The City releases a proposal to update Central City regulations to encourage housing production and economic recovery

In this article

The Proposed Draft of the Central City Code Amendments Project aims to address post-pandemic challenges in Portland's Central City, focused on the need for more housing and facilitating economic recovery and revitalization. You are invited to submit testimony at the Planning Commission hearing on the project scheduled on May 26, 2026.

About the Central City Code Amendments Project

The Central City Code Amendments Project was developed to address issues that have emerged due to the pandemic, including the changing nature of how and where people work, the acute need for additional housing at all income levels, and the high office and retail vacancy rates. These trends have led to the need to support uses in the Central City that serve residents, attract visitors and activate downtown's unique public spaces. As a result of these post-pandemic trends, this project is focused on addressing the need for more housing and facilitating economic recovery and revitalization in the Central City, in response to these recent trends.

The Portland City Council adopted the Central City 2035 Plan (CC2035) in July 2018, after a nearly 10-year effort that engaged thousands of Portlanders. The Plan crafted a new policy framework to guide land use, transportation, environmental protection, and urban design of Oregon's largest urban center. Shortly after the CC2035 Plan was adopted, work and development patterns in the Central City started to shift-driven by the 2020 global pandemic. This prompted the current strategic update to the plan.

About the Proposed Draft

The Proposed Draft is now available for review. The Proposed Draft incorporates feedback received on the Discussion Draft, informed by outreach to nearly 20 different neighborhoods, virtual open house discussions, community and business group presentations, as well as interviews with property owners and developers. The Discussion Draft was released on January 12, 2026. Public comment was open until February 13, 2026. Read the public feedback submitted during the Discussion Draft.

Revisions since the Discussion Draft include new standards for ground floor dwelling units intended to create a more livable environment for occupants, while also enhancing the adjacent pedestrian environment. Also included are amendments to the river setback in Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park that will increase programming options to help activate the park and downtown, as well as some additional, targeted increases in height to encourage housing production.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide testimony to the Portland Planning Commission on the proposal at a hearing scheduled for May 26, 2026.

View the Proposed Draft

Summary of draft proposals

Proposals that encourage housing production include:

• Increasing building heights in various parts of the Central City to increase development flexibility and encourage housing,
• Providing opportunity for mixed use and residential development in key areas through strategic zoning map amendments,
• Removing housing prohibitions in parts of Lower Albina and the Central Eastside,
• Reducing prohibitions on ground floor dwelling units in the Central City, and
• Incentivizing the development of 2- and 3-bedroom units for larger households.

Proposals that promote economic recovery include:

• Increasing flexibility for industrial and employment uses, and "Micro-Delivery Hubs" in the Central Commercial (CX) zone,
• Increasing opportunities for retail uses in the Central Eastside's General Industrial zone,
• Increasing allowances for retail and other uses in the Open Space (OS) zone and increase the space available for a wider range of uses by reducing the river setback in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park,
• Simplifying food cart regulations and allowing carts in more areas citywide,
• Removing zoning barriers for entertainment uses such as performance venues and theaters, and
• Allowing for surface parking in underutilized and constrained areas to support surrounding businesses.

How to submit testimony

The Proposed Draft will be considered by the Portland Planning Commission during an upcoming hearing on May 26 at 5:00 p.m. There are two ways to submit testimony to the Planning Commission:

1. Submit written testimony through the project's Map App by Tuesday, May 26 2026 at 5 p.m. or by U.S. mail.
   Mail testimony to:
   Portland Planning Commission
   Central City Code Amendments Testimony
   1810 SW 5th Ave, Suite 710
   Portland, OR 97201
2. Give oral testimony at the hearing. Pre-register for oral testimony by Monday, May 25, 2026 at 5 p.m.

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