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Public vs. Private Beach - Frequently Asked Questions

We were enjoying the beach when we were asked to move because we were on private property. Isn’t the beach public?

The county maintains six regional beach accesses with parking and restrooms that are available to the public. Many of the county’s beaches are private due to the way many of the area’s properties were originally deeded and beachgoers who set up tents and chairs in these areas may be asked to move.

Where can the public have beach set ups?

Visitors are welcome to have beach set ups at any of the area’s public beach accesses, including regional beach accesses with parking and restrooms include Miramar Beach, Dune Allen, Ed Walline, Gulfview Heights, Santa Clara and Inlet Beach. Parking is also available at Beach Highlands, Blue Mountain, Grayton Dunes, Van Ness Butler, Jr. and San Juan.

There is a beach access at the end of the street where our rental unit is located, can we have beach set ups there?

Most public beach accesses are nestled between private properties. Beachgoers should stay within the easement of the dune walkover to set up on the dry beach. Along Scenic 30A, beachgoers who wish have beach set ups outside of these areas must be on the wet sand.

In Western Walton County along Scenic Gulf Drive, a large scale beach restoration has created additional public beach. An erosion control line (ECL), a state-required line that was established by identifying the location of the mean high water line during the permitting process, serves as the delineating line between the lands owned by the upland owner (north of the line), and lands owned by the state of Florida (south of the line). Therefore, beach set ups are permitted 35-40 feet from the water’s edge on beaches west of Four Mile Village and along Scenic Gulf Drive.

Can the public walk along the beaches?

Yes, the public is welcome to walk the beach. Beach chair set ups and loitering on private property is illegal.