ORLANDO, Fla. — A national organization representing independent music venues is asking Orlando to suspend police-protection fees charged to downtown businesses that serve alcohol after midnight.
The National Independent Venue Association sent Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council a letter Wednesday, arguing that a small group of bars and entertainment venues is carrying an unfair share of downtown public safety costs.
The request follows a long-running dispute over the permit program. Channel 9 previously reported that a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the city’s late-night alcohol restrictions in September 2025.
Group says businesses were billed $4.3 million
According to NIVA’s analysis of city billing records, Orlando invoiced 39 downtown establishments more than $4.3 million for off-duty police officers between June 2023 and August 2025.
The association said 24 establishments were each billed more than $100,000 during that period, including about $331,000 for The Beacham and $329,000 for Celine.
“Celine has paid the City more than $328,000 for officers who do not work inside our building, on top of the private security we already pay for every night we are open,” owner Eric Fuller said in a statement released by NIVA.
The association said 10 of the 39 establishments have closed. It argues the fees threaten independent businesses, although the closures alone do not establish what caused each business to shut down.
NIVA also questioned exemptions for certain properties, including public lodging establishments and civic auditoriums and sports arenas. Those exemptions concern this permit program, rather than all security costs those properties may incur.
How Orlando’s permit program works
Orlando’s After-Midnight Alcohol Sales permit program requires covered downtown businesses to obtain a permit to continue serving alcohol after midnight.
According to the city’s published explanation, additional police protection outside a business can be required based on factors including the establishment’s size and type, traffic needs and history of violent incidents.
The city describes the rules as part of efforts to improve downtown safety and balance municipal resources. The program also includes security requirements such as weapons screening for certain establishments.
In the September 2025 ruling, U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger rejected the nightclubs’ constitutional challenge and found the police-protection fee reasonable.
What NIVA wants Orlando to change
The association is asking the city to suspend the police-protection fees while conducting a comprehensive review.
It also wants Orlando to convene a downtown public safety working group within 30 days, include independent venues and promoters, and develop a funding model that distributes costs more broadly.
NIVA requested a public accounting of spending, officer hours and outcomes, along with a list of exempt properties and the reasons for their exemptions.
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