What does RX zoning mean in Portland?

RX is Central Residential, Portland's highest-density multi-dwelling zone, used in and near the Central City. It allows the tallest and densest apartment and mixed-residential development of any residential zone in the code.

How do I find the zoning for an address in Portland?

Use the Zoning App on PortlandMaps, maintained by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Searching an address returns the base zone, any overlay zones, and the applicable plan district.

Can I build a duplex or fourplex on a single-dwelling lot in Portland?

Yes. The 2021 Residential Infill Project allows up to four units by right on most lots zoned R2.5 through R20 (up to six with deed-restricted affordable units), on top of the statewide HB 2001 middle-housing mandate.

Portland, Oregon · city zoning districts · 16 districts

Portland, OR zoning map & districts

Portland's zoning is codified in Title 33 (Planning and Zoning), organized into base zones (the 100s, covering residential, commercial/mixed-use, and employment/industrial districts), overlay zones (the 400s, such as design, environmental, and greenway overlays), and plan districts (the 500s, including the Central City and Gateway plan districts) that layer additional standards on top of the base zone. The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability maintains the code and the Bureau of Development Services administers permitting and review.

The code Portland Zoning Code, Title 33 of the Portland City Code

Portland zoning map

Portland's official parcel-level zoning viewer is the Zoning App on PortlandMaps, maintained by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability; the code text itself is published as Title 33 of the Portland City Code.

There is no link to the official map here yet — confirm current district boundaries directly with the Portland planning or zoning department.

A published summary is never the authority. The adopted ordinance and the city's official zoning map govern, and both change — verify the district and every standard on your parcel before you rely on it.

How zoning works in Portland

The 2021 Residential Infill Project rewrote the single-dwelling zones to allow up to four units by right on most lots (more with deed-restricted affordability), layered on top of the statewide HB 2001 middle-housing mandate. Development inside Metro's Urban Growth Boundary is also subject to the state's Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rules, which eliminate minimum parking requirements near frequent transit.

Portland zoning districts by family

The 16 district codes below are the ones that decide most projects in Portland, grouped by what they are for rather than by the order the ordinance prints them.

Key districts in the Portland Zoning Code, Title 33 of the Portland City Code — a curated reference, not the exhaustive list. Confirm against the current adopted code.
Code	District	What it is for
Residential 7 districts
RF	Residential Farm/Forest	Lowest-density single-dwelling zone at the city's rural edge.
R20	Residential 20,000	Single-dwelling zone, 20,000 sq ft nominal minimum lot size.
R7	Residential 7,000	The most common single-dwelling zone city-wide.
R2.5	Residential 2,500	Highest-density single-dwelling zone; small-lot and attached housing.
RM1	Residential Multi-Dwelling 1	Lowest-scale multi-dwelling zone, transitional to single-dwelling areas.
RM3	Residential Multi-Dwelling 3	Mid-scale multi-dwelling zone for apartments and rowhouses.
RX	Central Residential	Highest-density multi-dwelling zone, used in and near the Central City.
Mixed-use 3 districts
CR	Commercial Residential	Low-intensity mixed-use zone allowing commercial and residential development.
CM1	Commercial/Mixed Use 1	Small-scale mixed-use zone along neighborhood corridors.
CM3	Commercial/Mixed Use 3	Large-scale mixed-use zone in centers and along major corridors.
Downtown / core 1 district
CX	Central Commercial	Highest-intensity commercial zone; Central City and regional centers.
Industrial 4 districts
EX	Central Employment	Mixed-employment zone allowing the broadest range of uses near the Central City.
EG2	General Employment 2	Larger-lot employment zone for industrial and employment uses.
IG1	General Industrial 1	Smaller-lot general industrial zone with a grid block pattern.
IH	Heavy Industrial	Reserved for the most intensive industrial uses (e.g. Rivergate).
Special purpose 1 district
OS	Open Space	Parks, natural areas, and conservation land; very limited development.

Portland zoning — common questions

What does RX zoning mean in Portland?: RX is Central Residential, Portland's highest-density multi-dwelling zone, used in and near the Central City. It allows the tallest and densest apartment and mixed-residential development of any residential zone in the code.
How do I find the zoning for an address in Portland?: Use the Zoning App on PortlandMaps, maintained by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Searching an address returns the base zone, any overlay zones, and the applicable plan district.
Can I build a duplex or fourplex on a single-dwelling lot in Portland?: Yes. The 2021 Residential Infill Project allows up to four units by right on most lots zoned R2.5 through R20 (up to six with deed-restricted affordable units), on top of the statewide HB 2001 middle-housing mandate.

Working in Oregon? Get on the list.

The parcel layer lands in the order demand does. Illinois went first because that's where the deals were; the next state is decided by who tells us what they're trying to underwrite. Tell us where you're building and what you wanted to run — you'll hear from us when Oregon opens, and sooner if we need a test parcel.

Keep reading

← Oregon zoning — who holds the zoning power in Oregon, under which enabling statute, and the reforms that override local rules.

Other Oregon cities

The zoning reference → — every state, plus city-level district guides like this one.

Portland zoning summaries on this page are provided for information, not legal advice. Confirm every project against the current adopted code for the jurisdiction.