Lee County, FL Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- pyrotechnics, explosives, firearms, gunfire or stunts
- Applies on
- public or private property alike
- Application deadline
- at least 30 days before the shoot
- Ordinary filming
- no permit needed without those hazards
- General penalty
- up to $500 fine, up to 60 days jail
Summary
Lee County doesn't require a film permit for ordinary shoots, but Sec. 19-185(a)(4) pulls filming into the special event permitting law the moment a production uses pyrotechnics, explosives, firearms, gunfire or stunts on public or private property. The nature of the shoot, not crew size, decides whether a county permit is needed.
Film means a production of a feature film, TV special/commercial/pilot/series, industrial film/video or photography shoot. ... (a)Required. The following event types require a permit: ... (4)An event at which filming or photography will affect public property or on private property and incorporating pyrotechnics, explosives or other incendiary devices, firearms or use of gunfire or involves stunts of any kind.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7 | Land Development Code: Supplement 3 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
The Special Events Permitting Ordinance (Code of Ordinances §§ 19-183 to 19-185, Ord. No. 17-08, August 15, 2017) defines "Film" in Sec. 19-184 as "a production of a feature film, TV special/commercial/pilot/series, industrial film/video or photography shoot," broad enough to cover everything from a network pilot to a single still-photo session. Most filming and photography in unincorporated Lee County needs no special event permit at all: interviews, commercials, real estate photography and documentary work are unregulated by this article. The permit requirement in Sec. 19-185(a)(4) is triggered only when the filming or photography will affect public property or private property and incorporates pyrotechnics, explosives or other incendiary devices, firearms or use of gunfire, or involves stunts of any kind, regardless of whether the shoot is on public or private land.
Once a production trips that trigger it is treated exactly like any other covered special event under Sec. 19-185(b): the production company must file a complete application with descriptive plans for the pyrotechnic, weapons or stunt sequence with the County permitting office at least 30 days before the shoot date, pay any applicable fee, and meet every condition set by the sign-off agencies the County assigns, which for a stunt or gunfire scene typically includes law enforcement and fire/EMS. The County Administrator can layer on additional conditions specific to the production.
Violations & Fines
Filming that meets the Sec. 19-185(a)(4) trigger without first obtaining the special event permit is a Code violation prosecuted under the general penalty in Sec. 1-7(c)(2): up to a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with each day of unpermitted activity on a multi-day shoot counted as a separate offense under Sec. 1-7(c)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lee County require a permit just to film a commercial on a public street?
What if my film shoot on private property involves a stunt car chase?
What's the penalty for filming with pyrotechnics without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lee County to another location·View the Florida special events & permits overview
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