Overview

Martin County Parks and Recreation requires activities that are open to the public and held within unincorporated Martin County (whether held in a county park or a county road) to have a special event permit.

Activities that are held on private property are not required to have a special event permit, unless those activities encroach upon County property, or include the sale of alcohol.

Our event team prides itself on giving the best customer service imaginable. We understand the importance of community events and how they impact the quality of life for residents.

We look forward to working with you to ensure that the process is as stress-free as possible and to help guide you through the permitting process.

What Qualifies as a Special Event?

Any pre-planned entertainment, sporting, cultural, business, or other type of unique activity, including parades, festivals, races, tournaments, concerts, etc., presented to a live audience and open to the public, that is to be held in whole or in part upon property owned or managed by the County and that may substantially inhibit the usual flow of pedestrian or vehicular travel or which deviates from the established use of the place or building.

This excludes activities not open to the public, including private indoor facility rentals, pavilion rentals, or other activities for which a permit has been issued by the County.

How to Apply

View the Special Event Handbook and Permit Application to review the process for obtaining a special event permit, then, complete the application. You may then submit your application online, by mail, or in person. 

Submit Application Online

Event organizers may complete the Special Event Permit Application, then save it to your desktop. Next, attach your completed application as well as the organization's 501(c)3 or non-profit letter, if applicable, to our online submission form, then select Submit Request. Your application will then be routed to the appropriate staff.

Upon receipt, staff will contact the organizer to request any additional items that may be required to completed depending upon the size and scope of the event. Permitting fees will also be discussed at that time.

Submit application by mail (or in person)

Martin County Parks & Recreation
Attn: Events & Volunteer Coordinator
2401 SE Monterey Road
Stuart, FL, 34996

Application Deadline: Special event applications must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the event unless it is considered a *High Impact Event, in which case must be submitted 6 months prior to event (*Any event, with or without alcohol, which involves a road closure of 12 or more hours and/or anticipated attendance of 5,000 or more persons.)

Martin County Parks and Recreation
2401 SE Monterey Road
Stuart, FL, 34996

FAQs

All “Special Events” require a special event permit.

For all events, please contact Martin County Parks and Recreation at (772)221-1430 or email events@martin.fl.us.

There is an event fee, which is based upon the event impacts. Event fees may range between $50.00 and $1,100.00. Additional fees may include overtime cost, sheriff detail, and other services requested, i.e. dumpsters if applicable. All fees are due in full upon signature of the contract.

Martin County's Special Event & Volunteer Coordinator will coordinate County-related services with the promotor and advise regarding proper placement of equipment and rentals on County property. Port-o-lets, vendors, entertainment, fencing, etc. are the responsibility of the permittee. 

It is also the permittee’s responsibility to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly for any detail, and traffic/engineering for any road closures. If the event requires a road closure, it is the permittee's responsibility to contract with a barricade company based on the event route and size.

Fill out the Special Event Application including a site map and submit. Please allow up to two weeks for the application approval process. Once the application is APPROVED, the date is reserved. Only completed applications will be reviewed.

All fees are due upon signature of the contract.

Only a licensed vendor or a non-profit organization can obtain a permit to sell alcohol (Florida Statue 561.422). Contact the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

If the event is canceled 90 or more days prior to the event, permittee will be refunded 100% of events fees; 89 to 46 days prior to the event, permittee will be refunded 50% of event fees; 45 days or less prior to the event no fees will be refunded.

Only in the event of an extreme act of nature (i.e. hurricane, brush fire), may the event be postponed, and all fees will transfer. The permittee must submit in writing for a postponed date. Other than stated above, Special Event Permits are rain or shine and cancellations due to weather will forfeit any and all fees and require a re-application for another date.

Contact Us

For any additional questions about the special events permitting process, please contact Martin County Parks and Recreation at (772)-221-1430 or email events@martin.fl.us.

Contact Us