Originally published: July 2026
Multnomah and Washington County handle commercial plumbing permits through different offices, fee structures, and inspection-scheduling systems.
Portland Permitting & Development reviews commercial plumbing plans in about 10 business days and bills fees based on a plan-review percentage and per-linear-foot charges.
Washington County Building Services charges a flat $36 per fixture and uses a separate online portal for scheduling.
Operating across county lines multiplies the chance of a missed permit step. Modern Plumbing manages commercial plumbing permits across both counties — request a multi-site consultation today.
The office you deal with depends on which jurisdiction your property sits in, not just which county.
Portland Permitting & Development issues permits for the City of Portland, the City of Maywood Park, and most of unincorporated Multnomah County, while Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, and Wood Village each run their own separate permit departments.
Washington County Building Services directly administers permits for unincorporated Washington County.
Properties within incorporated Washington County cities may fall under a city building department rather than the county office, so a multi-site manager should confirm the specific office for each address rather than assuming countywide uniformity.
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Washington County charges a flat $36 fee per fixture for plumbing permits under its FY 2025-26 fee schedule, which covers items such as backflow preventers, basins, dishwashers, and floor drains.
Portland’s fee structure works differently: it combines a plan review fee (25% of the total mechanical permit fee for complex systems), per-linear-foot charges for exterior lines, and hourly billing for other bureau services.
| Fee Component | Multnomah County (Portland/PP&D) | Washington County |
| Base fixture fee | Not a flat rate — combined plan review and per-line charges | $36.00 flat per fixture (FY 2025-26) |
| Plan review fee | 25% of mechanical permit fee (complex systems), capped at 2 checksheets | 65% of the building permit fee, 2 rounds included |
| Additional review rounds | Hourly billing | Hourly billing |
| State surcharge | 12% | 12% |
A separate fee exhibit governs the Troutdale Permit Services Area within unincorporated Multnomah County, setting a $16 commercial/industrial fixture fee under Multnomah County Code Chapter 29 — a different rate from both Portland’s standard schedule and Washington County’s flat fee.
Portland schedules inspections through DevHub online or the IVR phone line, while Washington County adds a text-messaging option alongside its online portal and IVR system.
Both systems require a permit or IVR number to schedule, cancel, or check inspection results.
Multi-site operators managing properties in both counties need to track two separate scheduling logins and confirmation-number formats rather than one unified system.
Confusing the two systems is a common source of missed inspection windows for property managers coordinating commercial plumbing services across multiple addresses.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Yes. Both counties require a rough-in inspection before concealment and a final inspection before the permit closes, in accordance with the same underlying Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code requirement.
Portland’s closing inspection specifically uses the “999 Final Permit” code, while Washington County’s final inspection closes the permit without that specific numbering convention appearing in available sources.
Rough-in-then-final sequencing means a property manager can’t schedule concealment work in either county before the rough-in inspection passes.
Coordinating this sequence across multiple properties in different counties adds scheduling complexity that single-site businesses don’t face.
Both counties require a licensed plumbing contractor holding a current Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license for commercial plumbing work.
Washington County explicitly confirms that a tenant, friend, or general contractor cannot perform plumbing work unless licensed or working under a licensed plumbing contractor.
Both jurisdictions carve out a narrow residential exception: Portland allows condo owners to handle some simple projects themselves, and Washington County allows a one- or two-family dwelling owner to do their own plumbing work. Neither exception extends to commercial properties regardless of size.
Does Multnomah County have one permitting office for all cities?
No. Portland Permitting & Development handles Portland, Maywood Park, and most unincorporated Multnomah County, but Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, and Wood Village each operate separate permit departments, since each city administers its own separate process. Confirm the correct office for each specific property address before applying.
How much does a Washington County plumbing permit cost per fixture?
Washington County charges a flat fee of $36.00 per fixture under its FY 2025-26 fee schedule, which covers items such as basins, dishwashers, and backflow preventers. This flat-rate structure differs from Portland’s combined plan-review and per-linear-foot billing method.
Why doesn’t Portland charge a flat per-fixture fee like Washington County?
Portland’s plumbing permit fee schedule combines a plan review percentage, per-linear-foot exterior line charges, and hourly billing for certain services, rather than a single flat rate. This structure applies uniformly across all commercial plumbing permits within Portland Permitting & Development’s jurisdiction, regardless of project size.
How long does plan review take in each county?
Portland Permitting & Development reviews commercial plumbing plans in about 10 business days. Washington County’s timeline depends on the completeness of submittals through its ProjectDox system, since incomplete submittals require additional review rounds billed at an hourly rate.
Can I schedule inspections the same way in both counties?
No. Portland uses DevHub online scheduling or its IVR phone line, while Washington County adds text-message scheduling alongside its own online portal and IVR system. Multi-site managers need separate logins and confirmation numbers for each county’s system.
Do both counties require the same inspection sequence?
Yes. Both require a rough-in inspection before concealment and a final inspection before the permit closes, under the same underlying Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code requirement. Portland specifically labels its closing inspection the “999 Final Permit.”
Is the Troutdale Permit Services Area fee schedule the same as Portland’s?
No. The Troutdale Permit Services Area within unincorporated Multnomah County uses a separate fee exhibit under Multnomah County Code Chapter 29, charging $16.00 per commercial/industrial fixture — a different rate from Portland’s standard plumbing permit fee schedule.
Who can legally pull a commercial plumbing permit in either county?
A licensed plumbing contractor holding a current Oregon Construction Contractors Board license must pull the permit in both counties. Neither jurisdiction permits a tenant, a friend, or an unlicensed general contractor to perform commercial plumbing work under any circumstances.
Managing permits across county lines shouldn’t mean managing two disconnected processes. Modern Plumbing coordinates commercial plumbing permitting and inspections in both Multnomah and Washington County — contact us to streamline your multi-site permit workflow.
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