TL;DR (generated, confidence: high)

Applicants must submit a Local Government Recommendation form to Portland via Civic Portal (24-hour processing), then submit the city's recommendation with their OLCC application through CAMP.

Key points:

Processing time: Local Government Recommendations processed in 24 hours through online portal (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
Processing fee: $35 per application; no refunds for applicant errors or submissions in error (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
Application submitted through Portland's Civic Portal; applicants create account, select Liquor, then Special Event License/Temporary Sales Event (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
Form source: Local Government Recommendation application downloaded from OLCC's Special Events webpage (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
Applicant errors in event location or dates require new application and new fee; refunds not issued (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
City's recommendation document added to OLCC application and submitted via OLCC's CAMP online system (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)
Event must be within City of Portland boundaries; contact OLCC Licensing Help Line (503-872-5217) for license type questions (Apply for a Special Event License ↗)

Apply for a Special Event License

← Liquor Program

Breadcrumb: Home > Apply for a Special Event License

Source: Apply for a Special Event License ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:04:34 GMT

Label: Service

Local Government Recommendations submitted through the City's online portal will be processed in 24 hours.

Please follow all the directions below carefully.

To see a visual step by step of the application process click here ↗.

The Application Process:

Special Event Licenses include and are sometime called Temporary Sales Licenses.
Submitting a complete Local Government Recommendation application ↗ to the City of Portland is the first step toward getting your Special Event liquor license from the OLCC.
You must read all the instructions below and then submit a completed application through the online system ↗.
Carefully complete your Local Government Recommendation application ↗ - any applicant mistakes for event location or event dates will require a *new* application and a new processing fee. Refunds will not be issued for applicant errors.
The City will then process your application and send you our recommendation in an email.
You will add our official recommendation document to your OLCC Special Event application and submit all documents directly to the OLCC through their new online application system, CAMP.

Step One: Gather information

1. Make sure your event is within the City of Portland boundaries.

2. Download and complete the appropriate Special Event License Local Government Recommendation application ↗ from the OLCC's Special Events web page ↗. If you have questions about the best type of license for your event, you must call the OLCC directly on the Licensing Help Line at 503-872-5217.

Step Two: Submit Local Government Recommendation Application

Applications should be submitted through the online system - Civic Portal. Carefully input your information. Refunds are not given for applications submitted in error and changes cannot be made once applications are submitted.

Check out the visual step-by-step here ↗

Create an account at Civic Portal ↗
Log in
Select "Liquor" from the Menu
Agree to the disclaimer, click the arrow beside "City of Portland Liquor Applications", and choose - Special Event License/Temporary Sales Event
Fill out the required fields related to your applicant and event information - this information should match the OLCC application information exactly.
Pay your processing fee - $35 per application. One applicant may add multiple event licenses at the same location to your "cart" but multiple locations or multiple applicants must be entered as separate applications.
Submit and watch your application get processed in real time!