On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a resolution pertaining to various annual and usage fees for permitted beach/park vending. This includes new fees for photography, mobile food and beverage vending, sand castle and picnic vendors.
- As it stands today, the requirements to obtain a permit are very minimal, and the rules governing beach activities are also minimal in many ways. According to the county, the changes in the Resolution are designed to address the growing number of vendors and increasing activity on the beach.
To obtain a Qualified Beach Vendor Permit, vendors will be required to pay new fees for photography, mobile food and beverage vending, sand castle and picnic vendors. The new fees are as follows:
- Wedding and Food and Beverage Vendors – $500 per year
- Picnic, Photography, and Sand Castle Vendors – $250 per year
- Chair and Umbrella Vendors (Includes vehicle fees)
- With upland condo agreements of less than 500 units – $2,500 per year,
- With upland condo agreements of greater than 500 units and less than 1000 units – $5,000 per year
- With upland condo agreements of more than 1,000 units – $10,000 per year.
There will also be usage fees for beach vendors, including:
- Wedding Vending:
- Elopement Wedding – Fewer than 6, No setups – $50
- Wedding (excluding James Lee Park) – $100
- James Lee Park Wedding – $200
- Additional Fee for Wedding after 5pm – $50
- Additional Fee for Weekend Wedding – $50
- Picnic, Sand Castles, and Photography Vending:
- Sand Castles Events – $50
- Picnics Events over 4 individuals – $50
- Picnic Events with prolonged setup over 4 hours – $100
- Photography over 10 individuals or w/setups/Over 2hrs – $50
- Food and Beverage Vendors – $400 per month.
Additionally, chair and umbrella beach vendors will be required to pay $100 per chair and umbrella setup, per section of beach, between beach accessways and Upland Owner Permit equivalent to $75 per upland unit, per calendar year.
The Board also created chair and umbrella non-vending areas on County beaches. These non-vending areas will consist of the width of each of the seven 100ft wide public beach accessway property, plus 50ft on either side of the public access property.
The resolution is effective immediately.
One Response
Why is the Destin Vendor allowed to take up 40-50 yards of best beach spots with a dozen chair/umbrella setups in front of the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island?