Deck Builder in NW Portland, OR

Northwest Portland is the most architecturally diverse of Portland’s quadrants. In a single six-block walk you pass 1900s Victorians in Nob Hill, 1920s four-square homes on NW Thurman, 1980s infill on NW 23rd, and 2015+ condos in the Pearl District.

LGC Remodeling has built decks, rooftop patios, and covered outdoor rooms across all of it. Our typical NW Portland project is either: (1) a traditional deck behind a Nob Hill or Slabtown home, (2) a rooftop deck retrofit above a garage or flat-roof addition, or (3) a heritage-sensitive rebuild near the Alphabet Historic District.

We work under Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D), not Clark County like the Washington side. That means different timelines, different fees, and design reviews on some projects.

About the Master

My name is Larry Zagoriy, and for over 15 years I’ve been building decks, patios, and outdoor living spaces across Clark County and the Portland metro.

NW Portland work is different — Pearl District rooftop decks, Nob Hill heritage-sensitive backyards, Forest Park edge tree-protected builds. I’ve done plenty of each.

I’m a licensed contractor — CSLB #1106627, bonded and insured. Every project I take on, I personally manage from the first site visit through the final inspection. That means one accountable point of contact, no handoffs, no communication gaps. When you hire LGC, you’re hiring me.

NW Portland Sub-Neighborhoods

Pearl District (former warehouse district, mostly post-2000 condos/lofts) — very few ground-level deck projects here. The work we do is rooftop decks on top of private buildings, HOA-coordinated common-area patios, and occasional balcony enlargements. Strict building codes apply — load path into the building structure is usually the pivot point.

Nob Hill (residential historic neighborhood, roughly NW 17th to NW 25th, Burnside to NW Wilson) — Victorian and Craftsman homes, narrow lots, tight backyards. Most projects are 200-400 sqft cedar or composite decks. Design review applies in Alphabet Historic District portions.

Slabtown (former industrial area converted to mixed residential, north of NW Everett, east of NW 21st) — newer infill mid-rises + a few older homes mixed in. Most work is rooftop terraces on newer buildings with structural capacity already designed in.

Northwest Heights (higher elevation NW of Forest Park edge) — custom homes on sloped lots, 1980s-2010s construction. Common project: multi-level hillside decks with engineered post systems. Budgets often $75-150K+.

Forest Park edge (homes bordering Forest Park along NW Thurman, NW Cornell) — wooded lots with specific tree protection requirements. Portland Urban Forestry reviews these projects for critical root zone compliance.

Northwest Industrial / NW 21st corridor — commercial and mixed-use. Rare deck projects; occasional outdoor dining deck or event space.

NW Portland-Specific Permit Considerations

NW Portland permits go through PP&D like all Portland work, but certain sub-neighborhoods add layers:

• Alphabet Historic District (Nob Hill): bounded roughly NW 17th-23rd, Burnside-Wilson, this is a Portland Historic District with design review for exterior changes visible from the street. Back-yard decks often don’t trigger review, but street-facing or side-yard projects do. Review adds 4-8 weeks.
• Kings Hill Historic District: smaller but similar — look it up on PP&D’s historic map before design.
• Urban Forestry / tree protection: Portland’s Tree Code requires protection during construction for trees above certain diameter thresholds, especially within Critical Root Zones. Much of NW Portland — especially Nob Hill, Northwest Heights, and Forest Park edge — has old-growth or near-old-growth trees on private property. We coordinate with city arborists when project areas fall within root zones.
• Flood and slope considerations: Northwest Heights and Forest Park edge have steep-slope overlays in places. Projects on slopes > 25% require geotechnical reports.
• Portland permit fee baseline: minimum $145 + 12% state surcharge. SDCs rarely apply to deck-only projects but can trigger on larger additions.