Special Events on St. Johns County Beaches

couple dressed in wedding attire standing on sandy beach with sun peeking through clouds

Over 41 miles of coquina and soft sandy beaches

In an effort to keep our beaches well maintained, clean and safe, St. Johns County requires that all special events on our beaches have a Special Event Permit. The permit fees go directly back into preserving our beaches and keeping the public protected.

Special Events Permits are required for the following:

weddings
parties
surf camps and sporting events
contests
photography
beach cleanups
and other organized events

Be sure to familiarize yourself with our beaches and available amenities, as well as the tides, so you can be sure your event will be as perfect as possible.

Special Event Permitting

How to Apply for a Special Event Permit

Plan

We recommend scheduling your event as close as possible to low tide in order to give yourself more room on the sand for guests/participants and any event items. Visit the Tides page to plan the time of day for your special event.

Please be advised, for events on beaches managed by St Johns County:

If more than 75 people will be in attendance portable restrooms may be required.
If more than 75 people are in attendance law enforcement must be notified and may be required at the time of your event. For more information and for scheduling, please email the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office at events@sjso.org.
Events involving over 200 participants require special approval from the Recreation Advisory Board and the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. Please plan accordingly as this may take up to 6 months for approval.

Select Location, Date and Time

You would be required to contact the GTMNER (Guana), Anastasia State Park, the City of St Augustine Beach, and Fort Matanzas National Monument directly if you would like to host a special event on their property. Please contact Beach Services by phone at 904-209-0331 or by email at beaches@sjcfl.us if you are unsure which jurisdiction your requested location is in.

Create an Account

Special event permits, for events on beaches managed by St Johns County, can be applied for through our Online Reservation System.

You will be required to create an account before applying for your first permit.

If the event organizer is an organization/company, please create an account for the Organization.

Event organizers who are non-profit entities must provide proof of Florida State Sales Tax Exempt Status prior to submitting an application. To establish a tax-exempt account, email a valid DR-14 form to beaches@sjcfl.us once your account is created and before submitting your reservation application. Failure to receive the DR-14 will necessitate the imposition of sales tax.

Pay Reservation Fee

Based on the submitted application, a reservation fee will be charged to your account and payment will be required a minimum of 7 days prior to the event date in order to receive your permit. Please note, fees are nonrefundable, and you will be unable to pay the reservation fee until your application has been approved by staff. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an approved permit. Please ensure you have a copy of the permit with you at the time of your event.

Minor Impact Event are events expecting fewer than 200 participants/guests.

Major Impact Event are events expecting more than 200 participants/guests. Events involving over 200 people require special approval from the Recreation Advisory Board and the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. Please plan accordingly as this may take up to 6 months for approval.

Fees:

Weddings
- Minor Impact – $100 plus tax per day
- Major Impact – $200 plus tax per day
Surf Camps- $50 plus tax per week
Sporting Events
- Minor Impact – $200.00 plus tax per day
- Major Impact – $300.00 plus tax per day
Photography – $50.00 plus tax per day
Media Filming
- Minor Impact – $250.00 plus tax per day
- Major Impact – $350.00 plus tax per day
Other Events
- Minor Impact – $50.00 plus tax per day
- Major Impact – $100.00 plus tax per day

Special Event Permit FAQs

Are there any locations on the beach where I don’t need a permit?

Permits are required for special events held on any part of St. Johns County’s beaches.

Who do I contact to get a permit?

You will need to apply to the agency responsible for the location you choose. Please contact the managing agencies of Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (State of Florida), Anastasia State Park (State of Florida), City of St Augustine Beach, and Fort Matanzas National Monument (National Park Service), to hold special events at these beaches. Special event permits, for events on beaches managed by St Johns County, can be applied for through our Online Reservation System.

Do I need a permit if there are only going to be a few people attending the wedding?

Permits are required for weddings on all St. Johns County managed beaches no matter how many people are in attendance.

What hours may I hold my event?

During sea turtle nesting season (May 1 – October 31) event items may not be set up before 8:00am and must be removed from the beach by 7:30pm. This includes all chairs, tents, and tables. Outside of sea turtle season, event items may not be left overnight. There is a noise ordinance in effect throughout the entire year.

Can I have a bonfire or tiki torches at my event?

No. Open fires are not permitted on St. Johns County Beaches. If you are using charcoal grills, you must take the coals with you when you leave. Any and all fires and associated debris must be self-contained (have a lid) and removed in the same manner in which they arrived. Please do not place coals in beach garbage cans. It is prohibited for any person to dispose of coal, briquettes, embers or other heated objects on the beach or in trash receptacles.

Can I set off fireworks on the beach?

No. Fireworks are not permitted on the beach.

Can I release balloons on the beach?

No. St. Johns County Ordinance 2022-6 prohibits the release of helium, foil, mylar, biodegradable or photodegradable balloons and sky lanterns into the atmosphere. House Bill 321 also makes it unlawful for any person or organization to organize or intentionally cause the release of balloons. Their release is very impactful on the environment because the balloons inevitably deflate or the sky lanterns land creating litter and possibly causing animals to ingest or become entrapped.

Are permits required for lessons / camps that are held on the beach?

Yes. Applicants of lessons / camps are required to apply for a special event permit. St Johns County requires organizers of public events or private sporting events using beachfront parks / pavilions to provide proof of General Liability Insurance. Coverage must name St Johns County Board of County Commissioners for one million dollars.

Why are fees associated with permit applications?

Special event permit fees, go directly back into public safety and preserving our beaches.

Can we have alcohol on the beach?

No. Alcohol is not permitted on St. Johns County Beaches.

Things to consider when planning for your event.

Vehicular access, where allowable, is dependent on beach conditions.

Possession of a special event permit does not waive beach entrance fee or pavilion rental fee.

Parking is first come, first served at all off-beach parking locations; saving spaces is not permitted.

If flower petals are to adorn a wedding ceremony, they must be real; plastic or false petals can pose a hazard to native wildlife.

Event items and guests are prohibited from entering sand dunes and conservation zones, 15 feet from base of dune.

Event cannot block driving lane, dune walkover, or other public access.

Event structures cannot remain intact overnight and must be removed promptly after the permitted event.

Permittee shall leave beach in clean and orderly condition, satisfactory to other beach patrons and coastal wildlife.

All trash and recycling shall be placed in the appropriate bins (Grey = trash) (Blue = recycling).

All beach events are subject to beach conditions. If conditions are deemed unsuitable or hazardous the event may be required to be relocated or rescheduled.

Any violations, including violation to the St Johns County Beach Code 2007-19, may lead to a citation and revocation of permit.

Event conditions during Sea Turtle Nesting Season (May 1st- October 31st)

Event items cannot be set up prior to 8AM or after 7:30PM, due to sea turtle nesting activities.

Set up of event may not take place within 30 feet of marked sea turtle nests. Nests are demarcated by 4 stakes and yellow placard.

If a sea turtle nesting incident occurs during your event, please contact the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office through their non-emergency number, 904-824-8304.

Artificial lighting is prohibited after 7:30pm. If flashlights will be used, a sea turtle friendly filter must be applied.

If take-down of event items requires vehicular access, please note, beach driving is not permitted after 7:30PM.

Any violations, including violation to the St Johns County Beach Code 2007-19, may lead to a citation and revocation of permit.