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Crestview pulls proposed photography ordinance after widespread public concern
Summary
The council removed Ordinance 20‑13 from tonight’s agenda and will return with a narrower, youth‑sports–focused draft in December after residents and local photographers warned the original language and fee structure would limit family photographers and favor large commercial operations.
Crestview’s City Council voted Nov. 10 to remove a proposed photography ordinance from the agenda and return with a revised, narrower draft after multiple residents and professional photographers raised concerns that the measure, as written, would be overly broad and could harm small businesses.
The council’s city manager, Jessica, told the council staff had reviewed public comments and legal guidance and recommended pulling Ordinance 20‑13, saying the draft “may have been overly broad” and that staff would return with a plan that focuses on youth sports while allowing reasonable commercial photography elsewhere. The motion to approve the amended agenda, which included removal of the ordinance, passed 5‑0.
Local photographers and parents packed the council chamber during the general public‑comment period to urge changes. Ashley Goldman, owner of Ashes Flashes Photography, said the ordinance’s application deadlines and operational requirements — including a 14‑day permit lead time and a 90‑day planning window in the draft — would make routine family portraits and last‑minute bookings impractical. “You don’t plan those 90 days out,” Goldman said. “Most parents…say, ‘hey, we’re all together this weekend’ — we need flexibility.”
Other residents, including arts advocate Sarah Cifos and parent Tanya Demera, told the council they feared the draft could enable favoritism or constitutional overreach and asked what industry standards and comparative local practices informed the drafting. Cifos said she found nearby counties typically use annual commercial photography permits rather than short‑term, event‑style applications and asked why Crestview’s draft was different.
City manager Jessica and staff clarified that an existing Crestview code provision already restricts commercial activity on city property without council approval and that the recently circulated draft was an effort to allow controlled commercial photography at parks and recreational facilities. Jessica said the fee language in the circulated draft was a first pass and would not return in that form; fees, she said, will be addressed separately from the ordinance. Staff committed to bringing revised ordinance language to the council at the first December meeting.
The council offered residents two options: speak now during general public comment or return to address the council at the December meeting when the revised ordinance is scheduled. The manager said the city will aim for clearer definitions, shorter permit windows for small‑scale family sessions, and separate fee adoption to avoid surprising businesses with high upfront costs.
Next steps: Council staff will redraft Ordinance 20‑13 with clarified scope, operational standards and a separate fee schedule and present it at the first December council meeting for further consideration.
