Oregon.
Kitchen Remodeling in Portland
About 27 percent of Portland homes were built before 1940, so many kitchen projects start inside an older house.
Bathroom Remodeling in Portland
In Portland, updating an existing bathroom and adding a new one are treated very differently under the city's permit rules.
Repairs & Maintenance in Portland
Portland's older houses need steady repair work, and the city's permit guide spells out which small jobs need permits and which do not.
Homes & buildings
What shapes a project in Portland
Local conditions worth knowing before scope and budget are set.
Many homes built before 1940
Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put Portland's median build year at 1966. About 27 percent of homes were built in 1939 or earlier and about 63 percent before 1980, so original wiring, plumbing and lead paint are common things to check before a remodel.
A mix of houses and apartments
About 52 percent of Portland housing units are single-family detached houses and about 33 percent are in buildings with five or more units. Roughly 52 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, so landlord or association approval is part of many projects.
Historic and conservation districts
Portland has 17 historic districts, including Irvington, Ladd's Addition and King's Hill, plus 6 conservation districts and 6 National Register districts such as Eastmoreland and Laurelhurst. Alterations, additions, new construction and demolition affecting these resources fall under the city's Historic Resource Overlay Zone rules.
Sources (7)
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board · checked 2026-09-24
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year (via Census Reporter API) · checked 2026-09-24
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year (via Census Reporter API) · checked 2026-09-24
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year (via Census Reporter API) · checked 2026-09-24
- Portland Permitting & Development · checked 2026-09-24
- City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability · checked 2026-09-24
- City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability · checked 2026-09-24
Permits & service area
Before a project starts in Portland
Local permit office
Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D)
Which permits a project needs depends on its scope. We identify them during planning; the official site has current requirements, forms and fees.
Visit the permit office site (official site, opens in a new tab)Service area
Portland, Multnomah County
Service in Portland is still being confirmed. Send your project address, and availability for that location is checked before anything is scheduled.
Nearby Oregon cities
All Oregon service areasPlanning a project in Portland?
Tell us what you have in mind and where the property is. We'll follow up to talk through scope, permits and next steps.
