On Monday, August 24, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the City of St. Augustine City Commission approved the Terms of Use for Public Property Events Manual which consolidates its current special event policies, procedures, and fees into a single-source document, which addresses event scheduling, mobility, public safety, venue capacity, City resource demands, and impacts associated with large-scale events and street closures.

Among other provisions, the resolution establishes and provides for the following:

  • limitations and block-out periods for events at Francis Field
  • parameters for events at the Plaza de la Constitución Gazebo and events requiring roadway closures
  • updated event use fees
  • administrative procedures for permit decisions and appeals
  • administrative and operational requirements for use of City property and public rights-of-way
  • requirements for shuttles, parking, and traffic-management support for qualifying events
  • certain protections for historically established multi-day events
  • formal policy for new events space

Community Services Director, Jaime D. Perkins, who presented the item at Monday’s meeting, said, “It’s really important that we continue to responsibly manage our public spaces, maintain public safety, and always keep the quality of life of our residents top-of-mind.”  Perkins continued, “This manual covers everything from scheduling and mobility to staffing, fees, and public safety. The goal of these updates is to provide clear, consistent guidance that makes the process easier to understand and helps eliminate confusion for residents, event organizers, and City staff alike.”

The policies, procedures, and fee schedules outlined in the approved manual go into effect on October 1, 2026, allowing for sufficient time to communicate the updated requirements to event organizers, implement the revised administrative procedures, and provide consistency with the annual fee adoption schedule.

For event inquiries, contact Kristin Odom, Events and Venue Coordinator, at 904-825-1004.

For media inquiries, contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904-293-3307.

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