Daytona Beach adopts emergency ordinance expanding youth curfew after unsanctioned spring-break takeover

The Daytona Beach City Commission voted unanimously March 18 to adopt an emergency ordinance that will allow city officials to extend youth curfew hours to 8 p.m.–5 a.m. within a designated special‑event zone for a seven‑day period beginning March 20.

Chief Jakara Young told the commission the measure responds to an unsanctioned, social‑media‑driven gathering that overwhelmed public‑safety staffing and disrupted the community. “This unsanctioned event highlighted the growing impact of social‑media‑driven events that can develop rapidly and draw large crowds,” Young said, describing the strain on officers who were already deployed for Bike Week.

The emergency ordinance creates a narrowly tailored “high impact period” (HIP) framework, the chief said, in which temporary rules — including stricter ID checks, security staffing requirements for bars, limits on amenity access for short‑term rentals, towing and increased fines — would apply in defined areas where crowds are expected. The chief also proposed authority, subject to legal review, to require guest lists and ID verification for short‑term rentals during those periods.

City Attorney Gross advised the commission that Florida statutes already provide broad emergency powers and recommended adopting the measure as an emergency ordinance to reduce legal risk and allow immediate effect. “An emergency ordinance allows for messaging and buy‑in while giving officials clear, time‑limited authority,” Gross said during deliberations.

Residents who spoke during public comment generally supported stronger enforcement. William Biddle, a Daytona Beach resident, urged the commission to act quickly and recommended community tools that would help residents and businesses share safety information.

The ordinance will be effective immediately upon adoption and covers the geographic area defined by the sheriff’s special‑event zone declaration. Commissioners said the mayor or commission would need to ratify or reauthorize any extension beyond the initial period. The vote to adopt the emergency ordinance was 7–0.

The commission also instructed staff to coordinate communications with the city manager and police so residents and local businesses receive advance notice of HIP declarations while minimizing operational disclosures that would allow promoters to evade enforcement. Officials said they will continue to refine exceptions in the youth‑protection and curfew rules (for example, travel to and from work or residence) before future implementation decisions.