Urban Growth Report

Go to the main menu
Go to the search form

Oregon law requires that the Metro Council periodically evaluate the capacity of the Portland region’s urban growth boundary to accommodate a 20-year forecast of housing needs and employment growth. That evaluation results in the Urban Growth Report.

2018 Urban Growth Report
Last published: Dec. 3, 2018
Download pdf: 7.53 MB

back

2024 urban growth management decision

An update to the Urban Growth Report is underway. The updated report will help inform the Metro Council’s decision about whether to expand the urban growth boundary in 2024.

Learn more about the decision

Under Oregon law, greater Portland must have enough land inside its urban growth boundary for 20 years of growth. Land inside that boundary is available for construction of homes, employment centers and shopping areas for our region’s residents. That means that even if the boundary wasn’t expanded for two decades, all of the growth we expect in greater Portland can fit inside the existing boundary.

At least every six years, the Metro Council looks at growth forecasts and development trends and decides whether to expand the boundary to meet its 20-year supply obligation.

Following over a year of conversation and public hearings and the endorsement of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, the 2014 Urban Growth Report was officially adopted by the Metro Council as part of its 2015 growth management decision in November 2015.

The report contains several elements that helped inform that decision, including:

forecasts for population, residential and employment growth in the Portland region through 2035
analysis of changing trends in living and working that affect what the future of growth looks like
assessments of how local communities are planning for growth within their own boundaries
estimates of available land for development in the region
discussion of key policy questions that may or may not be addressed through land supply.

The report concludes that communities in the region have enough developable land to accommodate the growth the region expects through 2035. As a result, the report states, no urban growth boundary expansion is needed in 2015.

Final 2014 Urban Growth Report10.27 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 1a: Population and employment forecasts2.41 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 1b: Forecast FAQ502.78 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 1c: Forecast peer review summary452.97 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 1d: Description of forecast model373.52 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 2: Buildable land inventory methods967.12 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 3: Buildable land inventory3.84 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 4: Housing needs analysis825.13 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 5: Residential development trends847.25 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 6: Employment land demand analysis1.2 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 7: Large industrial site demand analysis170.84 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 8: Employment trends 1.08 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 9: Employment land site characteristics10.34 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 10: Regional opportunity maps14.87 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 11: MetroScope scenario specifications4.74 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 12: Housing and transportation cost burden analysis877.58 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 13: Regional Industrial Site Readiness Inventory1.36 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 14: Residential preference study1.79 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

Appendix 15: Damascus disincorporation scenario2.87 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Dec 13, 2019

The 2009 Urban Growth Report was accepted by the Metro Council in December 2009. It indicated the need for:

additional capacity within the urban growth boundary for new housing units
additional capacity for lands that can support industrial employment on sites 50 acres or larger.

2009 report and appendices

Urban Growth Report: 2009-2030 employment and residential13.12 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 2 Documentation of MetroScope scenario assumptions706.77 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 3 Cluster forecast (methodology and results)59.11 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 4 Large employer/large lot analysis (methodology and results)524.06 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 5 Multi-tenant/large lot analysis (methodology and results)31.88 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 6 Residential capacity methodology65.3 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 7 Housing needs analysis subarea profiles2.08 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 8 Needed housing data tables99.22 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 9 Residential refill study (2001 to 2006)1.73 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 10 Report on past performance (related to six desired outcomes)783.51 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 11 E.D. Hovee consultant team products6.37 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 12 Population and employment forecast3.14 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

Appendix 13 Capacity definitions451.54 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jan 14, 2010

2018 Urban Growth Report

News

Community Placemaking grant applications are now open

Aug. 9, 2024 1:30 p.m.

Calling creative thinkers and community leaders. Metro is awarding $450,000 to community-led placemaking projects in the 2025 grant cycle.
New version of MetroMap features enhanced accessibility, data, and tools

July 23, 2024 9 a.m.

The new MetroMap application is here, with improvements to the trusted tool used by professionals and the public for nearly 25 years. Enjoy better device compatibility, new data layers, and improved accessibility. Check it out and share your feedback!
Help shape the future of growth in greater Portland

July 9, 2024 3:06 p.m.

Beginning July 9, members of the public are invited to provide feedback on Metro’s draft 2024 Urban Growth Report as well as a proposal from the City of Sherwood to expand the urban growth boundary (UGB).
Call for applications: Metro’s 2040 Planning and Development Grants

June 5, 2024 5:21 p.m.

The 2024 award cycle is open for Metro’s 2040 Planning and Development Grants. Letters of interest are recommended and due June 21, 2024; full applications are due Sept. 6, 2024.
Public Notice: Upcoming opportunity to comment on urban growth management

May 28, 2024 1:41 p.m.

Metro is assessing whether there is enough land in greater Portland’s urban area for 20 years of growth. The City of Sherwood has a proposal to expand the urban growth boundary. An opportunity for the public to comment on Metro’s assessment and Sherwood’s expansion proposal will open on July 9.