Special Events Planning

Thank you for considering Tybee Island as your location to host an event, whether private or public, and/or production project!

We wish to ensure your experience and that of your guests/attendees is highly enjoyable and successful. Below is information that outlines the city’s process with applications that include guidelines necessary to ensure your vision is carried out in the best possible way. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis and should not conflict with annual island events or activities, major holiday weekends, and times during "season" in which the island experiences high-peek numbers of visitors. Please note that Tybee Island's "season" is continually expanding, beginning as early as President's Day Weekend and not ending until as late as Thanksgiving.
 
Contact for Beach & Special Events, Commercial Productions/Film Permits, and Rental Spaces - Robyn Rosner, rrosner@cityoftybee.gov

Online Reservations Link 

Beach Event Permits

A Beach Permit is needed for any type of activity beyond that of usual beachgoers taking place on the City of Tybee Island’s beach areas. The beach is a public area and the City is not permitted to reserve, block off, or make any area private from public access at any time. The City does not approve more than one permit in the same area at the same time.

How to Make a Beach Event Permit Reservation Online:

Thank you for your interest in hosting your event or ceremony on Tybee’s Public Beach in the City of Tybee Island.

A Beach Event Permit is for the reservation of an area on the sandy beach of Tybee Island on a particular day, date, time and location. Reservations are from the hours of 7am to 9pm only. The applicant is responsible for the set up and removal of all equipment and decorations in conjunction with the occasion. The City of Tybee Island Events Division does not provide any equipment rentals services for permitted beach events.

Please take the time to read the following procedure to successfully obtain a Beach Event Permit.

1.    Create at an account on the City of Tybee Island Online Reservation Site:

2.    Applicants may begin the application process by making a reservation for the appropriate area using either the List or Map view found under the Beach catalog tab on the reservation site. 

3.    Upon completion of the Beach Event Permit Reservation Steps through checkout to a completed transaction, your reservation information will be reviewed by the City’s Special Events Division. You will receive an email receipt with status pending approval.Picture1

4.    If the submitted reservation request is complete and all information has been adequately obtained, you will be able to move forward with the completed transaction and the non-refundable application fee can now be processed with the payment information submitted during checkout. If there are any issues for approval or further information that needs to be confirmed, you will be contacted via email by the City Special Events Division

5.    Upon receipt of the application fee, a final Beach Event Permit will be issued, and you will receive a final approved confirmation receipt email.


Beach Guidelines
Tybee Island is a beautiful place to hold a wedding or special event. Even though the beach is public, there are guidelines that need to be followed in order to preserve its natural splendor. To ensure that you have the best possible event, please follow and obey these laws and guidelines:

  • Parking – Parking is enforced from 8am to 8pm year round.  Large parties should consider shuttle bus services. 
  • Signs - If you post a temporary sign, please remove it immediately after your event.
  • Litter - Leave only your footprints and help keep Tybee tidy. Do not leave props/supplies or beverage containers behind. Also do not use birdseed or rice since it is hazardous to birds. 
  • Dunes - The sand dunes around the beach are protected areas and are off limits to any foot traffic.
  • Flowers - Having a flower girl drop flower petals in the bride’s path is always a fun tradition to add to a wedding ceremony. Only real, non-dyed flower petals are allowed.  Artificial flowers or petals are considered litter and are not permitted on the beach. 
  • Photography - Tybee’s beaches offer many natural and beautiful settings to pose for your wedding photos. Please obey the environmental rules when choosing a site (keep off the rock jetties, stay out of the dunes).
Restrictions
  • no fires/open flames
  • no glass
  • no dogs
  • no motor vehicles
  • no release of helium balloons and/or Chinese lanterns

For marriage license information, please call 912-652-7267 or fax 912-652-7262 or visit the Chatham County Probate Court, which is located at the Courthouse (133 Montgomery St., Room 509, Savannah, GA 31401).

Special Events

 A special event application is required for an event that is open to the public (i.e. festival, parade, fireworks, race), and/or requires city services (i.e. traffic/parking control, public safety needs, vending).  Consideration of special event applications is on a first come, first served basis and may take up to sixty (60) days.

Please complete the online application for consideration:
  • Special Event Application
    • The online application is the first step in the permit approval process, submitted applications are not approved approved applications. You will be contacted by City staff after you have submitted all the requested application information for the next steps in the application process.
Approved Special Event Permits that have completed the application process for the 2025 year and have been approved to have vendors at their event will still need to submit the paper/pdf applications for vendor permits below:
  • Special Event Vendor Application
    **Vendor permit applications are submitted to the City through the event organizer of an approved special events application, not by the vendor.**

Event information for the most recent upcoming city approved special events can be viewed here :
City of Tybee Island Approved Special Events 


Event Banner Permit Locations

The City has designated an area by the Tybee Welcome Sign along Highway 80 and an area in Memorial Park along Butler Avenue as approved event banner locations for advertising:

  • City approved special events
  • Events sponsored by a Tybee Island organization that has qualified for a City of Tybee Island community service award
  • Events sponsored by a Tybee Island non-profit organization grant recipient
  • Events to be held within the City of Tybee Island which are sponsored by a non-profit organization. 

To make an event banner permit reservation on our City's event reservation site click here: 

City of Tybee Event Banner Locations

For help on how to reserve an event banner permit location, please click here: How to Reserve Event Banner Locations Online

Film Productions

The City of Tybee Island requires persons engaged in filming, videotaping, motion picture production, and still photography that is for commercial use within city limits to obtain permission through the application process.  Use of the beach, a city park, and/or city owned building require a separate application (noted to the left) for approval. If you are filming on the beach you will need both a beach and film permit.  


The time frame for review and approval of request to undertake any production activity is dependent on the scope of activity. 

  Student / Non-Commercial Film Permits

In addition to the completed application, for student projects the following are required:

  • a copy of the script (only the scenes being filmed on Tybee are necessary, if the entire script is included please highlight or indicate which are requesting to be filmed on Tybee)
  • Two equipment lists:
    1. Detailed list of every item you plan to bring with you for scene set-up/location staging, wardrobe, props, set items, etc.
    2. Production equipment list (all equipment must be chargeable or battery-operated for the power source)
  • The requested location shown on an overhead image or map (a detailed diagram of the proposed layout may be required depending on the scope of production activity being requested)
  • Any other relevant information of what you are filming and the production activity that will occur


Commercial Production

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  The City has welcomed many motion picture, feature film and commercial production companies seeking an attractive community along the Georgia coast as a location over the past few decades. Production companies have found Tybee to be the ideal beach town for their projects due to the variety of picturesque backdrops from our distinct downtown, vast marshes, historic neighborhoods, to the three-plus miles of breathtaking beach areas.  
 

Details and guidelines are included within the following form that must be completed and submitted for consideration: