FAQ - Safety & Compliance
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Events have been held at The North Warehouse long before us
In March 2020, the Governor shut down all gatherings due the COVID pandemic
We were able to open with limited capacity in June 2021, using special events permits
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Currently categorized as non-assembly, The Warehouse operates using temporary Special Event Permits issued by Portland Fire & Rescue.
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Buildings that do not have an assembly designation by the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) can host events using special event permits
Approval as a full-assembly space would mean special events permits are no longer needed
Many types of building can be approved as an assembly space, including offices, industrial buildings (us), commercial buildings, etc. General Industrial 1 (IG1) is the Zoning for industrial buildings like us. Zoning Information
To obtain City approval as an assembly space requires many things
We have been working with BDS on this process for quite some time
Other known concert venues in Portland have full assembly status and are allowed to be open 365 days a year without additional permitting unless there is a change of floor plan
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The Special Event Permit process was created by Portland Fire & Rescue incoordination with Bureau of Development Services (BDS)
The program was created to allow non-assembly spaces the ability to hold events such as concerts, trade shows, and banquets.
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Non-assembly buildings that pass inspection are eligible to receive 24 total permits in a calendar year or two permits per month
Each permit allows for 4 days of activity under a temporary occupancy rating provided by Portland Fire & Rescue, totaling 96 available days
When applying for a Special Event Permit, applicants must answer questions regarding the space and the event.
A floor plan of the event must be attached with each permit and changes to the floor plan may result in a reduced temporary occupancy
Portland Fire & Rescue inspectors generally visit the event whenever a permit has been issued
Permits must be submitted 21 days prior to the event.
We have applied for and received permits for all our concerts to date
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Operating under the special event permits, we are not required to have a sprinkler system.
We intend to install a sprinkler system as part of the full-assembly status application
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Since our first show in June of 2021, we have been open 113 days.
We have received two capacity violations.
Capacity violation #1: Gorgon City 2/19/22
Capacity violation #2: TroyBoi 12/15/23
92 well-attended events between violations
Portland Fire & Rescue has been present and inspected the majority of our events
We have never been cited for failing to have a sprinkler system
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The North Warehouse and East Annex properties have a total of 10 exits.
Two 16’ wide garage doors and two push bar enabled doors exit patrons safely on to N Tillamook street at the South of the building.
Located West of the main hall, double doors exit patrons safely to a gravel lot
Two 25’ gates are located on the South and NW ends of the property.
On the North end of the property, push bar enabled exits are located in each space.
Each exit is enabled with proper exit signage and staffed by a member of our team for assistance in case of an emergency.
Our venue is on street level without flights of stairs and elevators which also makes it ADA accessible.
We have Harm Reduction and DPSST certified security at every event to ensure our space is safe from all aspects
15 DPSST Security
2-3 Harm Reduction staff managed by a CADC 1 (Drug and Alcohol Counselor)
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The Warehouse was built in 1924, and has had many different tenants
Over the last century building codes have changed and previously performed work on the building must be brought up to code
In regards to the WW article discussing a “doorway connecting our two buildings” we had removed plywood to create an opening between the main hall and the annex (Portal) to allow flow between the spaces. We were subsequently notified that this was not allowed by square footage code, and submitted a permit and closed the opening.
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We are currently closed for business pending approval of reinstatement of our filed and paid for fire permits on upcoming announced and ticketed events
We are actively exploring options for our upcoming events and if we cannot hold the events at the warehouse, we will reschedule, change venues, and or refund ticket holders. We understand that this is a very difficult situation for everyone, and promise that we’re working nonstop on options and will notify the public as soon as we have solutions.
Willamette Week Article
Today the WW published an article about The North Warehouse that has many inaccuracies. One item they reported accurately was that our concertgoers are our primary concern and safety is at the center of what we do.
Emergency Safety
The North Warehouse and East Annex property has a total of 10 exits. Two 16’ wide garage doors and two push bar enabled doors exit patrons safely on to N Tillamook street at the South of the building. Located West of the main hall, double doors exit patrons safely to a gravel lot where two 25’ gates are located on the South and NW ends of the property. On the North end of the property, push bar enabled exits are located in each space. Each exit is enabled with proper exit signage and staffed by a member of our team for assistance in case of an emergency. Our venue is on street level without flights of stairs and elevators which also makes it very ADA accessible.
Capacity
The article mentioned that TNW is unsafe in terms of occupancy but did not explain how our capacity is calculated. Those who have been to The North Warehouse know how they feel in our space, but for those who haven’t, we believe the math speaks for itself. Our occupancy is calculated at 15 square feet per person while similar venues in the city, including ones cited in the article, are calculated at 5 square feet per person. If we operated using this same math this would give our Main Hall at 10,000 square feet, not including the Annex or outside lot, a capacity of 1,998 patrons. We have never had anywhere near that capacity during an event. We feel that’s too many people to operate safely.
Portland Fire & Rescue - Special Event Permit
We operate under the Special Event Permit which allows concerts and other public events to be held in non-assembly buildings. The program allows non-assembly buildings a maximum of 12 ‘for profit’ and 12 ‘non-profit’ permits to be used for each address. The permits are for a maximum of four consecutive days. Sprinklers are not a requirement by the Fire Department while operating under a Special Event Permit.
Our lack of sprinklers
It is true that other venues have sprinklers and we do not. Sprinklers have always been a part of the process that we are actively working towards; to obtain a full-assembly occupancy with proper zoning, sprinkler heads will absolutely hang from our beautiful wooden beams. In the meantime, we have intentionally kept our capacity below other venues. We have wide open rooms, multiple large garage doors through which to exit, and only one floor. We also have very high ceilings, which will help keep smoke and heat away from our patrons, if a fire were to occur. We all agree, The North Warehouse is as safe, or safer, than the other venues.
Once the City processes our zoning/conditional use application, we will then install sprinklers, to make The North Warehouse even safer.
Permits & The Structure
The North Warehouse was built in 1924 and over the last century, building codes have changed. We have had certified electricians improve all work that the city deemed necessary to upgrade and are committed to comply with any additional upgrades or changes needed.
Compliance with Portland Fire
We have had 113 successful events in which Portland Fire has inspected the vast majority of. At no time during inspections did Portland Fire deem the event “unsafe”, and nothing was communicated to any management at TNW that we needed to close down the event; which we would have complied with.
Bottom line is if we didn’t know it was safe, we wouldn’t invite you to our party.
-TNW Management