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

Section 40.630 of the Margate Land Development Code sends the largest outdoor events to the City Commission rather than staff. Carnivals, fairs and circuses, fireworks displays and shows, promotional events for businesses and community facilities with 500 or more attendees at any given time, and other uses Development Services flags for review all need Commission approval. The application goes to the Development Services Department, which circulates it to City departments and then schedules it for the Commission, which approves by resolution and can attach reasonable conditions for public safety and welfare.

The filing deadline for a Commission-level TUP is at least 90 calendar days before the event. The package needs a notarized affidavit from the landowner, a detailed description covering dates, hours, water and electric service, restrooms and security, a site plan showing tents, vendors, seating, shows, parking, restrooms and garbage collection, a hold harmless agreement, and insurance naming the City of Margate as additional insured. Vendors have to hold the food vendor or catering licenses required by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and signage, traffic circulation, building and fire prevention rules apply on top of the permit.

Smaller vendor activity is handled by staff. Development Services issues TUPs for farmers' markets, community garage sales, walkway or parking lot sales by businesses holding a City Local Business Tax Receipt, and promotional events expected to draw fewer than 500 attendees, all located on the business's own property and never in a right-of-way. Seasonal sales lots run at most 45 consecutive days, and walkway or parking lot sales at most seven consecutive days.

Every TUP event is capped at 21 consecutive calendar days, with up to three days of set-up, 15 days of event and three days of tear-down. Each property gets four TUPs per calendar year, one per thirty-day period. Off-site parking needs written permission from the owner and cannot remove required spaces or ADA accessible parking.