Portland City Council Housing & Permitting Committee 06/16/26

The Portland City Council Housing & Permitting Committee met on June 16, 2026, to discuss several housing and permitting issues, with a strong focus on improving the city's permitting system and affordable housing programs. A key procurement-related action was the unanimous approval of a resolution to reestablish a permitting improvement team to lead the second phase of the code alignment project (CAP 2). This team aims to address longstanding inefficiencies and delays in Portland's permitting process, which currently averages 413 days for multifamily permits, significantly longer than neighboring cities. The resolution includes provisions for quarterly reporting to the council and a 150-day timeline to propose resource needs and process improvements. The committee also considered adjustments to the Home Buyer Opportunity Limited Tax Exemption (HOLI) program, setting the 2026 sale price cap at $455,000 to maintain affordability while addressing market challenges. Discussions highlighted concerns about the interaction between HOLI and other development incentives, the need for transparency regarding exemption periods, and the impact on affordable housing developers. Public testimony emphasized the importance of accountability in affordable housing development and the need for streamlined, coordinated permitting processes. The meeting underscored the council's commitment to enhancing permitting efficiency and supporting affordable housing production through targeted policy and administrative reforms.