Guidelines & Preservation

Beach Guidelines and Preservation in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL is as beautiful as it is because Mother Nature has gotten a little help from the human element. The people who call this stretch of paradise home are passionate about preserving our natural assets. Visitors can help too by following a simple set of guidelines and by helping to keep our sugar-white sand clean!

Florida Coastal Cleanup

The Okaloosa County Environmental Council, a volunteer group of local citizens, organizes two beach cleanups each year. Since 1987, local E-Council citizens have organized more than 30,000 volunteers to remove 100 tons of debris from our beaches.

The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council funds local beach cleanup efforts. As our community’s largest industry, tourism also pays the bills for daily mechanized beach cleaning, a turtle watch program, water quality testing of Choctawhatchee Bay and ongoing beach restoration projects.

Leave Footprints, Not Stuff

Under Okaloosa County Ordinance No. 08-06, it is unlawful for personal property to remain on the beach unattended between midnight and 7:30 a.m. Items left overnight are considered abandoned, and county employees have been directed to remove cabanas, umbrellas, picnic tables, coolers, volleyball nets, hammocks, beach chairs and any other personal articles. By law, items become the property of Okaloosa County and will be disposed of in any legal manner deemed appropriate. We appreciate your assistance in keeping the beach clean for nesting sea turtles, beach maintenance, emergency vehicles and the safety of beachgoers.

Help Keep Our Beaches Clean – Our Beach Rules

• Leave no trace. Please clean up all trash, beach toys, and debris before leaving your day on our sugar-white sand! We also ask that you fill in any holes to avoid obstruction of a sea turtle’s path to and from the ocean during nesting. 
• No fires on the beach. 
• No dogs. Sorry, we love our furry friends just as much as the next but we ask that you please refrain from bringing them on the beach. 
• No fireworks. We have plenty of community firework displays for you to enjoy! Check out our area events for more information. 
• Camping is prohibited. If camping piques your interest, check out one of our local campgrounds.