Apply for a Community Event Permit

Overview

Community Event Permits let businesses, community organizations, or nonprofits use the street and/or sidewalk to host pop-up events lasting 1-2 days. Community events help to build resiliency by strengthening community connections, showcasing community identity, bolstering local economies, and supporting microenterprises.

Please note: 

• All application materials must be received at least 30 calendar days before your event, but we advise submitting your application as far as 3 months in advance of your event. Please allow as much lead time as possible to ensure you will get your permit before your event.
• In some unique cases, applications received within 30 days of event may be expedited and a $150 expedited fee may be added to your application.  An expedited permit may NOT be an option. Please call or email to check availability.     

If you need to use the right-of-way for ongoing, day-to-day business, check out the Outdoor Dining Program, designed to give Portland businesses and organizations the space they need to serve their neighbors, customers, and community. For more information visit our page linked below:

What is the Outdoor Dining permit? 

Apply for a Community Event Permit 

To apply for our Community Event Permit, use our online form here: 

Community Event application form  

Application takes 10-15 minutes to fill out. Supporting materials such as flyers, notifications, and insurance will take longer to complete; these may be submitted later. Due to a high volume of requests, we estimate 5-10 business days to respond. Approval time varies. 

The application must be submitted to PBOT at least 30 calendar days prior to your event but we advise submitting your application up to three months before your event to ensure proper review. Keep in mind, you may have to make corrections and resubmit items for approval. Please allow as much lead time as possible to ensure you will get your permit before your event. 

Permit Requirements 

This section outlines all the requirements for a Community Event Permit. Not everything needs to be finalized before you apply. However, the application must be submitted no less than 30 calendar days before the event date.  

Keep in mind, you may have to make corrections and resubmit items for approval. Please allow as much lead time as possible to ensure you will get your permit before your event. 

General Requirements 

• All events must be non-political. 

• Events must be free and open to the public. Ticketed events must have tickets available for sale to the general public.    

• Events must allow non-participating people to pass through safely. 
• Community Event Permits are issued to non-profit organizations. If the organizing entity is not a non-profit organization, the event must have a non-profit partner.  
• The location of the event must be relevant to the business or non-profit beneficiary.  

Site Plan 

Provide a site plan showing the section of right-of-way you’ll be using and what will be placed in the closure. In your site plan, be sure to show: 

• Street names, sidewalks, and other landmarks.   
• The required 12-foot-wide emergency lane that will be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles. Event attendees and pedestrians are allowed in the emergency lane during the event, but equipment and structures are not. 
• All objects and equipment in the closure such as chairs, tables, tents, merchandise, etc.  
• Fencing or barriers that define or contain your event space.  

Please view an example site plan below: 

Notification and Event Flyers 

You are required to notify all businesses and residents adjacent to the street closure and submit your flyer and tracking forms to PBOT. Be sure to talk to neighbors and area businesses so you know what you will need to include in your site plan to ensure proper access for all. Doing this kind of outreach is also a great way to form partnerships, pool resources, and get the community excited about your event.  

Here is a notification tracking form:  

Here is a template for an event flyer to work from, but feel free to create your own with the event date and times, event name, and contact information:   

When you’ve completed your notifications, email your event flyer and tracking form to PBOTcommunityevent@portlandoregon.gov.   

Non-Profit Letter Requirement

For-profit organizations hosting a community event require a non-profit beneficiary. A letter of association from the non-profit beneficiary is required to be submitted. Please see letter requirements below: 

• The letter should be on the non-profit’s letterhead. 
• Signed by one of their board members. 
• Letter should be submitted in PDF format. 
• Brief description of the event and non-profit association. 
  • Dates and times of the event. 
  • 501(c) Tax ID#
  • Non-profit board member contact information. 

Please see an example non-profit letter below: 

Insurance 

Insurance is required for hosting events in the public right-of-way. The city requires a certificate of liability insurance AND an additional insured endorsement. You can review the rules on the page below:

Insurance and bond requirements for permits in the public right-of-way

Email insurance documents to insurance@portlandoregon.gov  

Additional Permits 

Additional permits may be required from other city or state agencies for selling or serving alcohol, having amplified sound or live music, or for certain types of fencing. Permit instructions can be found here: 

• Selling or serving alcohol? Visit the Bureau of Development Service's Apply for a Temporary Liquor License page for instructions.   
• Having amplified sound or live music? Visit the Bureau of Development Service's Apply for a Noise Code Variance page for instructions.  
• Using barriers, fencing, or tents over 700 square feet? Visit the Portland Fire & Rescue permit forms page for required permits and instructions. 

Next Steps

• After you submit your application and site plan, PBOT will create a traffic control plan specific to your event. This plan outlines what signage and barricades are required for you to safely detour traffic. Permit holders are responsible for obtaining and placing traffic control devices, as well as “no parking” signs on non-metered streets. Review PBOT’s Basic traffic control devices and vendors page for more information. 
• PBOT staff will contact you with a link to pay the fee online. Review the permit fees below. Payment is accepted online and in person (please bring email with you): 1900 SW 4th Ave, Development Services Center. Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm. 
• The City does not provide traffic control devices. You will be responsible for obtaining the barricades and other devices on the traffic control plan. For more information about where to rent barricades please go to our Basic traffic control devices and vendors webpage. 
• After payment, the permit, printable no parking labels (if outside the metered district), and traffic control plan will be emailed to you. If you wish to have enforcement on the day of the event, please contact PBOT Parking Enforcement to request an inspection. No Parking Signs will only be enforceable 72 hours after PBOT Parking Enforcement verifies they are installed correctly. Verification fees apply and are separate from the community event fees. Please visit the Non-Metered Parking Reservation overview page.

Permit Fees

To view the Community Event fee table, please visit the link below. 

Please note that the fee table does not show every possible community event fee. Certain uncommon event plans incur different fees. Please reach out with questions. Thank you!

FAQ

To view frequently asked questions and their answers about the community event program, please see the document below. 

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