Bonita Springs, FL Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 6-20 makes a special event permit a precondition: no person or organization can advertise, conduct, maintain, or sell or furnish tickets for an outdoor concert or event, or hold any event requiring a permit, until the city issues one. Parades share the list with air shows, running or walking events including triathlons, carnivals, concerts, festivals, fireworks, commercial photography shoots, musical presentations and street dances, plus any similar activity needing off-site parking, street closures, sound amplification exceeding the noise ordinance, or the use of city personnel or public property.

The application is filed with the communications department 45 days before the requested date, and the request is scheduled before the City Council at least 48 hours before the event. Base fees are $50.00 for private events and $25.00 for non-profit hosted events, city special events pay no fee and need no permit, and a late application adds a $100.00 expedited processing fee. The applicant also pays the facility deposit, the hourly or daily facility rate under Ordinance No. 17-13, and communications staff time on the day of the event.

Who decides depends on size and impact. The communications director makes the final call on applications expecting 200 to 2,999 persons a day. Applications expecting 3,000 persons or more a day, and parades or similar events needing extensive off-site parking, street closures or city personnel, are set for the City Council. Section 6-20(f) requires council approval for any event that necessitates street closings, crowd attendance in excess of 3,000, or a fireworks display.

Every application is reviewed by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which tells the applicant how many deputies are required as a special detail. The applicant pays the detail fees and supplies a safety plan. Permittees carry $1,000,000.00 in general liability coverage and $100,000.00 in property damage coverage naming the City of Bonita Springs as additional insured, sign a save harmless agreement, and clean the right-of-way within 24 hours after the event ends.