city of sanibel’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

November 5, 2024, marks the 50th Anniversary of a momentous island occasion – the incorporation of the City of Sanibel. Starting November 2024 and running through Luminary Holiday Stroll in December 2025, the City of Sanibel and SanCap Chamber are planning a 13-month celebration in partnership with island businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and resident groups. We invite partners to add events to the 50th Anniversary Calendar using the form below and urge you to co-brand any events within the 13-month timeframe with the 50th Anniversary. Your events will show up on the calendar, below, and on the 50th Anniversary dedicated webpage for consumers. Feel free to link to that page on your own event webpage. To obtain a pdf, jpg, or png version of the 50th Anniversary logo, please contact Aaron Walton at [email protected] or 239-472-8759.

What is a Special Event?

Generally, Special Events are temporary uses that extend beyond the normal uses and standards allowed by City Ordinances that are held wholly or in part upon a public or nonpublic street, city right-of-way or any publicly or non-publicly owned property. A special event can mean, but is not limited to a sale, grand opening, wedding, photo shoot, party, holiday celebration, bazaar, concert or other performance, fair, tent revival, fundraising event, art festival, race, tour, rally, parade, bicycle run, demonstration, contest, exhibition, block party, outdoor display or similar event or occurrence.

How do I apply for a Special Event Permit or an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit?

There are several ways to apply for a Special Event Permit or an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit:

Stop by The Sanibel Recreation Center at 3880 Sanibel Captiva Rd. and pick-up an application.

Download the Special Event Application (pdf 1.06 MB).

Call the Sanibel Recreation Center (239) 472-0345 to request an application packet be mailed to you.

Request an application via an email to [email protected].

Do I have to come in person to apply for a Special Event Permit or an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit?

To submit an application for a Special Event Permit or an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit, you can:

Drop it off at the Sanibel Recreation Center along with a non-refundable $50 resident/ $150 non-resident ($50 for the Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Permit) application fee, late fee if applicable, and the appropriate refundable deposit.

Mail it to The Sanibel Recreation Center located at 3880 Sanibel Captiva Rd., Sanibel, Fl 33957, accompanied by the application fee, late fee if applicable, and the appropriate refundable deposit.

Email it to [email protected] along with a completed credit card payment form [ pdf 25.3 kB ] for processing of application fee and deposit, if applicable.

Is there a fee to apply for a Special Event Permit?

Yes, a non-refundable application fee of $50 resident/$150 non-resident, for a Special Event Permit is required. A Special Event Permit must be submitted no later than 60 days prior to the event. Applications submitted less than 60 calendar days prior to the event will be assessed a late fee of $5 per calendar day. Applications for a Special Event Permit will not be accepted later than 7 calendar days prior to the event.

Is a deposit required for a Special Event Permit?

For events being held on public property such as public beach accesses, parks, and City Hall grounds, a refundable security deposit is required. Deposits are established to encourage compliance with local Ordinances as well as encourage applicants to clean-up following their event. Deposits are due at the time of application filing. Deposit tiers are as follows:

$300 (1 – 499 participants)

$500 (500 – 999 participants)

$1,000 (1,000+ participants)

How are deposit refunds determined?

Following an event, Public Works personnel will conduct an inspection of the property on which the event was held. If the property is clean and no damage is present, City staff will notify the City Manager’s office to release the deposit. Deposits will be returned to applicant within 30 days following the event.

If, during inspection, the property is not cleaned and restored to its natural state, or if damage to property is discovered, actual man hours and actual cost to restore the property to its natural state will be deducted from the deposit. If the deposit is not sufficient to cover cleaning and/or site restoration fees, applicant will be billed for the balance remaining.

Are signs permitted to advertise a Special Event?

Each Special Event Permit provides for one (1) on-site sign.

Are directional signs permitted to advertise a Special Event?

Non-profit organizations are permitted to have 6 directional signs placed on-island during the approved event dates. For-profit organizations are permitted one on-site sign during the approved event dates.

Is a Permit required to set-up a Tent at a special event?

Yes. Please view the City of Sanibel’s Temporary Tent Permit Standards [ pdf 15.9 kB ] .

Is a Special Event Permit required for an outdoor wedding?

If a wedding has more than 25 participants and includes the use of temporary structures such as arches, chairs, tiki torches, podium, etc., a Special Event Permit is required. Please see our Beach Standards [ pdf 115.3 kB ] for additional information on Sanibel Beach Weddings.

What is an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit?

An Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit is issued to a City of Sanibel licensed business, authorized to conduct commercial retail sales at their Sanibel business address if located in the City of Sanibel commercial district, pursuant to the relevant requirements of the Land Development Code. The application for an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sale Special Event Permit [ pdf 109.1 kB ] must be applied for annually. A Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit allows Sanibel licensed businesses to hold sidewalk sales on the following dates:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend (3rd Monday of January & 2 days prior)

February 14 – Valentine’s Day (2 days prior to and the day of)

February 20 – President’s Day (1 day prior, day of, and 1 day after)

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day (1 day prior, day of, and 1 day after)

Easter Weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday)

July 4th Independence Day (1 day prior, day of, and 1 day after)

Labor Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday)

Columbus Day Weekend (2nd Monday of October & 2 days prior)

Thanksgiving Holiday (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

Christmas Holiday (Weekend prior to and the week of December 25th)

Can a tent or other temporary structure be set-up with an approved Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit?

No. An Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sales Special Event Permit provides for a sidewalk sale utilizing sales racks and/or tables. Any other temporary structures and/or tents greater than 120 square feet require a regular Special Events Permit.

Is an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sale Special Event Permit counted as one of the 6 Special Event Permits allowed per year, per location?

No, an Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sale Special Event Permit is separate and is in addition to the 6 Special Event Permits allowed per year.

Are there fees associated with a Special Event Permit?

Yes. Please see Resolution 18-085 (Schedule of Special Event Fees) (pdf 125.60 kB)

Special Event Forms

Annual Retail Holiday Sidewalk Sale Permit Application [ pdf 109.1 kB ]

Special Event Permit Application [ pdf 1.1 MB ]

Alcohol Policy for City of Sanibel Special Events [ pdf 191.5 kB ]

City Of Sanibel Garage Sale Standards[ application/pdf ] 11.84 kB

City of Sanibel Temporary Tent Permit Standards [ pdf 15.9 kB ] .

City Pavilion-Gazebo Rental Agreement[ application/pdf ] 153.75 kB

Beach Standards [ pdf 115.3 kB ] for the City of Sanibel.

Special event permit Credit Card Payment Form. [ pdf 25.3 kB ]

Straw Policy [ pdf 728.5 kB ] for Special Events

Alligator Warning for Special Events [ pdf 149.9 kB ]

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