Special Event and Film Permits for County Bridges

A Special Event Permit is required when an event such as a parade, relay or fun run occurs on county bridges. This also includes film and video productions.

Special events on our bridges may also require permits from Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation or Oregon Department of Transportation. If you have not filed with them yet, our staff can provide you with contact information.

Permits are processed in the order in which they are received. The more complete the application, the quicker the permit will be processed.

Applications that require review by the Board of County Commissioners must be filed no later than January 31 of the event year, or 120 days prior to the event, whichever is earlier. These applications include bridge closures, multiple lane or sidewalk closures, or events including sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the bridge.

What’s a County Bridge?

The county operates six bridges on and around the Willamette River:

  • Broadway Bridge
  • Burnside Bridge
  • Hawthorne Bridge
  • Morrison Bridge
  • Sellwood Bridge
  • Wapato Bridge (to Sauvie Island, across the Multnomah Channel)

Seven other bridges across the Willamette within Multnomah County are operated by different agencies.

We also maintain smaller bridges and other structures around the rural parts of the county. Events on these bridges require a permit for county roads.

Special Event Permit Checklist

  • Special Event Permit Application
  • Traffic Control Plan
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Permit Fees
  • Portland Parks & Recreation Special Use Requirements, if required

A permit for filing on or around a county bridge may have more requirements:

Special Event Permit Application

Once you've reviewed the checklist, you can begin your application.

To begin, please download and fill out this form:

You can then go to the Permit Portal and upload the form as part of your application.

Traffic Control Plan

If your event is expected to interrupt or affect traffic, you will need a traffic control plan that conforms to MUTCD standards.

Our Special Event Coordinator can provide standard traffic control plans that will cover most events.

If your plan includes a lane or sidewalk closure, please include the anticipated work schedule, including hours.

If the event requires a complete bridge closure, the Traffic Control Plan will be submitted to the County Engineer, who will need to approve the closure.  A full bridge closure requires the county to provide additional communications to the public, our bridge crews, and additional outside agencies, such as TriMet.

Closure to River Traffic

If your event requires a closure to river traffic, our staff will consult with the US Coast Guard and the City of Portland. The Coast Guard, the city, or the Oregon Department of Transportation can reject any application.

Applications that require Coast Guard review must be filed no later than January 31 of the event year or 120 days before the event, whichever date is earlier.

Proof of Insurance

Before we issue a permit, you must provide proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance. Please see the last page of the Bridge Special Event Permit Application for more information.

For an example of proof of insurance, please see our Sample Certificate of Liability. This is a document that would be issued by your insurer.

Notice to TriMet

You must provide notice to TriMet of lane closures and bus stop closures at least ten days before the event.

Permit Fees

The application fee for a special event permit is $200. If a full bridge closure is required, there is an additional fee of $300. Depending on the nature of the event, other fees may apply.

If more than ten hours of county staff time are needed, or if the event needs additional support, a deposit of $855 is required.

Fees will be calculated when your permit application is submitted, and you may find and pay your invoice through our permit portal

Contact Us

If you have questions about your Bridge Special Events permit, please contact:

Matt Studer
Special Events Coordinator
503.708.0740
matt.d.studer@multco.us