UPDATE:

As of March 2013 Southeast Uplift will no longer be providing liability insurance to private residence block parties. Applicants will now be able to send their materials directly to the Portland Bureau of Transportation, or Southeast Uplift can send it in on your behalf.

The new application can be found here.

If you have any questions you may reach the Portland Bureau of Transportation at 503-823-4003, or at pdotblockparty@portlandoregon.gov.  SE Uplift will also be available to answer any questions you have about how to apply for block parties. You can reach us at info@southeastuplift.org, or by phone at 503-232-0010.

Block parties are a great way to get to know your neighbors, relax in the public space of your neighborhood and most importantly, have fun! The activities and scope of the block party will vary based on your interests.  

Some FAQ's about Block Parties:

When do I need a block party permit? If you plan to close one (1) block of a residential street for small-scale block parties that will attract your immediate neighbors.

Are there certain streets that cannot be closed?  You can not have a block party on a street that is a bus route, has a bus layover or has a signalized traffic intersection.

What time can a block party last until?  Block parties cannot extend past 10PM.

What if we want to plan a party that will span a few blocks,  invite more than our immediate neighbors or host an event on behalf of a business or other organization?  Block parties are limited to one (1) block and can only be held for immediate neighbors.  Businesses, faith-based groups and other organizations are not eligible to apply for block party permits.  Larger events and/or events hosted by organizations rather than neighbors will require a special event permit rather than a block party permit. Contact the Portland Bureau of Transportation office at 503-823-7073 or visit the website for Community Event Street Closures for more information.

Please follow these steps when applying for a block party:

1. Review that Portland Bureau of Transportation's 2013 instructions for block parties (PDF).

2.  Complete the block party application packet, which consists of three forms:

• The block party application form (PDF) which asks applicants to fill in contact information and specific details about the block party.
• The block party street closure petition (PDF), which must have 100% of signatures from all adjacent property owners.  (Even if the driveway is not affected, any property abutting the proposed street closure must be notified). You must go door-to-door in order to obtain these signatures from all affected neighbors.  If a property owner is unavailable, they must be provided with written notification (must include street closure information as well as a contact name and number if the resident should have any concerns); if a property is vacant, this must be noted on the petition.
• The block party traffic control plan (PDF), which visually indicates the street proposed for closure, adjacent streets and the proposed location of barricades.

3.  Submit the three (3) elements of the application packet to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) in order to receive liability insurance for your event. SE Uplift will also be able to send off your application on your behalf.

NOTE: You must submit your completed block party application to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (or SE Uplift) at least three (3) weeks prior to the date of your block party, to ensure successful processing.
    
4.  Staff from PBOT will contact you directly if any follow-up is needed and mail or email a stamped copy of the permit back to you once it is approved.

5.  Once you have been approved for street closure, applicants are responsible for obtaining three (3) Type I Barricades and Street Closed or Road Closed signs for each end of the street (six barricades total). The barricades must be equipped with flashing lights after dusk. Barricades and signs can be rented; some suppliers in town offer specific Block Party packages (approximately $40), which can be found in the yellow pages under “Barricades.”

6.  Keep the permit available on site at your block party for potential review by a police officer or another authorized representative of the City of Portland.

Some important things to keep in mind:

    •    If you want to have amplified music, you may need a permit from the City of Portland Noice Control Office.  There is an application fee. You need to apply two (2) weeks prior to your event or an accelerated fee could be assessed. Please contact the Noise Control Office, 503-823-7350 for information on noise variances. 

    •    If you would like to have your block party in a local park rather than the street, you will need to complete a different permit.  Please contact the City of Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation, 503 823-2525 for more information on the permit process.

    •    If you would like to host a block party as part of National Night Out (NNO), you must register with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.  Noise and park permit fees will be waived for NNO registered events.  Visit the Office of Neighborhood Involvement's Crime Prevention Program for more information and eligible dates for 2012.

    •    Neighborhood coalitions will NOT provide insurance coverage for races, events where alcoholic beverages are sold and/or served in the right of way, or mechanical devices such as merry-go-rounds or inflatable castles are being used. Individuals participate at their own risk.  Also, we do not provide insurance coverage for businesses, faith-based groups or nonprofits.