Portland residents have until Sept. 14 to apply for one of five open seats on the city's Planning Commission, a volunteer body that will shape decisions on inner East Portland rezoning, a 20-year transportation plan and environmental rules along the Willamette River.
The nine-member commission advises City Council on updates to Portland's Comprehensive Plan, zoning map and zoning code. It doesn't make final decisions, but its formal recommendations carry weight when council votes. Four of the open seats take effect in March 2027; the fifth, reserved for an applicant aged 18–25, starts in June 2027.
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability posted the recruitment announcement Monday, Aug. 17, noting that a youth perspective is especially important given the commission's focus on long-range planning. The youth seat carries a two-year term; the other four are four-year commitments.
What's on the docket
Three projects make these appointments especially consequential:
Inner Eastside Zoning Project. The effort would change zoning to allow more housing types in inner East Portland neighborhoods that already have strong access to jobs and transit. The project page describes the goal as making the area accessible to people across a broader range of incomes.
2045 Transportation System Plan. Portland's 20-year blueprint for transportation projects, policies and investments is getting an update. The plan's advisory committee has meetings scheduled for September and December 2026, meaning new commissioners will step into an active process.
Willamette River North Reach. This project will rewrite policies and regulations for the northern stretch of the Willamette to balance industrial, residential and recreational uses over the next 20 years.
Who can apply
No planning expertise is required. "New Planning Commissioners will receive orientation and training on long-range planning topics," the announcement states. "We encourage anyone with lived or professional experience on related issues, and a desire to learn and serve your community to apply."
Applicants must live, play, worship or do business in Portland. Per city code, no more than two commissioners may work in the same occupation, and no more than two may be principally involved in buying, selling, leasing or developing real estate for profit.
The mayor appoints commissioners; City Council confirms them.
The time commitment runs roughly 8 to 10 hours per month, including two meetings (the second Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 5 p.m.), preparation reading and occasional work-group sessions. Meetings are hybrid, with in-person, Zoom and YouTube options for the public.
How to apply
Applications are accepted through the city's governmentjobs.com portal until 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14. The bureau is encouraging applicants from under-represented communities.
