Portland’s City Council on Monday approved an ordinance requiring owners of vacant storefronts in the city’s pedestrian district to register those spaces with the city.
The rule applies to commercial storefronts that have been empty for six months or more. City officials said the registration requirement is intended to help track unused properties and connect them with artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural groups seeking space.
This latest action follows an earlier city regulation that allows Portland to fine owners of empty storefronts if their spaces remain vacant after three months, unless owners agree to display city-approved artwork in the windows.
The city said the measures are aimed at reducing the appearance of long-term vacancies downtown, which is notably different than taking concrete action to stimulate Portland’s economy and, in tandem, demand for those spaces.
Under the ordinance, owners must register vacant storefronts within 30 days of a space becoming empty. The city will then work with property owners to seek new tenants, as well as artists to temporarily turn the commercial real estate into canvases.
Fines start at $250 for storefronts left empty between three and six months. Properties vacant for longer than a year can face fines of $1,000 or more. Vacancies lasting a decade may bring fines of up to $7,500, with an additional $1,000 per year after that.
Owners can avoid fines if they allow the city to install approved artwork in storefront windows.
The ordinance applies primarily to ground-level commercial spaces along streets, including Congress, Free, High, Exchange, and Middle.
