14B.100.030 Application Procedure.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinances 179351, 189078 and 191208, effective April 1, 2023.)

  1. A.  Any applicant for any license who is required by the OLCC to have a recommendation from the City of Portland concerning the suitability of the application shall present the license application forms prescribed by the OLCC to the Bureau of Development Services, or its designee, for the purpose of obtaining the recommendation of the Chief of Police concerning the license.
  2. B.  The Bureau of Development Services shall accept liquor license applications only when the following conditions are met:
    1. 1.  All required forms are properly completed and in order; and
    2. 2.  The applicant has obtained a valid City business license; and
    3. 3.  The processing fee has been paid. Fees shall be in the maximum amount allowed by  Oregon law and shall be nonrefundable.
  3. C.  The Bureau of Development Services shall forward liquor license applications to the  Chief of Police with a copy of the City of Portland Liquor Outlet Information form to the Bureau of Licenses within one business day of receipt.
  4. D.  Except for applications for new licensed premises for railroads, public passenger carriers or boats, health care facilities, or all OLCC wholesale type licenses, in addition to the posting of a conspicuous notice on the licensed premises as required by the OLCC, Bureau of Development Services shall:
    1. 1.  Notify the following persons by mail that an application has been filed:
      1. a.  Property owners and property occupants within 300 feet of the proposed licensed premises;
      2. b.  The neighborhood association within whose boundaries the licensed premises will be located.
    2. 2.  Post the proposed new licensed premises with a notice indicating the process for public comment.
    3. 3.  Request a response in writing from the neighborhood association, property owners and property occupants and allow at least 20 days after the mailing or posting of notification as provided in this Section, to provide a response in writing to Bureau of Development Services.  Bureau of Development Services shall notify any person who responds pursuant to this Section of the recommendation made by the Chief of Police to the OLCC.
  5. E.  The Chief of Police shall conduct an investigation of each application for the purpose of determining the recommendation that shall be made to the OLCC. In addition to the information required by the OLCC application forms, the Chief of Police is authorized to require from the applicant any other pertinent information that the Chief of Police deems appropriate.
  6. F.  The Chief of Police shall coordinate with Office of Bureau of Development Services and the City Noise Control Officer prior to issuance of a recommendation to determine if there is substantial neighborhood concern or opposition to the application, or if there is evidence that noise is or will be a significant and persistent problem at the licensed premises.
    1. 1.  If the Chief of Police finds that there are valid grounds to make an unfavorable recommendation to OLCC as provided by Oregon liquor laws, the Chief of Police shall forward an unfavorable recommendation directly to the OLCC.
    2. 2.  If there is substantial neighborhood concern or opposition to the application, or there is evidence that noise is or will be a significant and persistent problem at the licensed premises, but the Chief of Police, because of time constraints or other factors, does not find sufficient basis for an unfavorable recommendation as provided by Oregon liquor laws, the Chief of Police shall forward a no endorsement recommendation directly to the OLCC, with supporting documentation of neighborhood concern or opposition and/or evidence of noise as provided by Bureau of Development Services, and shall request that the OLCC hear testimony from the neighborhood.  Bureau of Development Services shall coordinate neighborhood testimony for OLCC hearings.
    3. 3.  If the Chief of Police finds no basis for an unfavorable recommendation as provided by Oregon liquor laws, and there is no substantial neighborhood concern or opposition or evidence that noise is or will be a significant and persistent problem at the licensed premises, the Chief of Police shall forward a favorable recommendation directly to the OLCC.  The Chief of Police may also attach conditions or restrictions to a favorable recommendation, such as allowing sales only during limited hours, restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages associated with street drinkers, or other conditions or restrictions consistent with the Oregon liquor laws.
  7. G.  The Chief of Police shall notify the applicant of the recommendation.
  8. H.  The process for renewal applications shall be as provided by this Section except that the notification requirements of Subsection D shall not apply.
  9. I.  If Bureau of Development Services believes a good neighbor agreement will alleviate substantial neighborhood concern or opposition, Bureau of Development Services shall attempt to work with the licensed premises and the neighborhood to achieve a good neighbor agreement.  Bureau of Development Services shall notify the Chief of Police and the OLCC of any completed good neighbor agreements, or, of its attempts to achieve a good neighbor agreement, in the event Bureau of Development Services is unable to complete a good neighbor agreement within a reasonable period of time.