People who trespass on the Santa Rosa Island Closed Test Area or enter restricted coastal waterways without a permit face monetary fines or criminal prosecution, base officials said.
From Jan. 1 to April 23, there were 33 trespassing cases on the closed test area, resulting in $3,915 in fines, according to the 96th Test Wing. That figure is slightly more than half of the 65 cases reported in all of 2025, and officials said the numbers are increasing despite red “closed area” signs marking the no-trespass zones.
- The closed test areas stretch west of the El Matador Condominiums to Navarre Beach.
“People trespassing to access secluded beaches are putting themselves at risk because hazardous test activities occur there almost daily,” said Lt. Col. Michael Bruton, 96th Security Forces Squadron commander. “Violators may also disrupt test operations, resulting in negative mission impacts.”
The U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida in Pensacola has modified the fines for violations of laws and regulations enforced within Eglin’s boundaries, setting a minimum fine of $250. Violators issued a trespass citation must either appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in Pensacola or, if eligible, pay the fine.
In addition to land-based trespassing, Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander, restricted six waterways in 2025 in response to emerging air and waterborne threats.
Boaters must now obtain a permit through the Eglin iSportsman website and use the check-in/out feature before entering and after leaving those waterways. The permits do not authorize access to the Santa Rosa Island test area.
People recreating in or transiting through the coastal restricted areas without a permit will be stopped, boarded, questioned and potentially cited for trespassing, officials said.
Failure to comply can lead to fines, possible criminal charges and suspension of recreational access privileges across the Eglin Test and Training Complex.
10 Responses
Over reach. I’ve never seen operations for the first 1/4 mile either East or West of the boundary. Also closing wet sand beach access on the Island between FWB and Navarre soundside is bogus.
It is their land, and the military chooses whether or not they stay in an area or leave by the accessibility ofcTHEIR land. So I would wholeheartedly disagree
I disagree. Its the U.S. citizens land and they are the caretakers. We the citizens own the land. It is U.S. Government’s land = U.S. citizens land.
You just feel free to test that theory, and wander the land you think you own – let us know how that works out for you….
It’s all open bro. Just go on in……..
It use to be allowable to walk the beachline from the start of El Matador all the way to Navarre (if ya had stamina to do that), but you had to stay away from the sand dune areas. I’m sure a few people ruined it for the rest. Not sure why they can’t go back to that, and maybe just close it/and water areas on training days. It sounds like they know when someone is in those areas, so they could just cite folks who wander into areas that really should be restricted 100% of the time. We live in a free country (that’s defined in different ways), but remember, it’s governed by hundreds of thousands of laws (city/county/local/state/federal). So, while you are free to do as you wish, your free choices always have consequences, negatively or positively. “-) big smile!
Well put Gary
In 2023 a new commander was installed at Eglin AF Base, that’s when the west boundary was enforced, FOR THE FIRST TIME, according to locals (grew up here) and visitors (for 50 years) alike. The boundary is ugly, the signs are not clear, and when the tide is low a tourist walking the shore can walk the “booms” without realizing they are breaking federal law. I will make another comment with my idea
My solution? A duty station, with a good looking, polite, clean cut airman telling folks, “sorry, it’s off limits”
That’s how is done in other resort-next-to-military land like Coronado, Camp Pendleton, etc, in other states.
The current boundary looks like a 3rd world country 😑
Or treat it like any other public access to Eglin access. You will need a special permit which indicates access only to the south of the dunes for 1/4 to 1/2 mile into the property,. If an operation is going to happen post a guard at the fence and deny entrance. Oh… that’s too difficult for a Dept. with a $1 trillion dollar budget that can’t pass and audit. I’m not anti military but the waste I’ve seen at DoD is appalling.