FR.5 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, AUTHORIZING DEVIATIONS FROM THE STANDARDS FOR “TEMPORARY BANNERS” SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 62/ARTICLE XIII/DIVISION 8 OF THE CODE OF CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED “PLANNING AND ZONING/PLANNING AND ZONING APPROVAL FOR TEMPORARY USES AND OCCUPANCIES; PERMIT REQUIRED/TEMPORARY BANNERS,” FOR SUCH PERMITS ISSUED WITHIN A PORTION OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR DISPLAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE RELEASE OF GRAND THEFT AUTO VI NO SOONER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2026, AND NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2026; ESTABLISHING TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO REGULATE THE ACTIVITIES FOR TEMPORARY BANNERS; PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
September 10, 2026
Sponsors
District Two Damian Pardo
Commissioner
Department: Commissioners and Mayor
Category: Elected Official Item
WHEREAS, the City Commission has previously recognized the economic, promotional,
tourism, and cultural benefits associated with a major national and internationally significant events and has temporarily authorized deviations from otherwise applicable City Code requirements governing temporary banners and promotional displays in connection with eventsincluding the National Football League Super Bowl, the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the2026 FIFA World Cup; and
WHEREAS, in connection with these events, the City Commission previously authorizedtemporary deviations from Chapter 62 requirements governing the size and location of temporary banners within a defined portion of Downtown Miami; and
WHEREAS, specifically in connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City Commission again authorized temporary deviations from Chapter 62 requirements governing temporary banners within a defined Downtown area and authorized the City Manager or designee to implement temporary regulations notwithstanding City Code provisions that could otherwise prohibit their implementation; and
WHEREAS, Grand Theft Auto VI (“GTA VI”) is scheduled for worldwide release on November 19, 2026, and its promotional period is scheduled to commence no sooner than October 15, 2026, and end no later than December 31, 2026 (“Event Period”); and
WHEREAS, GTA VI prominently features the fictional “Vice City” and a fictional South
Florida-inspired environment having a unique and internationally recognized cultural associationwith Miami and South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the release of GTA VI is anticipated to generate substantial national andinternational media, consumer, entertainment, and cultural attention and presents an opportunity to further highlight Miami as an international center for entertainment, technology, media, tourism, and creative industries; and
WHEREAS, promotional activities associated with the GTA VI release are anticipated to occur before, during, and immediately following the worldwide release date; and
WHEREAS, temporary banners, building wraps, and related promotional displays associated with GTA VI within Downtown Miami would further enhance the visibility and public experience associated with the promotional and release period; and
WHEREAS, Sections 62-619 and 62-620 of the City Code establish limitations applicable to temporary banners, including limitations relating to duration, annual use, maximum size, and location; and
WHEREAS, other provisions of Chapter 62 may establish additional size, area, dimensional, distance, separation, spacing, location, or similar restrictions applicable to temporary promotional displays; and
WHEREAS, due to the unique international significance of the GTA VI release and its cultural association with Miami, the City Commission desires to provide a limited, temporary,geographically defined authorization for promotional displays associated exclusively with GTAVI release that have been approved by publisher, Take Two Interactive Software; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance is intended solely to establish temporary rights during the GTA VI promotional and release period and shall not create, vest, expand, transfer, or recognize any permanent outdoor advertising, mural, billboard, banner, or signage rights upon any property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Ordinance are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The portion of the City within the boundaries defined in Section 3 herein is hereby designated as the “Event Area.”
Section 3. The geographical boundaries of the Event Area shall consist of the area as described and bounded as follows:
Bounded by the Northeast 5th Street on the North, the Miami River on the South, Biscayne Bay on the East, and Northeast 2nd Avenue on the West.
Section 4. The Event Area shall encompass all property within the boundaries described in Section 3 including the entire right-of-way of the described boundaries and the properties abutting Northeast 5th Street on the North and Northeast 2nd Avenue on the West.
Section 5. Notwithstanding any limitations to the contrary set forth in Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 8 of the City Code, regulating the size and location of Temporary Banners, as the said term is defined in the City Code, upon request byTake-Two Interactive Software, and their authorized representatives, the City may, in its sole discretion, issue a permit for a Temporary Banner in connection with the GTA VI release. Such temporary banner permits as authorized by the City pursuant to this section shall (a) not be subject to the annual limitation set forth in Section 62-619(b) of the City Code; (ii) shall not exceed 10,000 square feet in size; (iii) not be subject to the distance limitations in Section 62-620(a)(3) of the City Code; (iv) exclude temporary banners from the limitations in Section 62-620(a)(5) of the City Code allowing the issuance of temporary banners during the Event Period consistent with the standards in Section 62-606 (7) of the City Code; (v) a temporary banner in connection with the GTA VI release may be erected on any property located within the Event Area, upon approval by the City and in the City’s sole discretion; and (vi) the Event Period shall be no more than fifty-six (56) consecutive days and to terminate no later than December 31, 2026, with all temporary banners and/or promotional displays removed.
