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

Lake County Code § 13-146 defines a "special event" as one that is likely to attract more than 500 people, requires closing a collector or arterial road, involves pyrotechnics, or exceeds an establishment's maximum patron count, and that definition applies even if the event is otherwise a permitted zoning use. Section 13-147 requires anyone staging such an event, including a street fair or festival with vendor booths, to secure a special event permit from the county manager or designee before it happens, filed at least 90 days in advance (waivable only for exigent circumstances the applicant did not cause).

The permit package must include plans for sanitation, sewage disposal, garbage and food service; a site map showing parking (at least one space per three patrons) and pedestrian routes; and a public safety plan covering security, traffic, communications, fire protection and medical response. The fire protection component specifically requires review and approval of vendors' cooking platforms at the event, along with any tents over 200 square feet, temporary structures and inflatables, and a county building division tent permit may also be required. The applicant must state the exact date and time the event begins and ends, including setup and cleanup, and carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 per person / $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury plus $100,000 in property damage.

Under § 13-148, the county manager has 30 days to grant or deny the completed application (an unanswered application is deemed denied), and a denial can be appealed to the board of adjustment.