§ 21-69. Authority; findings; purpose and intent.

(a)

This article is promulgated by the board of county commissioners pursuant to the home rule powers of Orange County, Florida.

(b)

The board finds that it should facilitate the free exercise of the constitutional rights of free speech and expression and peaceful assembly on certain public property. The board also finds that certain public assemblies attract a relatively large number of people, and that such gatherings may cause adverse public health and safety conditions requiring regulation to ensure adequate sanitation and sewage disposal facilities, law enforcement services, emergency medical personnel, parking, traffic control, crowd control, and other protection and services in the interests of the public health and safety. The Board further finds that it is necessary to assure preservation of public forums and to assure financial accountability for damage caused by such events.

(c)

The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the public health and safety by regulating certain public assemblies, and it is the intent of the Board that this ordinance be construed liberally in favor of protecting the public health and safety. This ordinance is intended to be a content-neutral time, place, and manner regulation of certain activities in public forums. The object of this ordinance is not directed at communicative activity, but at all activity constituting a "public assembly" in a public forum.

(Ord. No. 2004, § 2, 5-18-04)

State law reference

Powers of chartered counties, Fla. Const. art. VIII, § 1(g).

Charter reference

General powers of county, § 103.