Orlando Nightlife Businesses Challenge Fees for Late-Night Police Services

ORLANDO, Fla. – Several downtown Orlando nightlife businesses are challenging a city program that requires some venues to help cover the cost of additional late-night police services, saying the fees place an unfair burden on independent operators.

The fight has moved to federal court, where venue owners are contesting the constitutionality of Orlando’s After-Midnight Alcohol Sales permit program. The National Independent Venue Association is also calling on city officials to suspend the fees and work with business owners to develop another approach.

Created in May 2023, the program requires businesses in the Downtown Entertainment District that sell alcohol between midnight and 2 a.m. to secure a permit and contribute to additional public safety expenses.

Eric Fuller, who owns Celine Orlando, said the business pays thousands of dollars each month under the program.

“We’re paying almost $10,000 a month for a service that’s provided to an entire district,” Fuller said.

The added expense has led the venue to cut staff and delay maintenance work and other upgrades, Fuller said.

“We’ve had to let people go. We’ve had to really pull back on reinvesting into the venue,” he said.

Businesses covered by the program must also adopt security measures, including metal detectors and identification scanners.

Fuller argues the costs are not being shared equitably among downtown businesses. Of roughly 60 businesses in the district, he said, 23 are paying fees that help fund police services benefiting the wider entertainment area.

“Those have to stop,” Fuller said of the fees.

In a Nov. 4 letter, the National Independent Venue Association urged Orlando leaders to suspend the program and begin discussions with affected businesses. The group said the fees have added to the financial strain facing independent venues, some of which have closed.

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The federal lawsuit argues that the fee structure is unconstitutional. The case is pending before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Orlando officials, however, describe the program as part of a broader strategy to improve safety in the downtown area.

A city spokesperson said in a statement that the permit program helps cover some of the costs tied to downtown public safety services. The spokesperson also emphasized that the city independently pays for law enforcement downtown.

The city cited several other investments, including more off-duty Orlando police officers, improved lighting, expanded code enforcement and stronger security requirements for businesses.

Orlando also said it established the SAFE grant program to help eligible businesses pay for security upgrades, including metal detectors, identification scanners and surveillance cameras.

According to the city, those measures have helped produce a 20% decline in overall downtown crime.

Fuller said he supports making downtown safer but believes the financial burden should not be placed on only a small group of businesses.

He hopes city officials will end the current fee program and work with business owners on a different way to finance public safety efforts.

“I think the city should end the AMS as soon as they can and bring everyone to the table for dialogue,” Fuller said.