Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS)
Portland, OR
Avg Review
30d
Rejection Rate
52%
Skill Files
8
Status
High Risk
Ventilation — Portland Type I Hood Requirements
2019 OSSC / OMC 507 / NFPA 96Type I hoods required over grease-producing appliances per OSSC. Exhaust rate minimum 400 CFM/LF for heavy duty. Makeup air required at 80-100% of exhaust. Oregon-specific energy code (OEESC) requires heat recovery on kitchen exhaust over 5,000 CFM.
Examiner Note: Portland BDS requires energy code compliance documentation for kitchen HVAC. Show heat recovery analysis on M-sheets for systems over 5,000 CFM.
Common rejection: Missing energy code compliance for kitchen exhaust heat recovery; makeup air unit not on roof plan
Correction: Add heat recovery analysis per OEESC on M-1. Show makeup air unit on roof plan with CFM matching exhaust. Include energy compliance form with permit application.
Fire Suppression — Portland NFPA 96
NFPA 96 §10.1 / UL 300 / PFC 904UL 300 wet chemical suppression system required for all Type I hoods. Automatic fuel shutoff on suppression activation. Manual pull station within 10-20 feet of egress. Portland Fire & Rescue reviews fire suppression plans separately.
Examiner Note: Portland Fire requires separate fire suppression permit application. Submit manufacturer design documents with Portland Fire application, not just BDS.
Common rejection: Fire suppression plans not submitted to Portland Fire & Rescue separately; manufacturer documents missing
Correction: Submit UL 300 system design to Portland Fire & Rescue as separate application. Include manufacturer installation documents, nozzle layout, and gas shutoff valve detail on FP-1.
Plumbing — Portland Grease Interceptor
2019 OPSC / BES Pretreatment §17.34Grease interceptor required per Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Interceptor sizing per OPSC and BES pretreatment requirements. 3-compartment sink required. Handwash within 25 feet of food prep. BES may require a Waste Discharge Permit for high-volume kitchens.
Examiner Note: BES pretreatment group reviews grease interceptor sizing separately from BDS plumbing review. Submit grease interceptor calculations to both BDS and BES.
Common rejection: Grease interceptor sizing not submitted to BES; missing BES Waste Discharge Permit application
Correction: Submit grease interceptor sizing calculations to BES pretreatment per §17.34. Show interceptor location, capacity, and access on P-1. Apply for BES Waste Discharge Permit if applicable.
Electrical — Portland Kitchen Circuits
2020 NEC w/ OR amendments / OESCDedicated circuits per major appliance. GFCI within 6 feet of water sources per NEC 210.8(B). Emergency disconnect for kitchen equipment per NEC 422.33. Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC) requires arc-fault protection in additional areas.
Examiner Note: Portland BDS follows Oregon amendments to NEC. Ensure arc-fault protection is shown per OESC requirements beyond standard NEC.
Common rejection: GFCI protection not called out; arc-fault protection per OESC not shown
Correction: Add GFCI symbols on outlets within 6 feet of water on E-1. Show arc-fault protection per OESC. Include emergency disconnect location for kitchen equipment.
Health — Portland Food Facility Review
OAR 333-150 / Multnomah County Health CodeMultnomah County Health Department reviews food facility plans. Handwash sink within 25 feet of food prep. 3-compartment sink. Smooth/cleanable surfaces. FRP or stainless behind cooking. Sealed floors with coved base. Separate plan review from BDS.
Examiner Note: Multnomah County Health requires separate food facility plan review application. Submit before or concurrent with BDS application.
Common rejection: Health department plan review not submitted separately; wall finish spec missing behind cooking equipment
Correction: Submit food facility plan review to Multnomah County Health Department. Show FRP/stainless steel behind cooking on A-series. Include handwash sink locations on floor plan.
Structural — Portland Seismic Design
2019 OSSC §1613 / ASCE 7-16 / PCC 24.50Seismic Design Category D per ASCE 7 for Portland. Equipment anchorage required for items over 400 lbs. Walk-in cooler slab reinforcement per OSSC 1607. Roof loads for HVAC units. Portland requires structural calculations stamped by Oregon-licensed PE.
Examiner Note: BDS requires Oregon PE stamp on all structural calculations. Equipment anchorage details must be on S-series sheets with manufacturer specs.
Common rejection: Structural calculations not stamped by Oregon PE; equipment anchorage details missing
Correction: Provide Oregon PE-stamped structural calculations. Add equipment anchorage details on S-1 per OSSC §1613. Show walk-in cooler slab design on S-1.
ADA — Portland Accessible Design
2019 OSSC Ch. 11 / ADA 2010 / ORS 447.210-310Oregon Structural Specialty Code Chapter 11 (accessibility). Accessible route 36-inch clear width. Accessible restroom with 60-inch turning radius. Oregon accessibility standards may exceed federal ADA in some areas. Path-of-travel upgrades required for renovations exceeding threshold.
Examiner Note: Portland BDS carefully reviews accessible path of travel. Oregon standards can be more restrictive than ADA on signage and reach ranges.
Common rejection: Accessible restroom not meeting OSSC Ch. 11 dimensions; path-of-travel analysis missing for renovation
Correction: Show accessible route on A-1 per OSSC Ch. 11. Detail restroom per OSSC 1104. Provide path-of-travel analysis for renovations. Include tactile signage per Oregon requirements.
Egress — Portland Exit Requirements
2019 OSSC §1006 / §1017OSSC egress requirements based on 2019 IBC. Two exits when occupant load exceeds 49. Travel distance 250 feet (unsprinklered), 300 feet (sprinklered). Exit signs on emergency power. Panic hardware for 50+ occupants. Occupant load calculation on plans.
Examiner Note: Portland BDS follows standard OSSC egress. Verify occupant load calculation is on A-1.
Common rejection: Occupant load calculation missing from floor plan; exit sign emergency power connection not shown
Correction: Add occupant load calculation per OSSC 1004 on A-1. Show exit signs on emergency power. Dimension travel distance on egress plan.