New regulations target big events on South Padre Island

Organizers now will need permits or face $500 fine

Anyone wanting to host a large event on South Padre Island, a popular spring break destination, will now have to apply for a permit four weeks in advance. Those who fail to do so will face a $500 fine, according to a new ordinance approved earlier this week.

The South Padre Island City Council approved a “large event ordinance” Wednesday, which will go into effect roughly a month from now, said Nikki Soto, the city’s interim public information officer. The ordinance was introduced at a July 5 council meeting and outlined how the city would handle groups of more than 1,000 people on the island.

Applicants for a permit will have to pay a $250 and will have to submit to the city plans for, among other things, sanitation, policing, trash removal and contingency plans.

Soto said the ordinance was developed so the city could have a better way to deal with large events.

“We are requesting that these large events be submitted to the city to better prepare ourselves and assist these large events,” she said. “It’s all in better preparing so we don’t have these last minute pop-ups where people say, ‘I’m having an event next week.’”

South Padre Island remains a popular Spring Break destination, attracting large groups from throughout Texas and outside the state.

The South Padre Island Convention and Visitor’s Bureau tracks hotel occupancy tax and sales tax to find if the number of travelers and tourists increased or decreased for a given amount of time.

“Current data through May indicates revenues are up significantly,” said Keith Arnold, director of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.