This morning, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted to fully reopen the beaches effective immediately on Tuesday, May 5th.

At the April 28th Commission meeting, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners opened the county’s beaches in the morning and afternoons.

This allowed closed beaches and associated amenities, the pier, beach vending and beach permits, to be open for limited periods each day, starting May 1st.

Those times have been 6:30am-9am and 4:30pm-7pm.

Additionally, at the same meeting the Board tasked staff to prepare another Declaration to fully reopen the beaches and associated amenities, the pier, beach vending and crab island vending, beach permits for weddings, and Marler Park on the bayside.

This morning, the Board voted to fully reopen the beaches effective Tuesday, May 5th. This includes:

• The Pier on Okaloosa Island
• Beach vending
• County beachfront parks
• Marler Park
• Parking areas solely for accessing the beaches
• Public restrooms at these properties/facilities

Keep in mind that gathering restrictions and social distancing guidelines will remain.

County staff will begin working on removing barricades and signs from county beaches, accessways and facilities today.