24 asphalt contractors serving Portland, OR

Portland Asphalt Paving Guide: Costs, Permits, and Timing

Portland's wet winters and mild summers set the paving calendar for the Willamette Valley. Any driveway curb cut or apron in the City right-of-way needs a Portland Bureau of Transportation permit. This guide covers published local price ranges, PBOT driveway rules, and how to time work around the rainy season. The contractor list above shows paving pros who serve Portland on Main Street.

What asphalt work costs in Portland

We only list numbers from published sources that name Portland, and we only show line items that have a current Portland-named source. The new-driveway and sealcoat rows below come from Angi's Portland page (updated Mar 10, 2026), EA Paving's Portland row (Dec 17, 2025), and Cojo's Portland-metro sealcoat guide (Mar 19, 2026). Overlay is left out until we find a current Portland source for it. Treat figures as a starting point, not a quote.

Wet clay soils and ROW approach permits often push real Portland jobs above thin online baselines. Prefer itemized quotes that name base depth and asphalt thickness.

City permits and the public right-of-way

The PBOT Driveways page states that installing or changing a driveway always requires a permit, even for an alley, gravel street, or right-of-way that is not currently passable. Standards come from Portland City Code 17.28.110 and TRN-10.40.

Public vs private. The portion of a driveway that crosses the sidewalk and connects to the street is in the public right-of-way. Construction or repair there needs a Minor Improvement Permit or a Public Works Permit, depending on scope. Work behind the property line needs a separate private-property permit from Portland Permitting and Development. Permits can be bundled in the Development Hub, with separate fees and inspections for the public and private portions.

If the street is managed by ODOT or Multnomah County rather than the City, you also need that agency's driveway permit. Most homeowners have their contractor pull the PBOT and PP&D permits.

Portland weather and the best time to pave

NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Portland International Airport show about 36.9 inches of rain a year, with roughly 23.9 inches falling from November through March. June through September still averages about 4.2 inches combined, so summer is drier but not bone-dry.

July highs average about 82 degrees, and the station averages about 15 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter. Cool, damp springs can delay sealcoating even when days look clear.

Our tip for Portland homeowners: aim for July through early September for sealcoating and most residential paving, and build rain days into the contract. Ask how the crew will protect fresh asphalt if a front arrives overnight.

Portland asphalt FAQ

How much does a new asphalt driveway cost in Portland?

Angi's Portland driveway cost page (updated Mar 10, 2026) lists asphalt driveways at about $4 to $8 per square foot. EA Paving LLC's Oregon guide (Dec 17, 2025) lists Portland at $3.50 to $8 per square foot. Get written quotes — Multnomah County soils, drainage, and approach permits often move the number.

How much does driveway sealcoating cost in Portland?

Cojo's Oregon sealcoating guide (Mar 19, 2026) lists Portland metro residential sealcoating about $0.18 to $0.32 per square foot, or roughly $375 to $650 for a typical two-car driveway. EA Paving (Dec 17, 2025) cites about $0.37 to $0.50 per square foot for Oregon sealcoating. Crack sealing is usually extra.

Do I need a Portland permit to change my driveway apron?

Yes. PBOT's Driveways page says installing or changing a driveway always requires a permit. Work in the public right-of-way needs a Minor Improvement or Public Works Permit; private-property paving needs a separate PP&D permit.

When is the best time to pave in Portland?

NOAA normals for Portland International Airport show about 36.9 inches of rain a year, with most of it from November through March. Midsummer through early fall is the most reliable dry window for paving and sealcoating.

What if my street is a county or ODOT road?

PBOT says you must also get a permit from ODOT or Multnomah County when that agency manages the right-of-way. Ask your contractor which agency owns the curb line before bidding.

How do I hire an asphalt contractor in Portland?

Start with the 24 listings on this page. Filter by the job type you need (driveway, parking lot, sealcoat, overlay, patching, striping). For each shortlist, ask for proof of license/insurance appropriate to your job, a written scope that includes base prep and drainage, and who will pull any city right-of-way permit. In Portland, ROW/apron work follows the rules already summarized in this hub's permit section — have the contractor confirm they will handle filings when the job touches the public street. Compare at least three written quotes before you sign. Do not rely on a phone estimate alone.

What should I ask before signing a paving contract in Portland?

Ask for: (1) thickness of asphalt and base in inches; (2) whether the bid is overlay or full remove-and-replace; (3) how drainage and soft spots will be handled; (4) whether the driveway apron / curb cut in the public right-of-way is included and permitted; (5) traffic control if the street is affected; (6) payment schedule tied to milestones; (7) warranty language in writing. Cross-check the permit path already described on this Portland guide so the contract names who files with the City.

How many asphalt paving quotes should I get in Portland?

Plan on at least three comparable written quotes. Same square footage, same thickness, and the same overlay-vs-replace assumption. If one bid is far lower, ask what was left out — base repair, haul-off, apron rebuild, or permits often explain the gap. Use this directory's quote requests to gather apples-to-apples proposals, then compare line items rather than totals alone.

Should my Portland asphalt contractor be licensed, insured, and bonded?

Yes — treat license, insurance, and (when required) bonding as a checklist item before work starts. Requirements differ by job location: work that stays on private property may follow one path, while work in the public right-of-way follows the City rules already listed on this hub. For Portland, review the permit section above and ask each pro to show current insurance certificates and any ROW-related credentials the City requires for your specific curb or apron scope. Main Street lists businesses for comparison; verify credentials directly with the contractor and the City.

What is the difference between driveway and parking lot paving in Portland?

Residential driveways are smaller, often use thinner structural sections than commercial lots, and may involve a curb cut or apron in the City right-of-way (see this page's permit notes). Parking lots usually need thicker sections for truck loads, more attention to drainage and slopes, striping after paving, and sometimes phased work so tenants keep access. Cost per square foot for a parking lot is driven by thickness, haul distance, night work, and striping. We do not publish a Portland parking-lot $/sq ft until we have a current sourced figure, so ask contractors for lot-specific line items rather than extrapolating from the driveway table.

Crack sealing vs sealcoating vs overlay — which do I need in Portland?

Crack sealing fills individual cracks to keep water out of the base. Sealcoating is a thin protective surface coat that restores appearance and slows oxidation — it does not fix structural failure. An overlay adds a new asphalt layer over a sound existing pavement; full remove-and-replace is for failed base, widespread alligator cracking, or poor drainage. A good contractor will walk the pavement with you and recommend the lightest treatment that actually solves the failure mode. If the base is pumping or soft, sealcoat alone will not last.

Compare Portland paving contractors

Contractors listed on the Portland hub, from Main Street listings data. Claimed profiles are shown first. Full cards are in the list above.

• William Stanley & Sons Paving, Portland
• Pavement Maintenance Inc, Portland
• Cascade Paving & Sealcoating, Portland
• The Bull A&M Paving, Portland
• A.C. Moate Industries, Inc | Portland Asphalt Paving, Portland

Own one of these businesses? Claim your free listing to add photos, services, and contact details.

Nearby city hubs

• Vancouver, WA asphalt contractors
• Salem, OR asphalt contractors
• Eugene, OR asphalt contractors
• Tacoma, WA asphalt contractors

Prices above come from the dated third-party sources named in the table and are not quotes from Main Street or any listed contractor. Permit rules change; confirm with PBOT before you start work.