Publication Box Display Requirements

All publication boxes must be placed on a sidewalk, parallel to the curb and face the pedestrian zone.  But what else must be considered when looking to have a publication box in the public right-of-way?

About the publication box itself:

• Maximum height is 50 inches (or 4’2”)
• Maximum width is 24 inches (or 2’)
• Maximum depth is 24 inches (or 2’)
• If a co-located publication box, must be black in color and design must be similar to existing co-located publication boxes installed around Pioneer Courthouse Square unless in a design district.  If in design district, may be allowed to vary standards.

About securing the publication box:

• May be chained to a sign post, street light, or signal/utility pole
• If the above are painted, a rubber coated steel chain or cable is required to secure box
• Distance between the publication box and the above can be no longer than 6 inches
• If the above are owned by the City of Portland, no written permission required
• If the above are not owned by the City of Portland, written permission of the owner of the sign post, street light, or signal/utility pole is required.
• CANNOT be fastened in any way to street furniture, public art, bicycle racks, or street trees.

About placement of the publication box:

• Located in groupings with a combined length of no greater than 10 feet, immediately abutting each other
• At least 20 feet must be left clear between groupings of publication boxes (free standing) along the same block face
• No free standing publication boxes may be placed within 175 feet of installed co-located publication box
• Cannot be located where the unobstructed pedestrian zone is less than 8 feet within pedestrian districts and City walkways, or 6 feet on all other sidewalks
• Cannot be located at any distance less than 2 feet from the street side face of the curb, measured to the side of the publication box closest to the curb
• Cannot be located on any grating, manhole cover or access lid
• Cannot be placed within 5 feet of:
  • any crosswalk
  • any fire hydrant
  • any drinking fountain
  • any public art
  • any driveway, alley, or curb cut
  • any portion of an ADA ramp
  • a marked disabled parking space
  • a marked loading or taxi zone
• Cannot be within:
  • a traffic island, median or traffic circle
  • a transit platform unless allowed by Portland StreetCar or TriMet
  • the corner of two intersecting sidewalk corridors, as determined by the adjacent property lines extended
• Cannot be located where:
  • it may cause damage to any landscaping, including, but not limited to lawn, flowers, shrubs, or trees
  • it may cause damage to or interfere with the use of pipes, vault areas, telephone or electrical cables/wires or other utility facilities
  • it obstructs access to parked vehicles
  • it obscures any fixed regulatory or informational sign