Franklin County, FL Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Franklin County Code §§ 13-21 through 13-27 regulate large public gatherings under the heading 'musical or entertainment festival,' defined as any gathering to listen to or participate in entertainment consisting primarily of musical renditions conducted indoors or in open spaces outside an enclosed structure, and extended to any indoor or outdoor public amusement reasonably expected to draw more than 500 people. Anyone staging, promoting or conducting such a festival must first secure a special entertainment permit from the Board of County Commissioners under § 13-23.

Under § 13-24, the permit will not issue unless the applicant submits a sanitation and sewage disposal plan approved by the county sanitarian, a parking plan sited away from the festival area with a transportation plan to move patrons to it, an adequate medical facilities plan, and a security and traffic control plan; promoters must also fully disclose financial backing and performer lineups, and the board may require a bond covering cleanup and property-damage costs. No festival may run longer than one eight-hour period without a mandatory 24-hour rest period before it continues.

Section 13-25 sets a permit fee sufficient to cover any additional deputy salaries the sheriff determines the event requires. Section 13-26 bars admission of anyone under 17 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian who stays with the child throughout, and § 13-27 bars serving alcohol to anyone under 21 at the festival.