WCEL > Issues > Urban Growth and Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Part 4 > Tailor Road Requirements to their Preferred Use > Tailor Road Widths - Portland, Oregon

Smart Bylaws Guide – Tailor Road Requirements to their Preferred Use – Tailor Road Widths: Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon encourages skinny streets for new residential areas and will share the cost of retrofitting older streets to the narrow guidelines. It allows residential streets to be 6 metres (20 feet) wide with parking on one side, or 8 metres (26 feet) with parking on both sides. The city notes that such streets maintain neighbourhood character, reduce construction costs, save vegetation, reduce stormwater runoff, improve traffic safety, and use land more efficiently. The Portland Fire Department finds that skinny streets provide adequate access for emergency vehicles.

For More Information

Building New Streets and Sidewalks

Street Improvements Design Guidelines