Alachua County, FL Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)
Key Facts
- Closure trigger
- Any street/ROW/sidewalk closure ends exemption, § 402.153(a)(1)
- Traffic agreements
- Sheriff + FDOT sign-off required, § 402.153(d)(4)
- County-property finding
- Director must find no undue impedance, § 402.153(d)(8)
- Setbacks
- Zoning district setbacks apply to closures, § 402.153(d)(2)
- Revocation bar
- 12-month permit bar after revocation, § 402.153(d)(9)
Summary
A film shoot that closes a public street, right-of-way, or sidewalk in unincorporated Alachua County loses its exemption from the temporary filming permit and must secure traffic-control agreements before closing anything. Section 402.153(a)(1) ties the small-crew and other exemptions to keeping streets and sidewalks open, and Section 402.153(d)(4) requires approved agreements with the Sheriff and FDOT.
The following filming activities are exempt from this Article provided that public streets, rights-of-way, and public sidewalks are not closed due to the activity and the activity does not create on-street parking impacts:...(4)Traffic and access. With approved agreements with the Alachua County Sheriff, FDOT, or other agencies, as required.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
153 temporary filming permit regardless of crew size. 153(d)(4) then conditions the permit on 'traffic and access. With approved agreements with the Alachua County Sheriff, FDOT, and/or other agencies, as required,' meaning the Sheriff's Office and, for state-maintained roads, the Florida Department of Transportation must sign off on any closure or detour plan before the Director issues the permit. 47 may also apply. 153(d)(8) requires the Director to find that county-property use won't 'unduly impede governmental business or public access,' won't conflict with previously scheduled activities, and won't endanger public health, safety, or welfare before a closure involving county property is approved.
Violations & Fines
Closing a street or right-of-way for filming without the Sheriff's and FDOT's approved agreements, or without the underlying Section 402.153 permit, is enforceable the same way as any unpermitted temporary use: suspension of any permit that was issued, mandatory cessation of the closure under Section 402.153(c)(3), and, for repeated or serious noncompliance, revocation plus a twelve-month bar on new filming permits under Section 402.153(d)(9), in addition to injunctive relief or the penalties in Sections 10.08–10.09 of the County Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small film crew close a street without a permit?
Who approves a road closure for filming on a state-maintained road?
Does filming on a county-owned street need anything beyond the standard permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida filming & production overview
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