In Portland, a little less than 4% of the 1,181 miles of streets are unimproved – dirt and gravel. Another 17% of streets are under-improved – some pavement and/or sidewalks, but no street curb. Over the years, the pace of infill development on these problem streets has increased, but the policies for building complete and connected improvements has not kept up.

The LTIC is intended to solve the following immediate issues:

1. Fairness: The current system is unfair, because some developers are required to build half-streets on their frontage while others receive a waiver of remonstrance that excuses them from making any improvements, passing the cost onto future homeowners.

2. Funding: Continuing to issue waivers of remonstrance without requiring anything in return wastes an opportunity to start accumulating money to make future improvements citywide.

3. Simplicity: The LTIC provides a more predictable and simple option for developers to meet their obligations.

Click to view a map of LTIC eligible streets in Portland.

When and where the LTIC is applied.

Located within a Single-Dwelling Zone as identified in Title 33 of the City Code. As of March 2016, Single-Dwelling Zones include RF, R20, R10, R7, R5, R2.5. (Note: zoning districts and definitions can change. Confirm Single-Dwelling Zones in Title 33.); and

Frontage on a local service traffic street without a curb (i.e. unimproved or under-improved street), other than a local street that has been formally accepted by the Bureau of Transportation as fully built under an alternative street standard not requiring a curb.

Exemptions
The LTIC does NOT apply to:
»» Accessory dwelling units
»» Disaster replacement
»» Alterations of existing structures
»» Property line adjustments or lot confirmations
»» Properties that have already paid the LTIC for a previous land use or development action
»» Instances when applicant elects to build the required frontage improvements on adjacent local service traffic streets to the City’s adopted standard. An applicant cannot appeal the frontage improvement requirements as part of this exemption.

Calculating the Charge

The LTIC is based on the total linear frontage of the property adjacent to an under-improved local service traffic street without a curb. The Bureau of Transportation staff will assess the LTIC using information included in the permit application.

Total Length of qualifying property frontage X LTIC rate* = $600/linear foot

^{*as of March 2016}

The initial rate is based on historical data for the cost of building standard local service traffic streets in Portland and is subject to change. Consult the City’s Fee Schedule for the most current rate.

• Time of payment
  »» For new residential building permit applications, payment is due prior to issuance of permit.
  »» For land division partitions, the LTIC is due prior to the approval of the final plat.

For more information regarding the LTIC, contact at 503.823.6964 or kurt.krueger@portlandoregon.gov.

Neighborhood Streets Program

Fixing Portland’s under-improved streets is a sizeable problem that will take wide-ranging approaches to solve. Neither current funding nor any solution by itself, including the LTIC, will be adequate. Recognizing the need to actively address the complexity of issues, the City is initiating the next phase of the project to develop a Comprehensive Neighborhood Street Program.

For information on the Neighborhood Street Program, contact Anne Hill at 503.823.7239 or anne.hill@portlandoregon.gov.