City of Cape Coral: Officials Threaten Legal Action over Community Groups’ Use of City Seal and Logo

A Cape Coral, Florida, ordinance bars private citizens from using the city seal and logo without prior written permission. In early 2026, city officials sent cease-and-desist letters to several residents who run social media pages, online forums, or other websites that depict the city’s seal or logos. One such letter was sent to the local watchdog group Take Out The Trash Committee of Cape Coral, which displayed the seal and logos as part of commentary criticizing city policies. 

On March 26, FIRE wrote the city explaining that the First Amendment protects expression involving government symbols. FIRE called on the city to immediately rescind its cease-and-desist letters to TOTTC and others and to revise its ordinance to align with First Amendment requirements.