Portland Speed Bump & Traffic Calming Rules

Transportation Oregon 3 Minutes Read · published February 07, 2026 Flag of Oregon

Portland, Oregon uses a structured traffic-calming process for requests about speed bumps, speed humps, and related measures. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) manages evaluation, public outreach, and installation under its neighborhood traffic management programs and technical standards [1]. This article explains how requests are assessed, who enforces rules, typical penalties or the lack thereof on official pages, how to apply, and practical steps residents can take to move a request forward.

Most residential streets in Portland are evaluated through the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program before any physical calming is installed.

How requests are evaluated

PBOT evaluates traffic-calming requests against engineering criteria, crash and speed data, and neighborhood support. Technical assessment often includes traffic counts, 85th-percentile speed, and collision history; if criteria are met, PBOT proceeds to community outreach and pilot installations.

  • Typical timeline: initial screening, data collection, outreach, design, and installation (timeline varies by workload and is not specified on the cited page).
  • Data used: traffic counts, speed studies, collision history, and neighborhood input.
  • Community process: petition or outreach to adjacent households and formal PBOT notification and ballots.

Penalties & Enforcement

Regulation and enforcement of street modifications and illegal installations are managed by PBOT and, for traffic offenses, Portland Police Bureau where applicable. Specific monetary fines, escalation amounts, or statutory daily penalties for unauthorized installation of traffic-calming devices are not specified on the cited PBOT pages cited below [2]. Where enforcement authority is needed for illegal private installations or interference with traffic control devices, PBOT coordinates removal and may refer violations to code enforcement or the city attorney.

Official PBOT pages do not list standard fine amounts for unauthorized speed bump installations.
  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation or repeat-offence ranges: not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: removal orders, citations to appear in municipal forum, or referral to city attorney (specifics not specified on the cited page).
  • Enforcer and inspection pathway: Portland Bureau of Transportation conducts reviews and coordinates removals; traffic offences may involve Portland Police Bureau.
  • Complaint/report: use PBOT traffic-calming/contact pages or report a problem form to start enforcement or inquiry [3].

Applications & Forms

To request a speed bump or other traffic-calming measure, residents generally submit a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program request or PBOT’s online traffic-calming request form. The NTMP pages describe the program, criteria, and neighborhood petition/outreach steps [2]. Fee information or a published permit fee for private installations is not specified on the cited pages.

How the decision process typically works

  • Initial screening for eligibility based on location and basic criteria.
  • Field data collection: speed counts and crash history.
  • Community outreach and ballot or petition when required.
  • Design, pilot (if used), and installation if criteria and neighborhood support are met.
PBOT favors solutions that balance safety, emergency access, and maintenance considerations.

Common violations

  • Unauthorized placement of physical devices on the public right-of-way.
  • Interfering with official traffic control devices or signage.
  • Installing devices that block emergency access or drainage.

FAQ

Can residents request a speed bump?
Yes. Residents initiate a request through PBOT’s traffic-calming/NTMP process; PBOT evaluates requests against engineering criteria and community input [2].
How long does the process take?
Timelines vary by data collection and outreach needs and are not specified on the cited PBOT pages [1].
Who do I contact to report an illegal or hazardous installation?
Report hazards or unauthorized installations to PBOT via the report-a-problem/contact page; PBOT will advise on enforcement or removal [3].

How-To

  1. Document the problem: note speeds, times, and any collisions or near-misses.
  2. Check PBOT eligibility pages and NTMP guidance to confirm your street type and likely measures.
  3. Submit a traffic-calming/NTMP request using PBOT’s online form or contact portal [2].
  4. Engage neighbors for outreach; PBOT usually requires community input before installation.
  5. If approved, coordinate with PBOT on design, pilot programs, and installation schedule.

Key Takeaways

  • PBOT manages traffic calming through technical criteria and neighborhood process.
  • Monetary fines for unauthorized private installations are not listed on PBOT pages.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Portland Bureau of Transportation - Traffic Calming
  2. [2] Portland Bureau of Transportation - Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
  3. [3] Portland Bureau of Transportation - Report a Problem / Contact

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