A survey circulated among city candidates by the music advocacy group Music Portland showed strong interest in reforming Portland’s noise code to protect music venues.
Currently, there are two conflicting city noise codes: Title 18, which sets specific decibel limits for different zones and times of day, and Title 14A.30, a nuisance code that gives police officers discretion to enforce noise violations based on a “plainly audible” standard. According to Music Portland, the latter code has a history of harming the music industry, particularly BIPOC-owned venues, which it says are more likely to receive complaints regardless of noise level. The group advocates for repealing Title 14A.30 and adopting Title 18 as the consistent standard for noise control.
Calls to Repeal the “Plainly Audible” Standard
Among the 32 candidates who returned the survey, most said they supported repealing the “plainly audible” standard.
“When you look at the data, it’s no coincidence that the types of noise complaints that are most subjectively enforced against involve music with heavy bass and drums and is enjoyed by Black and brown audiences,” wrote District 1 candidate Jamie Dunphy, a live music advocate who serves on the board of Music Portland. “If elected, I will introduce a repeal of 14A.30 within the first 60 days of being in office,” he added.
Dunphy’s stance was echoed by District 2 candidate and OHSU communications specialist Mariah Hudson, who noted personal experience of observing unfair enforcement practices.
“As chair of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, I worked with noise control officers on complaints, many of which were directed at longstanding businesses and BIPOC owners, including Solae’s on Alberta. Having an objective standard and noise control officers helped us support these cultural hubs and determine the neighbors’ complaints were unfounded,” she wrote.
Mayoral candidates Keith Wilson and Liv Østhus also said they supported repealing the “plainly audible” standard, while Carmen Rubio said her office had explored amendments to the code that gives police officers discretion, an effort that resulted in no code changes.
“We are still very much in favor of working towards finding a solution to ensure that no code can ever again be used to target music venues. When I am mayor, I will then have authority to find a path forward,” she wrote.

Live Nation’s Entry Raises Concerns Among Candidates
An overwhelming majority of candidates also expressed misgivings about global entertainment giant Live Nation and its ticketing subsidiary Ticketmaster coming to Portland.
“For 14 months as a candidate, I’ve been clear in saying that I will oppose companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster from entering our marketplace, where they would undoubtedly damage the local music ecology and stifle the independent spirit that makes Portland such a special place to live,” wrote District 3 candidate and recovery advocate Jesse Cornett, whose candidacy is endorsed by the band Pearl Jam.
Mayoral candidates Keith Wilson and Carmen Rubio were less definitive.
“We will not tolerate near-monopolies or anti-competitive practices that exploit consumers, workers, or artists,” wrote Wilson, who owns a sustainable trucking company. “I believe Live Nation can operate here, but I expect they will feel Portland’s values reflected in the marketplace,” saying he would support the ongoing efforts of the DOJ and Department of Commerce in their antitrust suits against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who recently voted to reject Music Portland’s appeal against Live Nation’s 3,500-seat concert hall in the Central Eastside, said the council had no influence over Live Nation’s entry into the market.
“Although business practice agreements were outside the bounds of the [City Council’s] decision, in a separate decision I was proud to have pushed to ensure that those publicly made operating commitments to the music community were put in writing as part of the Purchase and Sale Agreement before council took this land use vote,” Rubio wrote.
The original approval was made by a Hearings Officer, a city-appointed official responsible for making decisions on specific types of land use applications.