Entertainment Commission approves Portola Music Festival permit for Pier 80; inspectors to set sound limits

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted unanimously to approve a jam permit for Goldenvoice and Nonplus Ultra to stage the inaugural Portola Music Festival at Pier 80 this fall.

Dylan Rice, the commission’s senior analyst, told commissioners the two‑day event will likely exceed normal municipal sound allowances and described staff conditions that require inspectors to set both internal and external C‑weighted limits, and to work with applicants during scheduled sound checks before the event. Goldenvoice expects the festival to run from roughly noon to 11 p.m. each day and projected attendance of about 32,500 people per day.

Jordan Langer of Nonplus Ultra and Goldenvoice framed Pier 80 as “a prime location for transportation, for in and out,” and described logistics including three outdoor stages, a warehouse stage, a multiweek load‑in and load‑out window, shuttle and rideshare plans, and a hotline for neighbors to report issues in real time. Organizers said they plan a robust security and medical presence, including a primary medical tent, ancillary medical stations, and trained staff able to distribute Narcan if needed.

Commissioners asked about cross‑bay sound travel and outreach to Alameda; Langer said the applicant would include a heads‑up to nearby communities and coordinate sound checks with staff to establish enforceable limits. After questions from several commissioners, a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations passed 4–0.

Next steps for the event include final sound testing with city inspectors, publication of a neighbor hotline, and continued neighborhood outreach in the two weeks before the festival. If complaints arise, neighbors are directed to file a 311 complaint so inspectors can respond and, if necessary, enforce permit conditions.