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Portland adopts land‑use and building‑code updates: UDO amendment and 2021/2020 model codes approved
Summary
Council approved second readings of revisions to the Unified Development Ordinance and adoption of the 2021 International Codes and NFPA 2020 electrical code with local amendments; council added a special-use path for civic organizations in the Lehi overlay.
Portland City Council on May 6 approved the second readings of two ordinances updating land‑use rules and building codes: revisions to the Unified Development Ordinance (Ordinance 2306) and adoption of the 2021 editions of multiple International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code (Ordinance 2307).
Planning staff said the UDO revisions received one post-first-reading amendment from Councilman Sutton to allow civic private organizations a path via special-use permit in the Lehi overlay district. Sutton explained the change as a way to “give civic organizations, private organizations an opportunity to vet what they would like to do within the Lehi… through up through the city council.” The council approved the amended second reading.
Why it matters: the UDO and updated model building codes set standards for land use, development approvals, building safety and construction across the city; adopting the latest model codes aligns local requirements with contemporary safety and construction standards.
Key points - UDO revision: second and final reading passed with an amendment adding an SP (special use permit) pathway for civic/private organizations within the Lehi Overlay District. - Building codes: the council adopted the 2021 editions of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Fire Code and related codes, plus the NFPA 2020 edition of the National Electric Code, and approved local amendments. - Implementation: staff said typographical and non‑substantive wording corrections were noted; no substantive changes were requested at second reading.
Council action: Councilman Sutton moved the UDO amendment and Mayor Pro Tem Green moved and council seconded the second reading of the building-code ordinance; both measures passed on the council vote during the meeting.
What’s next: staff will publish the updated ordinance language and provide guidance to builders and permit applicants on the new standards.