Section 6. Any temporary banner permit issued pursuant to this ordinance in excess of 5,000 square feet in size shall pay to the City an application fee for such permit in the amount of $208,000.00. Any temporary banner of 5,000 square feet or less shall pay to the City an application fee consistent with the fee schedule in Section 62-620(b).
Section 7. The City Manager is further directed and authorized to allocate and appropriate the net proceeds ultimately received from this temporary banner permit to the Reverend Edward T. Graham GreenwayCapital Project, No. 40-B193621.
Section 8. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 9. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon final reading and adoption thereof.
tourism, and cultural benefits associated with a major national and internationally significant events and has temporarily authorized deviations from otherwise applicable City Code requirements governing temporary banners and promotional displays in connection with eventsincluding the National Football League Super Bowl, the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the2026 FIFA World Cup; and
WHEREAS, in connection with these events, the City Commission previously authorizedtemporary deviations from Chapter 62 requirements governing the size and location of temporary banners within a defined portion of Downtown Miami; and
WHEREAS, specifically in connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City Commission again authorized temporary deviations from Chapter 62 requirements governing temporary banners within a defined Downtown area and authorized the City Manager or designee to implement temporary regulations notwithstanding City Code provisions that could otherwise prohibit their implementation; and
WHEREAS, Grand Theft Auto VI (“GTA VI”) is scheduled for worldwide release on November 19, 2026, and its promotional period is scheduled to commence no sooner than October 15, 2026, and end no later than December 31, 2026 (“Event Period”); and
WHEREAS, GTA VI prominently features the fictional “Vice City” and a fictional South
Florida-inspired environment having a unique and internationally recognized cultural associationwith Miami and South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the release of GTA VI is anticipated to generate substantial national andinternational media, consumer, entertainment, and cultural attention and presents an opportunity to further highlight Miami as an international center for entertainment, technology, media, tourism, and creative industries; and
WHEREAS, promotional activities associated with the GTA VI release are anticipated to occur before, during, and immediately following the worldwide release date; and
WHEREAS, temporary banners, building wraps, and related promotional displays associated with GTA VI within Downtown Miami would further enhance the visibility and public experience associated with the promotional and release period; and
WHEREAS, Sections 62-619 and 62-620 of the City Code establish limitations applicable to temporary banners, including limitations relating to duration, annual use, maximum size, and location; and
WHEREAS, other provisions of Chapter 62 may establish additional size, area, dimensional, distance, separation, spacing, location, or similar restrictions applicable to temporary promotional displays; and
WHEREAS, due to the unique international significance of the GTA VI release and its cultural association with Miami, the City Commission desires to provide a limited, temporary,geographically defined authorization for promotional displays associated exclusively with GTAVI release that have been approved by publisher, Take Two Interactive Software; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance is intended solely to establish temporary rights during the GTA VI promotional and release period and shall not create, vest, expand, transfer, or recognize any permanent outdoor advertising, mural, billboard, banner, or signage rights upon any property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Ordinance are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The portion of the City within the boundaries defined in Section 3 herein is hereby designated as the “Event Area.”
Section 3. The geographical boundaries of the Event Area shall consist of the area as described and bounded as follows:
Bounded by the Northeast 5th Street on the North, the Miami River on the South, Biscayne Bay on the East, and Northeast 2nd Avenue on the West.
Section 4. The Event Area shall encompass all property within the boundaries described in Section 3 including the entire right-of-way of the described boundaries and the properties abutting Northeast 5th Street on the North and Northeast 2nd Avenue on the West.
Section 5. Notwithstanding any limitations to the contrary set forth in Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 8 of the City Code, regulating the size and location of Temporary Banners, as the said term is defined in the City Code, upon request byTake-Two Interactive Software, and their authorized representatives, the City may, in its sole discretion, issue a permit for a Temporary Banner in connection with the GTA VI release. Such temporary banner permits as authorized by the City pursuant to this section shall (a) not be subject to the annual limitation set forth in Section 62-619(b) of the City Code; (ii) shall not exceed 10,000 square feet in size; (iii) not be subject to the distance limitations in Section 62-620(a)(3) of the City Code; (iv) exclude temporary banners from the limitations in Section 62-620(a)(5) of the City Code allowing the issuance of temporary banners during the Event Period consistent with the standards in Section 62-606 (7) of the City Code; (v) a temporary banner in connection with the GTA VI release may be erected on any property located within the Event Area, upon approval by the City and in the City’s sole discretion; and (vi) the Event Period shall be no more than fifty-six (56) consecutive days and to terminate no later than December 31, 2026, with all temporary banners and/or promotional displays removed.
Section 6. Any temporary banner permit issued pursuant to this ordinance in excess of 5,000 square feet in size shall pay to the City an application fee for such permit in the amount of $208,000.00. Any temporary banner of 5,000 square feet or less shall pay to the City an application fee consistent with the fee schedule in Section 62-620(b).
Section 7. The City Manager is further directed and authorized to allocate and appropriate the net proceeds ultimately received from this temporary banner permit to the Reverend Edward T. Graham GreenwayCapital Project, No. 40-B193621.
Section 8. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 9. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon final reading and adoption thereof.
Fiscal Impact
N/A