Walton County prepares for possible changes to beach access laws

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - As a senate bill aimed at repealing a 2018 customary use law heads to the governor’s desk, Walton County commissioners are now weighing what the future of the beaches could look like if it’s signed into law.

Many beachfront property owners in Walton County have the legal right to keep the sand in front of their homes private. That’s because of a Florida statute passed in 2018. But a new bill — Senate Bill 1622 — could change that. If Governor Ron DeSantis signs it, Walton County will have more control over expanding public beach access. Now, commissioners are asking: What would that actually mean for local beaches?

“Legally, nothing changes on Walton County beaches,” said Clay Adkinson, Walton County Attorney. “The legislature has repealed a prior bill that passed, but the legislature does not undo the legal significance of that case. What happens on day one? Nothing changes. What is the status of our beaches? It’s effective the exact way it was: day zero, day negative in time.”

If the bill becomes law, it doesn’t instantly make private beaches public. Instead, according to commissioners, it creates a path for the county to work towards beach renourishment, restoration, and clearly marking the erosion control line (ECL).

“Right now anything of the ECL seaward is public beach and some parts really need some renourishment and that’s what I wanted the county attorney to explain too, that it doesn’t just open up the beach to everybody, it’s just from the ECL line seaward, and we have to renourish that in order to have some more beach seaward of that ECL line,” said Dan Curry, Walton County Commissioner.

The county was recently surveyed to map out exactly where that ECL line is, so people know where the public can go and where private property starts. “We obviously need more beach, and we obviously need to know where that ECL line is, and right now we don’t have either, so hopefully this will get the ball rolling and in the right direction,” said Commissioner Curry.

Walton County’s attorney Adkinson says the board’s goal is to establish a more consistent approach to public beach access across the county. Commissioners say that clearly informing the public about the location of the erosion control line is key for enforcing beach access rules.

(RELATED: South Walton residents react to customary use bill heading to governor’s desk)

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