As we take two steps forward and one step backward (Delta variant, we're looking at you) on the road to pandemic recovery, our business and entertainment districts are approaching something close to normal. This is great news for the businesses, their employees and Portlanders looking to get out of the house, meet friends and enjoy Portland's culinary, cultural and musical delights.
Yet, this new activity has raised the volume of our city and sometimes too much it turns out. Civic Life’s Noise Program has received double the volume of noise complaints since the onset of COVID-19 and continues to experience an increase of complaints as more businesses reopen. Why? More people have adapted to working, studying and being at home. As a result of this shift, many residents have grown familiar with quieter streets and have forgotten that Portland’s “buzz” is what initially drew many of us to this beloved city.
To help businesses and restaurants run successfully outdoors while maintaining goodwill with neighbors, the Noise Program has created a resource to explain the City of Portland’s noise code. If you are a business owner, please visit our webpage.
We know that everyone has a different tolerance for noise and the City always encourages residents to first speak directly with businesses about resolving a noise issue. As we adjust to how COVID-19 has impacted our ways of working and being, remember—we are all in this together.
And to learn more about our community-led noise program, visit our webpage.