How long permits take in Portland
How long each agency takes, so you can plan the opening date.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Create/Update Importer Identity Form
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Sent to CBP (usually through your customs broker), or created in the ACE portal. Needed before your first entry as importer of record.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- Up to 5 business days.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Oregon employer registration (payroll taxes)
Oregon Department of Revenue, with the Oregon Employment DepartmentOR
Every employer with paid employees in Oregon registers before the first paycheck, online in Revenue Online or the Oregon Business Registry, or on the paper Combined Employer's Registration sent to the Employment Department. One number covers withholding, unemployment tax, the Workers' Benefit Fund and transit taxes.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- The state gives 30 business days online (60 on paper), and up to 14 business days through the Oregon Business Registry.
Restaurant plan review
Multnomah County Environmental HealthPortland
Needed before opening a new restaurant or remodeling one. Send the plan review application, the plans and the fee; construction can start once the approval letter arrives.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- A response within 15 business days of receiving it.
Multnomah County restaurant license
Multnomah County Environmental HealthPortland
Send the license application and fee (it can go with the plan review), then call for the pre-opening inspection once construction is done; you get the license and can open after it passes. Restaurant workers need food handler cards.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- The pre-opening inspection can take up to 5 business days to schedule.
- Renews
- Every year: the license runs for the calendar year, renewed by paying by January 1.
Guides for each business in Portland
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your business in Portland
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders