Alachua County, FL Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit category
- Tier A temporary use permit, § 402.149(a)(4)
- Max duration
- 3 days per permit, § 402.150 Table 402.150.1
- Annual cap
- 18 days / 6 permits per location per year
- Cool-down
- 60-day separation between events at same site
- Application lead time
- 30 calendar days before event, § 402.151(a)(1)
- Signage limit
- 16 sq. ft. per sign, § 402.152(a)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 60 days jail, § 10.08
Summary
A block party that closes a street or right-of-way in unincorporated Alachua County needs a Tier A temporary use permit from the Growth Management Department. Section 402.149(a)(4) classes block parties, along with parades and marathons, as 'rights-of-way or roadway events,' capped at short permits with a mandatory 60-day gap between events at the same location.
(4)Rights-of-way or roadway events, such as but not limited to block parties, parades, and marathons. ... 1. Requires a 60-day separation between events. ... (a)An application for temporary use approval shall be submitted at least the following number of days prior to the event for review:(1)Tier A or Tier B: thirty (30) calendar days;
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
147 requires a temporary use permit before any activity in unincorporated Alachua County has a significant impact on public infrastructure, services, or surrounding land uses, and expressly carves out only a short exemption list (park events, School District property, funeral repasts, and a few others) that does not include neighborhood block parties. 149(a)(4) places 'Rights-of-way or roadway events, such as but not limited to block parties, parades, and marathons' in Tier A. 1 caps a Tier A permit at three days per permit, eighteen days per location per calendar year, and six permits per location per year, and its footnote requires a 60-day separation between events at the same location.
47. 152 layers on general conditions: signage capped at sixteen square feet per sign, the zoning district's normal setbacks applied to any temporary structures, traffic and access agreements with the Sheriff or FDOT, and noise-control compliance with Title 11, Chapter 110.
Violations & Fines
Holding a block party without an approved permit, or violating a permit's conditions once issued, lets the Director suspend the permit, orally at first, then by written suspension order, and require all activity to cease immediately under Section 402.151(d). Continued noncompliance can lead to permit revocation and, under Section 402.151(d)(3), enforcement by injunction or the penalties in Sections 10.08–10.09: up to a $500 fine, 60 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead do I need to apply for a block party permit?
How many block parties can I hold on the same street in a year?
Does the county require anything besides a land-use permit for a block party?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida special events & permits overview
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