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

Ordinance Code § 191.103(a) requires a Special Event Permit from the Chief (Economic Development Officer or designee) before staging any special event on public property in Jacksonville, defined by § 191.102(b) as a preplanned gathering expected to draw 500 or more participants/spectators. If your park gathering will draw fewer than 500 people, no Chapter 191 permit is required, but § 191.103(a) still requires the organizer to comply with whatever permit or reservation process the department that runs the facility, named in the Code as the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, has in place for booking that space. Certain marquee venues (Metropolitan Park, Hanna Park, Huguenot Park, Unity Plaza Park, and others listed in § 191.103(b)) are exempted from the Chapter 191 permit entirely and run their own booking process instead.