ORLANDO, Fla. – New nightclubs can open again in downtown Orlando, but new restrictions will limit where they can open.
The Orlando City Council unanimously approved new rules Monday to require new nightclubs to be at least 300 feet away from existing nightclubs, or roughly one city block.
Recommended Videos
Current nightclubs are grandfathered in, but they will have to abide by the new rule if they try to expand, or if they close for longer than six months.
City staff said the 300-foot separation would better balance nightlife with plans for sustainable growth in the downtown area during the day. Other cities in Florida, like Tampa and Miami, have similar requirements.
The city also rescinded the moratorium on new nightclubs in the downtown area, which was put in place in March of 2023 after seven people were shot in July of 2022, leading to new security measures in the area, such as requiring businesses to obtain permits to sell alcohol after midnight and having security.
Beyond the distance rule, the ordinance mandates an after-midnight use permit and allocates funds for increased policing. Changes were also made to private parking lots and the city noise ordinance.
City leaders also agreed to label the stretch of Church Street between Garland Avenue and the train tracks a “festival street.”
Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan said that the measures will help keep people safe and encourage a diverse range of businesses downtown.
“The goal is: you have a bar, you have a restaurant, you have a retail shop,” Sheehan said. “It’s mixed. You don’t just have one kind. You don’t have a free for all and I’ve said it before, you have to run your business in a responsible way, or you are going to have restrictions put on you.”
However, not all business owners are on board.
Eric Fuller, owner of Celine, a nightclub in downtown Orlando, expressed concerns about the financial burden the ordinance places on his business. Fuller estimates that the new law will cost him an additional $300,000 each year for extra security measures.
“It’s not just about the ordinance itself, but a collection of policies that are increasingly targeting the nightlife industry,” Fuller said. “A small number of businesses are paying an exorbitant amount of fees to the city, which should really be covered by taxes.”
Orlando native Chris Jackson was walking through downtown Monday, which is when he voiced opposition to the increased policing.
“Policing isn’t the answer. We need real solutions to attract a more diverse crowd downtown,” Jackson said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: