Florida city bans ‘political’ events of 10-plus people on public property

An ordinance enacted by the City of Belleair Beach, Florida, requires any group of 10 or more people who want to gather on public property including parks, streets, and sidewalks to obtain a permit from the city. The ordinance also prohibits permits for “political” and “organized” events on public property. FIRE wrote the city on March 27, 2023, explaining that these restrictions violate the First Amendment. On April 5, the Belleair Beach city attorney told FIRE the city has initiated a process to amend the ordinance to eliminate its unconstitutional defects.

Over the course of several months, FIRE worked with city officials to revise the ordinance. On November 6, the city approved an amended ordinance governing the use of city parks and other public forums that resolves the constitutional concerns raised by FIRE.