ReCode & LD 2003

On December 18, 2023, the City Council adopted amendments to the Land Use Code in response to LD 2003. These amendments intersect with ReCode in important ways.

Even while we’re busy drafting the second wave of proposed ReCode amendments, other important work on the code has been ongoing.  This includes efforts to bring the existing land use code into compliance with LD 2003, a state law that requires communities to adopt particular standards around affordable housing, permitted residential uses, and accessory dwelling units before January of 2024.

Portland’s response to LD 2003 was a distinct package of land use code amendments designed to meet the requirements before the state deadline. These amendments were reviewed by the Planning Board over a series of two meetings in October and forwarded to the Council with a unanimous recommendation. On December 18, the Council met to consider the Planning Board’s amendments, and voted to adopt these amendments with several changes to expand their scope. You can view the Council materials here.

The land use code amendments adopted by the Council transform the City’s zoning framework, particularly around housing. They allow four units (plus two ADUs) on all mainland lots where residential is allowed, and three units (plus 2 ADUs) on all lots on the islands. They allow additional ‘bonus’ units in any project on the mainland where over 50% of the units are affordable. The amendments create a maximum lot coverage of 60% for residential lots city-wide, including on islands, unless exceeded elsewhere in the zoning ordinance. And they exempt the first four units in any residential use from off-street parking requirements.

The next iteration of draft ReCode amendments will integrate these Council-approved LD 2003 changes, in addition to other, transformative land use code revisions.