Palm Coast, FL Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Disclosure deadline
- 180 days before the event date
- Special event permit trigger
- 500+ attendees or risk factors under Sec. 28-43
- Reviewing body
- Special Event Review Team (SERT)
- Application fee
- Nonrefundable fee to cover City processing costs
- Zoning restriction
- Barred in residential zoning districts
- Appeal window
- 5 business days to appeal denial or revocation
Summary
A Palm Coast block party or other gathering that closes a public street counts as an 'event' under Chapter 28 and must be disclosed to the City at least 180 days ahead. Any request for a road closure goes to the Special Event Review Team, which reviews traffic flow, parking and City-service needs before signing off.
(a)Unless the event falls within the exemptions set forth in subsection (d) of this section, or it is determined that the request does not meet the definition of an event as set forth in this article, all event organizers planning to hold an event are required to disclose the event to the City at least 180 days prior to the event date. Event organizers may request a waiver from the 180 event disclosure requirement if the event is recurring and has an approved site plan on file with the City and there are no substantial deviations from that site plan, or after review and written approval by SERT. ... Should projected attendance of the event greater than or equal to 500 attendees, a special event permit is required. Should projected attendance of the event be below 500 attendees, a special event permit may still be required if the risk factors described in sections 28-43 of this article exist.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 | Land Development Code: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
City Code defines an 'event' broadly as any gathering, demonstration, parade, or activity likely to attract a crowd within Palm Coast, and organizers must disclose it to the City at least 180 days before the date under Sec. 28-33(a), unless the event is exempt under subsection (d) (large sports/theater venues within capacity, or events on federal or state property) or SERT grants a waiver for a recurring event with an approved site plan on file. The disclosure form must state the date, time, location, whether alcohol will be served, and the organizer's best estimate of attendance.
Under Sec. 28-33(b), a full special event permit is mandatory once projected attendance reaches 500, and can still be required below that threshold if risk factors under Sec. 28-43 are present, such as alcohol service or road closures. When a road closure is requested, Sec. 28-34(c) directs the Special Event Review Team, made up of Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Fire, and Community Development staff plus the county sheriff's office, to review the site plan, traffic flow, parking and anticipated closures before the City approves or denies the permit.
The organizer must pay a nonrefundable application fee to cover the City's processing and staffing costs under Sec. 28-34(f), and, per Sec. 28-34(g), the event cannot be held on residentially zoned property or in the residential component of a master planned development.
Violations & Fines
Under Sec. 28-41, the City Manager, after consulting the Sheriff, Fire Chief, Risk Manager, Building Official, Code Enforcement Manager and Public Works Director, may summarily suspend or revoke a special event permit for violating the article, breaking permit conditions, or making a material false statement to the City. A denied or revoked organizer has five business days to appeal in writing to the City Manager, and the general Code penalty in Sec. 1-15 caps fines at $500.00 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to close my street for a block party in Palm Coast?
How far in advance must I notify the City?
Can Palm Coast deny my block party's road closure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Coast
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Coast to another location·View the Florida special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.