Portland City Council Unanimously Repeals 30-Year-Old Nightlife Buffer Zone

The Portland City Council voted unanimously Monday to repeal a three-decade-old zoning rule that restricted the number of businesses able to hold entertainment licenses in the downtown area, passing the measure as an emergency.

Unanimous Vote Follows Business Concerns

The council’s 8-0 decision eliminated the 100-foot “business dispersal requirement,” a regulation dating to the 1990s. City staff said the original intent was to prevent an overconcentration of nightlife establishments in the Old Port and to address noise and occasional fights associated with bars closing. Councilor April Fournier was absent from the vote.

Business owners had argued the rule was outdated and hindered nightlife. Isaac MacDougal, owner of Cocktail Mary on Market Street, had pushed city leaders to strike down the regulation. Since relocating his bar from the East End, MacDougal had been unable to obtain a license to host dance and drag nights. He thanked councilors for addressing the issue quickly.

Emergency Passage Speeds Up Process

City staff initially estimated the amendment would not reach the council until fall after going through the planning board. To expedite the change, the council waived the usual second reading and passed it as an emergency, which required seven affirmative votes.

Councilor Kate Sykes noted the effort required to correct an issue affecting a business owner and thanked colleagues for navigating the change through a series of obstacles. Councilor Wes Pelletier said it was important to show initiative in addressing such matters promptly.

Broader Support from Business Groups

The Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce and Creative Portland supported the amendment. Dinah Minot, executive director of Creative Portland, had previously told officials the buffer prevented the organization from hiring musicians for outdoor performances during a new monthly event called Third Wednesdays. She said the group is grateful the council is updating old ordinances to make it easier to activate streets and plazas downtown, adding that the goal is to showcase Portland’s cultural heritage and diverse talent.

Other downtown businesses and organizations also supported the change, arguing it would provide more flexibility at a time when sustaining a downtown business is challenging.