Portland, ME Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Street Closure Permit fee
- $500.00 per day
- Single Lane Closure fee
- $250.00 per day
- Sidewalk Permit fee
- $50.00 per day
- No-permit fine
- $125.00 per day
- Governing section
- § 25-27(a)(3), Chapter 25
Summary
A full street closure in Portland, the kind a block party or neighborhood street festival needs, runs $500.00 per day or any portion of a day under the Section 25-27 fee schedule, the priciest of the four right-of-way occupancy permits alongside cheaper single-lane, sidewalk, and parking-space closures.
(3) Vehicles, equipment, or construction materials, as follows: a. The Parking Space Permit shall be $40.00 per day or any portion thereof; b. The Sidewalk Permit shall be $50.00 per day or any portion thereof; c. The Single Lane Closure Permit shall be $250.00 per day or any portion thereof; and d. The Street Closure Permit shall be $500.00 per day or any portion thereof.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
00 per day for a single parking space. All four permits are issued under the same Division 2 authorization in Section 25-26, the underlying requirement that nothing be placed in or on a city street, way, or public place without a duly authorized, revocable permit, with Section 25-27 supplying the price. 00 charge for each day it's in effect. Organizers running an actual event on the closed street, not just the closure itself, should also expect the separate 'use of city property' fee that Section 25-27(a)(4) sets by annual council order for festivals, block parties, and similar gatherings, since the street-closure fee and the event-use fee cover two different things: blocking the roadway and using it for the event.
Violations & Fines
Section 25-27(c) fines $125.00 per day for closing a street without first obtaining the Street Closure Permit, and $100.00 per day for failing to follow an approved plan for managing vehicle and pedestrian detours around the closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to close a street for a block party in Portland?
Is the street closure fee the only cost for a block party?
What if I close a street without the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
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