Lee County, FL Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Sec. 20-22(a)(3) of the County Parks and Recreation Ordinance requires a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director or designee before anyone holds an activity in a County park for which a permit is required by that article or by the Parks and Recreation Operations Manual, or before holding any special event in a park. The Director cannot deny a permit arbitrarily; Sec. 20-22(a)(3)a limits denial to four specific findings: the activity would restrict or prohibit the general public's use of the park, it would interfere with public health, welfare, safety or recreation, it amounts to obscenity, incitement or fighting words, or the facility is already reserved for another user at the requested day and hour.

The Director may attach reasonable conditions to an issued permit (Sec. 20-22(a)(3)b) and require proof of insurance when necessary (Sec. 20-22(a)(3)d). A denied applicant can appeal in writing within ten days at no cost; a three-member hearing committee, made up of a department director plus one supervisory and one non-supervisory employee from outside Parks and Recreation, must schedule the hearing within seven days of the appeal and hold it within 30 days. S. Ch. 119, but carries the burden of proving the denial was improper by a preponderance of the evidence.

The committee sends a written recommendation to the Assistant County Manager within three business days of the hearing, and that official's decision, mailed within seven business days, is final. The Director may also revoke a previously issued permit for a rule or ordinance violation, or for good cause, under Sec. 20-22(a)(3)e.