Chapter 7.22 Street and Sidewalk Use Permits

The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate walks, marches, parades, athletic events or other processions in streets or on sidewalks held by sponsors that require use of City resources. This Chapter and the administrative regulations that implement it are necessary to maximize the safety of participants and others and to minimize inconvenience to the general public and disruption of public services while providing the public with the opportunity to exercise constitutionally protected rights of assembly and expression.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 186746, effective August 6, 2014.)

A.  The Street and Sidewalk Use Coordinator of the Portland Bureau of Transportation is authorized to issue street and sidewalk use permits.

B.  Adoption of Administrative Regulations.  The Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation is authorized to adopt or amend administrative regulations pertaining to use of sidewalks and streets.  All administrative regulations shall be in writing.

1.  Prior to the adoption of any administrative regulations the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation shall submit the proposed administrative regulations to the Street and Sidewalk Use Review Committee.  After consultation with the Street and Sidewalk Use Review Committee, the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation shall publish a notice regarding the proposed administrative regulations, and shall make them available for public review and written comments.

2.  No sooner than thirty days from the publication of the notice, the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation may adopt the proposed administrative regulations.  All administrative regulations adopted by the Bureau Director shall be filed in the office of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.  Copies of all current administrative regulations shall be made available to the public upon request.

3.  Notwithstanding Subsections 1. and 2. of this Section, the Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation may adopt interim administrative regulations without prior public notice upon the Director’s finding that failure to act promptly will result in serious prejudice to the public interest or the interest of the affected parties, including the specific reasons for prejudice.  Any administrative regulation adopted pursuant to this subsection shall be effective for a period of not longer than 180 days.

A permit issued by the Street and Sidewalk Use Coordinator is required for use of streets or sidewalks for the purposes of, and as provided in, this Chapter and the Street and Sidewalk Use Administrative Regulations.

A street or sidewalk use permit may be revoked or modified by the Street and Sidewalk Use Coordinator, or the police supervisor assigned to the street or sidewalk use permit, if the sponsor fails to comply with any of the requirements of this Chapter, of the Street and Sidewalk Use Administrative Regulations, or the conditions set forth in the application or permit.  If a street and sidewalk use permit is subject to revocation pursuant to this section, on the day of the street and sidewalk use to which the permit pertains, the Street and Sidewalk Use Coordinator or the police supervisor assigned to the street and sidewalk use permit shall attempt to contact or notify the sponsor, the organizer or the day of use coordinator, if any, as provided on the permit application, and attempt to resolve any problems before revoking the permit.  If resolution is not possible the permit may be revoked.

The sponsor and participants shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in connection with their use of streets or sidewalks.

Whenever any street or sidewalk use is in progress, the Bureau of Police shall have the authority to clear the streets or other public places and prohibit motor vehicles, buses, light rail, bicycles, and pedestrians from crossing, parking, stopping, and standing on the streets.

It is unlawful for any person to interfere with street or sidewalk use permitted under this Chapter.  The following acts, among others, are prohibited by this section, when done with the intent to cause interference:

A. Blocking, obstructing, or impeding the passage of participants, vehicles, or animals along the route.

B. Walking, running, driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle or skateboard through, between, with, or among participants, vehicles, or animals.

C. Dropping, throwing, rolling, or flying any object toward, among, or between participants, vehicles, or animals.

D. Throwing, squirting, dumping, or dropping any liquid, solid or gaseous substance on, toward, among, or between participants, vehicles, or animals.

E. Grabbing at, taking hold of, hitting, pulling, or pushing any participant, vehicle, or animal or anything in the possession of any participant.

F. Vending or offering for sale any food or merchandise during the hours and on the route of a street and sidewalk use permit without first having obtained the written permission of the sponsor, in addition to any permits and/or licenses otherwise required for such activity.