Bonita Springs, FL Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)

The rule starts in section 34-42, the Restricted Commercial Use of Rights-of-Way Ordinance. It makes it unlawful to make any commercial use of the rights-of-way of any road, street or highway in the city, and lists examples: selling or displaying merchandise, including vehicles; servicing or repairing vehicles except emergency service; storing vehicles being repaired; soliciting sales or charitable, educational, religious or political contributions; and displaying advertising that does not comply with chapter 6 of the Land Development Code.

Section 34-43(1) is the festival exception. Any portion of a road, street or highway, including the right-of-way, can be used for an art festival, parade, fair or other special event that is properly permitted by the city. During road closures for those events, the entity holding the special events permit can solicit for the sale of goods, property or services, and for funds or donations, as a condition of the permit. The exception is tied to the permit: an unpermitted fair on public right-of-way remains a prohibited commercial use, and vendors ride on the permit holder's authority. The special event permit application procedure is not part of this code volume.

The closest vendor-market rule in this volume is the outdoor flea market article. Section 12-322 lets the city council approve a flea market by special event permit on Bonita Beach Road or U.S. 41 only, with a maximum of two permits a calendar year and one operating day per week. The fee is $750.00 a year for a for-profit operator and $100.00 for a local non-profit, with $1,000,000.00 in liability insurance naming the city. Sales are from booths and tables, daytime hours only with no lighting, and alcohol, fireworks and live animals (except rescue adoptions) cannot be sold. Antiques, arts and crafts and car shows are handled as special events instead.