Portland’s Deconstruction Ordinance

Deconstruction ordinances catalyze local material recovery markets, reducing demand for virgin materials and creating jobs in skilled deconstruction. The City of Portland (Oregon) Deconstruction Ordinance, the first of its kind in the United States, applies to demolition permit applications for primary dwelling structures built in 1940 or earlier or those that have been designated a historic resource. Deconstruction must be completed by a certified deconstruction contractor. Deconstruction ordinances improve direct reuse of lumber materials, such as framing and flooring, which lose value once they are destroyed through conventional demolition practices.