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Vacant downtown storefronts will soon have to be registered with city

File photo Vacant storefronts on roughly a dozen downtown streets will need to be registered with the city of Portland.
By Alexis Wells

Portland property owners with storefronts that have been vacant for longer than six months wil be required to register those properties with the city or pay a fine under a new city ordinance. 

Storefronts vacant for 180 days as of April 1, 2026, must be registered by May 2.

Fines could range from $500 for storefronts empty for six months to $1,000 for each year of vacancy up to five years. For long-term vacancies — a decade or longer — fines of $7,500 or more could be levied, according to the city's website. 

Areas affected include Congress Street, as well as Free, High, Exchange, Commercial, Union, Middle, Wharf and Silver streets.

Landlords can request a waiver to avoid a fee and agree to have city-approved art installed in their storefront window at no cost.

The city said in a statement that by tracking vacancies and building relationships with property owners, it can connect artists, entrepreneurs and cultural groups with available commercial space and provide support as needed. 

Owners of vacant properties in the Pedestrian Activities District are encouraged to take advantage of a new temporary use permit. The city now allows pop-ups for up to 180 days at the discretion of the city building official and the fire marshal.

Temporary uses will only be allowed when it is determined that the space is safe for occupancy and for the proposed use. 

The city is also accepting art submissions for window reproductions. A juried selection will be available to property owners in the coming months. Artists will receive a $300 stipend per selected piece, with installations beginning in the summer of 2026.

Quincy Hentzel of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
File photo / Tim Greenway
Quincy Hentzel

Quincy Hentzel, president and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, gave the new measure a mixed review.

"Vacant storefronts have definitely been becoming more prevalent, so I understand the intent of the ordinance," she told Mainebiz. "However, I don’t believe a majority of property owners are deliberately keeping their spaces vacant."

Noting that a range of challenges contribute to this issue, she added that "our efforts should be directed towards supporting those who are experiencing homelessness and improving the overall condition of our streets to restore the energy and vibrancy of our downtown and make it attractive to prospective businesses."

Mainebiz Deputy Editor Renee Cordes contributed to this report.

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