The City of Portland's Office of Neighborhood Involvement manages the Graffiti Abatement Program. It works with concerned neighbors and business owners to identify, report, and remove graffiti from public and private spaces. Use ONI's online form to report graffiti.

City Code states that it is illegal to post signs, bills, advertisements, or other notices on City-owned telecommunications equipment, street light poles, traffic signal systems, signal control boxes, and sign poles.

Graffiti cleaning operations respond to reports of graffiti on structures, signs, and signals. Patrols now respond between 48 to 72 hours of a report. When reporting graffiti, please leave a message including the location, cross street or corner, your name and phone number.

Report Graffiti at 503-823-4824 or online.

Report Sign Pole Litter at 503-823-1700.

The City issues permits to post items such as event banners and flower baskets on City-owned street light poles.

A drive down Hawthorne Blvd is enlightening - some poles are clean and others are an inch or so deep in flyers. Some residents are taking the time to clean up the poles voluntarily. The Bureau of Transportation manages a complaint-driven process to respond to complaints. We receive approximately 3-4 complaints per year -- more in an election year. Our Street Lighting crews clean up poles as they see illegal postings.

Relevant City Codes

17.64.040 Use of City Poles or Posts

17.68.010 Injuring or Destroying