"Slices of 30A"

A Beach Within Reach: Access May Look Different, But Still Accessible

Re-post from the Walton County Tourist Department (3/20/24) - Walton County is widely regarded and celebrated for its 26 miles of sugar-white sand and incredible turquoise waters. It's truly a breathtaking sight, which is why many of our residents were attracted here. 

Our beaches also draw visitors, generating an economic impact of more than $6 billion annually and supporting more than 40,000 jobs for our residents. Tourism is the No. 1 economic driver in Walton County. 

Historically, Walton County has had a mix of public and private beaches. What does that look like today? In many ways, it seems the same. Some portions of the beach remain private (think of our resort areas like Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, or Seaside), and condos, single-family homes, and other developments have deeded access to portions of the beachfront.

With spring break upon us and the summer beach season rapidly approaching, it's important to acknowledge some changes along the beach.

The most significant change from a private beach standpoint is the public's ability to access an inaccessible beachfront in many areas. Based on the county's settlement agreement, the public now has access to the area 20 feet landward of the wet-dry shoreline — known as the transitory zone — for walking, running, jogging, and entry into the water for swimming and other activities. This only applies to beachfront parcels that were part of the county's customary use settlement agreement and summary judgment. The map we've created shows the changes: https://www.visitsouthwalton.com/beach-bay-access-locations/.

With this expansion, beachgoers can enjoy the transitory zone between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Other restrictions apply to these parcels, which can be found on the Visit South Walton website: https://www.visitsouthwalton.com/.

What remains unchanged is the ability for residents and visitors to enjoy county-owned beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and our state parks. The county's Regional Beach Accesses and Neighborhood Beach Accesses allow everyone to soak up some sunshine, while the state parks are perfect getaways and offer special experiences. 

Approximately two-thirds of Walton County's beaches are available for the public. Additionally, from the Bay County line to the Okaloosa County line, residents and visitors can still traverse the beach along the wet sand area for the entirety of Walton County's 26 miles of shoreline.

Walton County is also committed to securing additional beachfront. Since 2016, the Tourism Department has purchased more than $76 million worth of property for beach access and parking expansion. 

These purchases were made with TDT (Tourist Development Tax) funds or bed taxes, as they are commonly referred to, not taxpayer dollars, so visitors to Walton County are funding these acquisitions. Please know that expanding the available beachfront has been and will continue to be a priority.

Whether residents or visitors, we all want the same thing—to enjoy our beautiful beaches and make lasting memories with family and friends. Current changes to the beaches don't prevent this. 

Understanding the dynamic of public and private beach usage is crucial in shaping the beach experience we seek individually. The tourism department's goal is to create this awareness, but sharing it is the responsibility of everyone in our community who wishes Walton County to thrive as a quality place to live, work, and visit. Please join us in this vital undertaking.

Matt Algarin, CDME, TMP

Tourism Director

Walton County Tourism Department

850-267-1216 Ext 8516

Matt@WCFLTOURISM.com