diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/mech_bigswitch/driver.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/mech_bigswitch/driver.py
index 75f25cea92..dc8c12c339 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/mech_bigswitch/driver.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/mech_bigswitch/driver.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from neutron.plugins.common import constants as pconst
 from neutron.plugins.ml2 import driver_api as api
 
 
+EXTERNAL_PORT_OWNER = 'neutron:external_port'
 LOG = log.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # time in seconds to maintain existence of vswitch response
@@ -137,16 +138,32 @@ class BigSwitchMechanismDriver(plugin.NeutronRestProxyV2Base,
         return prepped_port
 
     def bind_port(self, context):
-        if not self.does_vswitch_exist(context.host):
-            # this is not an IVS host
-            return
+        """Marks ports as bound.
 
-        # currently only vlan segments are supported
-        for segment in context.network.network_segments:
-            if segment[api.NETWORK_TYPE] == pconst.TYPE_VLAN:
-                context.set_binding(segment[api.ID], portbindings.VIF_TYPE_IVS,
-                                    {portbindings.CAP_PORT_FILTER: True,
-                                     portbindings.OVS_HYBRID_PLUG: False})
+        Binds external ports and IVS ports.
+        Fabric configuration will occur on the subsequent port update.
+        Currently only vlan segments are supported.
+        """
+        if context.current['device_owner'] == EXTERNAL_PORT_OWNER:
+            # TODO(kevinbenton): check controller to see if the port exists
+            # so this driver can be run in parallel with others that add
+            # support for external port bindings
+            for segment in context.network.network_segments:
+                if segment[api.NETWORK_TYPE] == pconst.TYPE_VLAN:
+                    context.set_binding(
+                        segment[api.ID], portbindings.VIF_TYPE_BRIDGE,
+                        {portbindings.CAP_PORT_FILTER: False,
+                         portbindings.OVS_HYBRID_PLUG: False})
+                    return
+
+        # IVS hosts will have a vswitch with the same name as the hostname
+        if self.does_vswitch_exist(context.host):
+            for segment in context.network.network_segments:
+                if segment[api.NETWORK_TYPE] == pconst.TYPE_VLAN:
+                    context.set_binding(
+                        segment[api.ID], portbindings.VIF_TYPE_IVS,
+                        {portbindings.CAP_PORT_FILTER: True,
+                        portbindings.OVS_HYBRID_PLUG: False})
 
     def does_vswitch_exist(self, host):
         """Check if Indigo vswitch exists with the given hostname.
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/ml2/drivers/test_bigswitch_mech.py b/neutron/tests/unit/ml2/drivers/test_bigswitch_mech.py
index 2dbe2a6d6d..f1c844734b 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/ml2/drivers/test_bigswitch_mech.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/ml2/drivers/test_bigswitch_mech.py
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ import webob.exc
 from neutron import context as neutron_context
 from neutron.extensions import portbindings
 from neutron import manager
+from neutron.openstack.common import jsonutils
 from neutron.plugins.bigswitch import servermanager
 from neutron.plugins.ml2 import config as ml2_config
+from neutron.plugins.ml2.drivers.mech_bigswitch import driver as bsn_driver
 from neutron.plugins.ml2.drivers import type_vlan as vlan_config
 import neutron.tests.unit.bigswitch.test_restproxy_plugin as trp
 from neutron.tests.unit.ml2 import test_ml2_plugin
@@ -195,3 +197,18 @@ class TestBigSwitchMechDriverPortsV2(test_db_plugin.TestPortsV2,
             self.assertEqual('host', pb['binding:host_id'])
             self.assertIn('bound_segment', pb)
             self.assertIn('network', pb)
+
+    def test_bind_external_port(self):
+        ext_id = jsonutils.dumps({'type': 'vlan', 'chassis_id': 'FF',
+                                  'port_id': '1'})
+        port_kwargs = {
+            portbindings.HOST_ID: ext_id,
+            'device_owner': bsn_driver.EXTERNAL_PORT_OWNER
+        }
+        with contextlib.nested(
+            mock.patch(SERVER_POOL + '.rest_create_port'),
+            self.port(arg_list=(portbindings.HOST_ID,), **port_kwargs)
+        ) as (rmock, port):
+            create_body = rmock.mock_calls[-1][1][2]
+            self.assertIsNotNone(create_body['bound_segment'])
+            self.assertEqual(create_body[portbindings.HOST_ID], ext_id)