Bicycle Parking Regulations for Portland, OR
The City of Portland, OR has established specific bicycle parking regulations to promote active transportation by ensuring secure, convenient, and accessible parking facilities for bicycles. These requirements apply to a variety of building types, and they are divided into long-term (Class I) and short-term (Class II) categories, with distinct requirements and design standards for each.
Long-Term and Short-Term Bike Parking Requirements
Long-term bicycle parking requirements
- Long-term parking must be provided for residents, employees, and regular users who require secure storage for extended periods, such as during work hours or overnight.
- For residential developments with five or more units, the requirement is 1.5 spaces per unit (Standard A) or 1.1 spaces per unit (Standard B).
- For office buildings, the requirement is one long-term space per 1,800 square feet (Standard A) or one per 3,500 square feet (Standard B).
- Long-term parking must be located in secure, weather-protected areas, such as lockers or enclosed rooms.
- Bicycle lockers or secure access areas must be provided in residential buildings, with restricted access rooms for non-residential uses.
Short-term bicycle parking requirements
- Short-term parking is aimed at visitors and customers who need convenient, temporary parking.
- For residential developments, one short-term space is required per 20 units (Standard A and B).
- For retail sales and services, one short-term space is required per 2,700 square feet of net area (Standard A) or one per 4,400 square feet (Standard B).
- Short-term spaces must be located within 50 feet of the main entrance of the building, in visible, accessible locations.
Design Standards for Bike Parking
Long-term bicycle parking design standards
- All long-term bicycle parking spaces must be covered. Where covered bicycle parking is not within a building or locker, the cover must be permanent, impervious, and project out a minimum of 2 feet beyond the bicycle parking spaces on the portion of the structure that is not enclosed by a wall.
- Long-term spaces must be secure, providing locking mechanisms that allow the bicycle frame and one wheel to be locked with a U-lock.
- Facilities must provide electrical outlets for electric bicycles, with at least 5% of spaces equipped with outlets.
- There must be an aisle at least 5 feet wide behind all bicycle lockers to allow room for bicycle maneuvering.
- The locker space must have a minimum depth of 6 feet and an access door that is a minimum of 2 feet wide.
- The following standards apply to sites with more than 20 long-term bicycle parking spaces:
- Minimum number of horizontal bicycle parking spaces. At least 30 percent of spaces must be in a horizontal rack, or on the lower level of a stacked bicycle parking rack. For Schools (K-8), all spaces located outside of the building must be in a horizontal rack.
- Parking for larger bicycle space. At least 5 percent of spaces must accommodate a larger bicycle space, placed in a horizontal rack. These spaces may be included to meet the requirement for Subparagraph D.3.a. See Figure 266-14. Development that includes a residential use is exempt from this standard until January 1, 2029.
Short-term bicycle parking design standards
- Short-term racks must allow the locking of both the bicycle frame and one wheel.
- The racks must be installed with sufficient clearance, with at least 5 feet of maneuvering space behind the racks.
- Short-term parking should be installed in visible, publicly accessible locations and must not obstruct pedestrian pathways.
Different Neighborhood or Area Requirements
Portland has a geographic hierarchy for bicycle parking requirements. Standard A applies to central areas with higher bicycle use, while Standard B applies to other areas. The required number of spaces varies by these standards to meet the city’s goals.
Required Bicycle Parking Spaces by Facility Type – Central Employment Zone (EX): Standard A
| Type of Use | Long-Term Parking Requirement | Short-Term Parking Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Household Living (5+ units) | 2 or 1.5 spaces per unit | 2 or 1 space per 20 units |
| Group Living | 2 or 1 space per 4 bedrooms | 2 or 1 space per 20 bedrooms |
| Retail Sales and Services | 2 or 1 space per 3,800 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 2,700 sq. ft. |
| Temporary Lodging | 2 or 1 space per 20 rentable rooms | 2 or 1 space per 40 rentable rooms; and 1 per 5,000 sf of conference, meeting room |
| Office | 2 or 1 space per 1,800 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 3,500 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant and Bar | 2 or 1 space per 2,300 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Required Bicycle Parking Spaces by Facility Type – All Other Zones: Standard B
| Type of Use | Long-Term Parking Requirement | Short-Term Parking Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Household Living (5+ units) | 2 or 1.1 spaces per unit | 2 or 1 space per 20 units |
| Group Living | 2 or 1 space per 4 bedrooms | 2 or 1 space per 20 bedrooms |
| Retail Sales and Services | 2 or 1 space per 7,500 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 4,400 sq. ft. |
| Temporary Lodging | 2 or 1 space per 20 rentable rooms | 2 or 1 space per 40 rentable rooms; and 1 per 10,000 sf of conference, meeting room |
| Office | 2 or 1 space per 4,800 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 33,000 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant and Bar | 2 or 1 space per 4,800 sq. ft. | 2 or 1 space per 1,600 sq. ft. |
The above information represents a partial list of the facility types and their bike parking requirements for Portland, OR. Please refer to the links below for more detailed information.
Where to Find Official Regulations
The official bike parking regulations can be found in the Portland Zoning Code, specifically under the bicycle parking section: City of Portland Title 33 Planning and Zoning: Parking, Loading, and Transportation and Parking Demand Management
