Broward County, FL Special Events & Permits: Street Fair Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max event length
- 7 consecutive days
- Events per plot/year
- 2 per category
- Weeknight hours
- 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun–Thu
- Weekend hours
- 9 a.m.–midnight Fri–Sat
- Unpermitted event fine
- $250 first, $500 repeat
Summary
Carnivals, festivals and commercial promotion events on unincorporated Broward land need a zoning permit, cap out at seven days, and must end by 10 p.m. weeknights or midnight on weekends.
Permits for certain outdoor events may be issued subject to compliance with this section... No outdoor event shall be permitted for a period of time exceeding seven (7) consecutive days. No more than two (2) of each category of outdoor event permits shall be issued on any plot during a calendar year. Hours of operation of any event shall be limited to 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Broward County Code § 39-238 lets the county issue permits for carnivals, circuses, concerts, festivals and commercial promotions/shows/sales in designated zoning districts, but only in the unincorporated area (§ 39-2). Applicants need a one-net-acre site with 200 feet of street frontage, 100-foot setbacks from residential property, liability insurance, a $1,000 performance bond, and a $250 cleanup deposit. No event can run more than seven consecutive days or occur more than twice per category per plot per year. Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs enforce their own separate event-permit rules within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Broward County Code § 8½-16, item (42) fines an outdoor event held without a permit under § 39-238: $250 for a first violation, $500 for a repeat violation, issued through the county's civil code enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this permit apply inside Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?
How far in advance must an outdoor event permit be filed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.