Requesting a speed hump on a public street in Oregon is a 6 to 12 month process: it starts with a neighborhood petition, runs through a city traffic study, and ends with project programming and install. On private streets and HOA roads, the process is much shorter — the property owner or HOA board authorizes the install directly. Below: the public-street process for Oregon's I-5 corridor cities and the alternative paths for private streets.
Quick reference
| Street Type | Approval Process | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Public residential street | City traffic-calming program | 6 to 12 months |
| Private HOA street | HOA board vote | 30 to 90 days |
| Private commercial property | Property owner authorization | 7 to 30 days |
| Private driveway | Property owner authorization | Same day |
Step 1: Confirm the street is public
Public streets are owned and maintained by the city or county. Private streets, HOA streets, and driveways have different (faster) processes. Check the street's status:
- City public street. Maintained by the city public works or transportation department. Has city street name signs, regular city maintenance.
- County public road. Maintained by Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Lane, or other county; rare in residential settings.
- Private street. Maintained by an HOA, property owner, or homeowner. No city sign, no city street-light maintenance.
For public streets, continue to Step 2. For private streets, jump to the HOA / property owner section below.
Step 2: Find the city traffic-calming program
Each Oregon city traffic-calming program has its own application process and eligibility criteria. The major Oregon cities:
- Portland. Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Neighborhood Greenways and Residential Traffic Calming program.
- Salem. Public Works Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.
- Eugene. Public Works Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (often coordinated with Vision Zero).
- Beaverton. Engineering Review Residential Traffic Calming Program.
- Bend. Public Works Traffic-Calming Program.
- Hillsboro. Department of City Engineering.
- Corvallis. Public Works.
Each city publishes the program details on its public-works or transportation department website. The application form is typically downloadable.
Step 3: Gather neighborhood signatures
Most Oregon city traffic-calming programs require a signed petition from a majority (60% to 75% varies by city) of affected residents. Affected residents are typically defined as households on the street segment in question, sometimes extended to one block on each side.
Petition logistics:
- One signature per household
- Signatures must include printed name, address, and date
- Some cities require signatures within a specific 60- or 90-day window
- The petition typically lists the proposed location of the device(s)
Door-to-door petitioning is the most common collection method. Some neighborhoods organize via the local neighborhood association.
Step 4: Submit the application
Submit the petition with the city's application form. The application typically asks for:
- Street name and the proposed device location
- Petition signatures and resident addresses
- Description of the speed problem (witnessed speeding, near-miss incidents, school-zone proximity)
- Property owner authorization if any device would be on private easement
- Contact information for the lead petitioner
Submit by email, mail, or in-person depending on the city. Most cities provide an application reference number after receipt.
Step 5: City conducts a traffic study
The city conducts a traffic study within 30 to 90 days of receiving the application. The study includes:
- 24- to 48-hour spot-speed survey (measures the 85th-percentile speed)
- Volume count (vehicles per day)
- Crash history review (typically 3- or 5-year window)
- Site walk by the city traffic engineer
The study determines whether the street meets the program's eligibility thresholds. Common thresholds:
- Speed. 85th-percentile speed exceeds posted speed by 5+ mph (most programs)
- Volume. Daily traffic between 500 and 3,000 vehicles per day
- Crash history. Some programs prioritize streets with documented speed-related crashes
If the study confirms eligibility, the project moves to programming. If not, the street is declined.
Step 6: Programming and design
If the project is approved, the city programs it for design and install. Programming timeline:
- 30 to 60 days for design (device count, spacing, profile selection)
- 30 to 90 days for procurement and install scheduling
- Install typically happens during the May to October paving season
Cost-share programs (Portland up to 50%, Beaverton up to 33%) may require petitioner financial commitment before procurement. The city collects the cost-share contribution before scheduling.
Step 7: Install
Install runs 1 to 3 days for a typical residential project (3 to 5 humps). The city traffic-calming program typically contracts the work to an approved contractor. For program-compliant device options, see best speed humps for traffic calming.
Alternative: HOA streets
HOA streets bypass the city process. The HOA board authorizes the install via:
- Board vote (per the HOA's bylaws)
- Member notification (some HOA bylaws require resident notice before infrastructure changes)
- Direct contractor authorization
- Install
Oregon ORS Chapter 94 governs HOA authority over planned-community infrastructure (Oregon ORS 94). Most HOAs have explicit authority to install traffic-calming devices on common-area streets.
Timeline: 30 to 90 days from board decision to install.
Alternative: Private commercial property
Commercial property owners (retail centers, apartment complexes, office parks) authorize installs directly. The property owner contracts the contractor; no permit or city approval is typically required for parking-lot or private-drive-aisle installs.
Timeline: 7 to 30 days from owner decision to install.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a speed hump on my street? Public streets: 6 to 12 months from petition to install. Private streets: 30 to 90 days. Driveways: same day to a week.
Does my city have a speed-hump program? Most Oregon cities of 25,000+ population have a residential traffic-calming program. Confirm with the city public-works or transportation department.
Will the city install a speed hump if just I request it? No. City programs require neighborhood-level support (60% to 75% petition signatures from affected residents) plus a traffic study confirming eligibility.
Can I install a speed hump myself on a public street? No. Speed humps on public streets require city approval and city-managed install. Self-installs on public roads are not permitted and can be removed by the city at the installer's expense.
What if my street fails the traffic study? Some cities offer alternative calming measures (signage, painted-line treatments, neighborhood education). Reapplication is typically allowed after a waiting period (12 to 24 months).
Need an HOA Speed Hump Install?
For HOA streets and private property, Cojo installs ITE-compliant speed humps across Oregon without the city-program timeline. Contact Cojo for a site assessment, or see the speed hump cost guide for pricing.