The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to consider an ordinance amendment addressing two primary issues:
- Prohibiting oversize beach equipment setups and;
- Limiting the size of holes dug on the beach.
Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey explained that the ordinance aims to prevent crowding on the beach during busy summer months and enhance public safety by preventing sand collapse incidents that have led to child deaths in other areas.
Under the new ordinance, holes dug on the beach must be attended, filled up when leaving, and limited to a size of 3 feet by 3 feet and no deeper than 2 feet. Additionally, tents and sun shades will be limited to a maximum size of 10 feet by 10 feet, with larger tents allowed only through a beach activity permit.
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who proposed the ordinance, stated, “I asked staff to bring this forward after a child died in Escambia because the sand collapsed on the child. If we can prevent it by such an ordinance, I ask my fellow commissioners to support this.”
Commissioner Nathan Boyles supported the ordinance, particularly the portion related to hole digging, but emphasized the need for parental responsibility and encouraging beach users to understand the risks.
- He also raised concerns about the potential for large groups to circumvent the tent size limitation by stacking multiple tents together, suggesting that the county monitor the situation and adjust as needed.
Commissioner Trey Goodwin expressed hesitation about adding regulations without demonstrating a clear need, suggesting that education and outreach could be a more effective approach. He proposed the idea of including a sunset clause in the ordinance, requiring staff to provide data demonstrating the problem and the ordinance’s effectiveness after a period of 24 months.
- However, this proposal did not gain traction among the other commissioners.
Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox addressed the issue of holes being dug in the sand, stating that it has been a long-standing problem. He emphasized that the ordinance is not intended to reduce children’s ability to play in the sand but rather to prevent them from digging holes too deep and creating hazards for sea turtles and permitted vehicles traveling on the beach.
Coffey emphasized that the county’s approach is primarily focused on education, with the ordinance providing a standard to address outliers who may not comply with requests to fill in large holes.
- He mentioned that the county had met with staff, beach and chair vendors, and various owners from Okaloosa Island to make adjustments to the draft ordinance language.
The ordinance will take effect on May 1st, with the county planning to install signage at beach access points to educate visitors about the new rules.
