How to respond to Portland’s Checksheet
What the City of Portland calls its correction letter, how to resubmit, and what to include, from the city’s own pages. Each fact links to its source.
What the City of Portland calls it
The City of Portland calls its correction letter “Checksheet”. It expects a written response letter that answers each comment.
How to resubmit after Portland plan check corrections
- Wait until every mandatory review is in Approved, Checksheet or Not Required status, then open Upload Corrections in DevHub and search by IVR or permit number.
- Upload the corrected documents as PDFs with a description of each; checksheet responses must be uploaded as PDFs, not typed into the comment box.
- Permitting Services screens the upload; incomplete corrections are rejected and new corrections must be uploaded.
From the city’s instructions: portland.gov
What to include
- Watch DevHub: Portland doesn't email you when a new checksheet posts
- Wait until every mandatory review is Approved, Checksheet or Not Required
- The checksheet response as a PDF upload, not typed in the comment box
- A response to every checksheet item, with its location on the plans
- Only the pages that changed, each with a description
- File names under 50 characters, with no permit number or address in them
From the city’s instructions: portland.gov
Codes its letters cite
Local code abbreviations you will see on the City of Portland letters: PCC.
Local amendments to the building code
The state building code is uniform statewide: cities and counties may not set different requirements unless the state Building Codes Division authorizes them.
Official links
- Resubmittal instructions
- Development Hub PDX (DevHub)
- Building department page
- Permit open data
- Portland Permitting & Development: 503-823-7300 (portland.gov, checked October 31, 2026)
- Address: 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 (portland.gov, checked October 31, 2026)
Links and facts checked on October 28, 2026.
Oregon rules every plan check here follows
These come from Oregon law and state agencies, so they apply in Portland as well. Each links to its source.
Residential code
The 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code took effect on Oct. 1, 2026. Chapter 1 is already mandatory; Chapters 2 - 44 and the appendices become mandatory on April 1, 2027.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division, checked October 31, 2026
Commercial (structural) code
Commercial buildings follow the 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code. It took effect Oct. 1, 2025, and after a 6-month phase-in became mandatory on April 1, 2026.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division, checked October 31, 2026
Commercial energy code
Energy rules for commercial buildings come from the 2025 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code, mandatory since July 1, 2025.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division, checked October 31, 2026
Electrical code
Electrical work follows the 2026 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, based on the 2026 National Electrical Code, in effect since Oct. 1, 2026.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division, checked October 31, 2026
Plumbing code
Plumbing work follows the 2026 Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, in effect since Oct. 1, 2026.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division, checked October 31, 2026
What a good response to Checksheet has
General guidance, not the City of Portland’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.
- Answer every comment, in the reviewer’s order and numbering, so nothing is missed.
- Say plainly what you changed for each comment, or why no change is needed.
- Name the sheet and detail where each change is, so the reviewer can find it fast.
- Mark changes on the drawings (clouds or deltas are common) and keep sheet numbers the same.
- Send the response letter, the revised drawings and any new calculations together.
Other Oregon city guides
How we help
Send us the whole Checksheet. We draft a response to every comment and list the drawing changes sheet by sheet. Your first letter is free. You review each response, then you sign and submit to the City of Portland yourself.
Cleared to Build is an independent service. We are not the City of Portland and are not affiliated with it.
Upload your correction letterOnly one comment to answer? Try the free one-comment tool.
Questions
What does the City of Portland call its correction letter?
The City of Portland calls it “Checksheet”. It expects a written response letter that answers each comment.
How do I resubmit after the City of Portland sends corrections?
Wait until every mandatory review is in Approved, Checksheet or Not Required status, then open Upload Corrections in DevHub and search by IVR or permit number.; then Upload the corrected documents as PDFs with a description of each; checksheet responses must be uploaded as PDFs, not typed into the comment box.; then Permitting Services screens the upload; incomplete corrections are rejected and new corrections must be uploaded.
How long does Portland take to review a resubmittal?
Review times change with workload. Ask the building department at 503-823-7300.
Does Portland charge for another plan review?
This guide doesn’t list fees. Ask Portland Permitting & Development at 503-823-7300 before you resubmit.
How many rounds of corrections can Portland send?
This guide doesn’t list a limit. Answering every comment fully the first time is the surest way to fewer rounds; ask Portland Permitting & Development at 503-823-7300 if unsure.
Is Cleared to Build part of the City of Portland?
No. Cleared to Build is an independent service, not affiliated with the City of Portland or any permitting agency. You submit to the city yourself.