About the Graffiti Program

Information
Two volunteers stand with their backs to the camera. They are wearing bright orange vests that say "Graffiti Removal Volunteer"
The Graffiti Program offers no-cost or reduced-cost graffiti removal assistance to residents, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

The Graffiti Program works with community members to keep Portland beautiful by removing unauthorized graffiti. We offer no-cost or reduced-cost graffiti removal assistance to residents, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations who meet eligibility criteria. The program has four main responsibilities:

  1. We work with outside contractors to routinely and responsively remove unauthorized graffiti across Portland.
  2. We offer no-cost or reduced-cost graffiti removal assistance to residents, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Find out if you qualify and how to request this service here.
  3. We support community volunteer cleanups by providing supplies and trainings on how to remove unauthorized graffiti. Find out how to become a volunteer, request supplies, or organize a group cleanup event here.
  4. We partner with local organizations, like the Regional Arts and Culture Council, to provide protective coating on public art murals to prevent them from being harmed by unauthorized graffiti.

Graffiti Complaints

The Graffiti Program operates as the main intake for all city-related graffiti complaints. Portland remains one of the few large cities that have a free graffiti removal program. Other sister cities like Seattle and San Francisco do not offer free graffiti removal programs, as asset owners are responsible for their own graffiti removal efforts.

Once our office receives a complaint, we determine if the graffiti tag falls within our program's scope of work, or if it belongs to another asset owner for a resolution. If the complaint does not fall within our scope, we refer the complaint to the appropriate asset manager or jurisdiction for a resolution.

If the tag falls within our criteria (small business, small residential complex, non-profit organization or includes hate or gang speech), we'll then seek permission from the asset owner before dispatching our graffiti removal contractor(s) to perform the clean-up work. 

File a graffiti complaint

Contact

Graffiti Program Coordinator

Location