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Portland
Permits & Regulations
Mural
Materials and Techniques
A Mural Project
Portland
Murals Gallery
Due
to a lawsuit brought forward by sign companies November 1998, the City of
Portland regulated murals as
“signs” until the City Council passed a public art exemption in 2004.
This program is quite new, with a few kinks still, but essentially there are three
ways to paint a mural without risking City sign code violations.
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The
Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Public Art Murals Program
In March 2005, RACC started
accepting applications for mural projects
funding through its Public Art Program.
This
RACC program exempts public art from the sign code, but only new large-scale
murals (over 200 sq ft.). The mural is added to Portland’s public art
collection under this plan. There
is some funding available, too, for qualified outdoor mural proposals.
RACC’s website gives details about this program, grant deadlines and
application forms.
Regional
Arts and Culture Council
108 NW 9th Avenue,
Suite 300
Portland, OR
97209-3318
Phone: 503-823-5111
E-mail: info@racc.org
Website: www.racc.org
Bureau
of Development Services and the Sign Code
Murals
smaller than 200 sq. ft.
If the artwork is smaller than
200 sq. ft. it may be possible to paint a mural by simply obtaining a sign
permit (approx. $150-$300) from the Bureau of Development Services. You can
apply for a waiver of the fee if your group is a non-profit organization.
Small murals will be classified
as “signs” and the allowable size depends on a number of complicated
factors. These include: zoning regulations, existing signage, and a formula that
calculates the size a sign can be based on the length of the building wall. The best approach is to talk directly with BDS staff. They
are available to answer your questions and assist in filling out the paperwork.
Get forms in person at the BDS office, or check the BDS website.
It is also possible to apply for an adjustment (permission) for murals larger
than 200 sq. ft. and by-pass applying to RACC, but the application fee for an
adjustment from BDS costs more than $1,400 and the funds are not returned if the
mural is not approved. Information
about this adjustment process is also available at the 1900 Building in the BDS
office.
Banners
Up to three 32 sq ft. banners can be hung on a building, but only
commercial, not residential property.
For
details on small murals (less than 200 sq. ft) & banners, contact:
The Bureau of Development Services
Non-electrical Sign Specialist
1900 SW Fourth Ave.
Portland, OR
Phone: 503-823-7315
Website: www.portlandonline.com/bds
Existing Painted Walls
Before
the November 18, 1998 court decisions, existing murals and painted wall signs
were “grandfathered in” (allowed under the new sign code regulations) by the
City of Portland. These walls can be painted over with a new image of the same
size (or smaller) without applying to the Bureau of Development Services (or to
RACC). They must be the same size as the previous design was.
Sign
painters and artists have claimed these painted-over walls by marking the
outside border of the previous mural or sign with small images (such as flowers)
painted in each corner of the wall. This must take place within six months of
painting over any previous image.
This type of mural and sign can be painted over as many times as the building
owner wishes. The sign code cannot regulate content, so a mural could be painted
over a sign, or a commercial sign painted on top of a former mural (as long as
it is a pre-1998 wall).
It is a good idea to verify the status of a grandfathered mural or sign with the
building owner before investing too much time in planning a community mural.
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