Special Events & Permits in Fort Myers, FL (2026)
5 verified special events & permits rules for Fort Myers, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Fort Myers requires a written city permit, its code term is "street fair", before anyone can close a public street for a block party, festival, or neighborhood gathering that blocks normal traffic; the public works director issues it.
Fort Myers Block Party Street Closure Permit
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 70-125
Street fair means a social or community event, not including an athletic event or parade, in which any group of persons convene to celebrate their community or neighborhood on any street in the city which event obstructs or interferes with the normal flow of vehicular traffic. ... To issue a permit means to deliver to an applicant for a street fair permit written permission to sponsor or hold a...
Park Event Permits
Events on Fort Myers public land or in a city facility must follow the Special Events Handbook or the facility's event fee structure before they can be held.
Fort Myers Park & Public Land Event Permit
Significant RestrictionsFort Myers Land Development Code § 118.3.5.E.1
Special events. The term "special events" shall mean an event held on public land or held in or at a public facility or a combination of both public land and public facility. Any person or entity requesting to conduct a special event on public land, not totally within a facility, shall follow provisions in the city's special events handbook. Special events totally contained within a public faci...
Parade Permits
Fort Myers exempts city-issued parade permits from its street-obstruction ban, so a parade needs city permission before stepping off: without one, blocking a public street is an unlawful obstruction under Sec. 78-1.
Parade Permit Rules in Fort Myers, FL
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 78-1(b), (c)(3)
It is unlawful for any person to willfully obstruct the free, convenient and normal use of any public street, highway or road right-of-way by impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding or restraining traffic passing thereon... Nothing in this section shall be construed to:... (3) Prevent the issuance of a permit by the city to allow parades otherwise permissible on public streets.
Street Fair Rules
Fort Myers requires a permit and a $250-per-day recycling deposit before any group can close a city street for a street fair that blocks normal vehicular traffic.
Fort Myers Street Fair Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances §§ 70-124, 70-125
Street fair means a social or community event, not including an athletic event or parade, in which any group of persons convene to celebrate their community or neighborhood on any street in the city which event obstructs or interferes with the normal flow of vehicular traffic. ... The applicant shall pay a deposit in the amount of $250.00 for each day of the event to the public works director o...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Fort Myers requires a $150 sidewalk café business tax receipt before selling food or drinks on a city sidewalk, but only within the Downtown Redevelopment District and only next to a licensed restaurant.
Fort Myers Sidewalk Café Tax Receipt
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 18-402
It shall be unlawful for any person or business to engage in the sale of food or beverages to patrons on a city sidewalk unless a sidewalk café business tax receipt is obtained... Each applicant for a sidewalk café business tax receipt under this section shall pay a nonrefundable business tax receipt fee of $150.00... All sidewalk café business tax receipts shall expire on September 30 and shal...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Myers city rules.
Special Events & Permits in Lee County →