Portland’s flood safety fee began appearing on city utility bills July 1, 2026. A typical single-family household pays $3.60 on a 90-day bill, while businesses follow a percentage-based formula. The charge supports regional levees, pumps, and drainage systems. This report explains the cost, purpose, billing method, and available assistance.
Key Takeaways
- Portland began collecting the flood safety fee on July 1, 2026.
- A typical single-family home pays $3.60 per 90-day bill, or about $14.40 annually.
- Residential charges depend on dwelling units and billing days. Nonresidential accounts pay 0.9 percent of eligible utility charges.
- Customers in Portland’s financial assistance program receive a 50 percent reduction.
Portland utility customers now see a separate Flood Safety Benefit Fee on sewer, stormwater, and water bills. The city began collecting it July 1, shifting an annual regional flood-protection expense from the General Fund to customer bills.
For a typical single-family home, the fee is four cents per day. That produces a $3.60 charge on a standard 90-day quarterly bill, equal to about $1.20 per month or $14.40 per year.
Portland’s combined sewer, stormwater, and water rates also rose 6.36 percent on July 1. The city estimates that increase adds about $10.20 per month for a typical single-family customer, separate from the flood charge.
Together, the typical monthly change is about $11.40, although actual totals depend on water use, stormwater charges, property type, service days, and discounts. The pressure of rising household costs has kept utility affordability in focus across Oregon.
Residential and Business Accounts Use Different Formulas
Portland calculates the charge by property type. Residential accounts pay four cents per dwelling unit for every day in the billing period. A duplex billed for 90 days pays $7.20, while a five-unit property pays $18.
Larger multifamily properties follow the same calculation. City examples show a 40-unit property paying $48 for a 30-day bill.
Nonresidential accounts use a different formula. Businesses pay 0.9 percent of their total sewer, stormwater, and water charges. An official example shows a $2,569.95 utility bill producing a $23.13 flood fee.
The fee appears separately because Portland does not classify it as a water, sewer, or stormwater service charge. The utility system collects an obligation owed by the city to a regional district.
Customers enrolled in Portland’s financial assistance program pay half the standard residential rate. Their charge is two cents per dwelling unit per day, or $1.80 on a typical 90-day single-family bill.
The Fee Replaces General Fund Support
The Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District began assessing an annual fee to Portland after Oregon lawmakers expanded the district’s authority in 2024. Portland paid the obligation from the General Fund in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
City records estimated the 2025-26 payment at approximately $5.3 million. A city workgroup recommended using the existing utility billing system to reimburse the General Fund beginning in fiscal year 2026-27.
Portland City Council approved Ordinance 192113 on October 8, 2025. The ordinance directed the Portland Water Bureau to assess the charge and deposit collections into the General Fund.
The city estimated annual administrative costs at about 12 percent of collected revenue, plus a one-time implementation reimbursement of approximately $600,000 in fiscal year 2026-27.
The charge joins other regional infrastructure discussions, including Columbia River bridge costs. The flood fee, however, covers Portland’s required payment to the flood district rather than transportation projects.
Flood Infrastructure and Household Costs Define the Impact
The Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District manages a system spanning nearly 13,000 acres along the Columbia Slough and lower Columbia River. The network includes levees, pump stations, drainage systems, and waterways.
Portland says the infrastructure helps protect homes, businesses, natural areas, Portland International Airport, Interstates 5 and 205, and the Columbia South Shore Well Field. The well field is Portland’s secondary drinking water source.
The regional system explains why Portland describes the charge as separate from ordinary utility service. Customers are not billed according to individual flood exposure or water consumption. The city instead applies standard residential and nonresidential formulas.
Portland offers qualifying customers bill discounts, payment arrangements, and crisis vouchers of up to $500. Property owners who safely manage stormwater on site may also qualify for a Clean River Rewards discount.
Bills covering service days before and after July 1 may show changeover calculations. Earlier rates apply before the effective date and new rates apply afterward. The exact flood safety fee depends on post-July 1 service days and dwelling units.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Portland’s New Flood Safety Fee?
The flood safety fee is a separate utility-bill charge funding Portland’s required payments to the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District. It supports regional flood-protection infrastructure along the Columbia River.
How Much Will a Typical Household Pay?
A typical single-family home pays four cents per day, or $3.60 on a 90-day quarterly bill. That equals about $1.20 per month and roughly $14.40 annually. Actual bills can vary with service days and property type.
When Did Portland Begin Collecting the Fee?
Portland began collecting the charge on July 1, 2026. The City Council approved the billing mechanism through Ordinance 192113 on October 8, 2025.
Can Customers Receive a Discount?
Customers enrolled in Portland’s utility financial assistance program receive a 50 percent reduction. For a typical single-family quarterly bill, the reduced fee is $1.80.
