Safely Enjoy South Walton's Beaches

Beach Flag Color Warning System

Double Red Flag - Water Closed
Red Flag - High Hazard
Yellow Flag - Moderate Surf/Currents
Green Flag - Calm Conditions
Purple Flag - Marine Pests Present

Download a Beach Safety Flyer

Get Beach Condition Updates to Your Phone by Text

For current conditions and flag updates, text "FLAG" to 31279*

*South Walton Beach Conditions: Message and Data Rates May Apply. Periodic Messaging. For help, text HELP, text STOP to end. For more information, see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Follow the Walton County Beach Rules

Leave No Trace - Items left on the beach overnight will be discarded
Permits Required - Vehicles, dogs and bonfires require permits
- To learn about vehicle or dog permits, click here.
- Learn more about beach bonfires here. To obtain a beach bonfire permit, click here.
Stay Safe - Obey all beach flag warnings
Sea Turtle Season - Follow rules, ordinances and laws
Know Before You Go
- To prevent crowding, no tents larger than 10x10 are permitted on county owned or maintained beaches and must be set up on the top 1/3 of the beach.
- Please allow a 15’ setback from dunes and water’s edge for emergency vehicles
- No glass containers are permitted on the beach
- No charcoal grills are permitted on the beach, propane grills may be permitted if 225 sq inches (approximately 16" x 20") or smaller.
- Removal of sand, water or vegetation is strictly prohibited
- Keep off the dunes

Rip Current Information

Identify a Rip Current

Darker color surf, indicating deeper water
Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up on the bottom
Smaller unorganized waves, alongside more evenly breaking waves over a sand bar
Waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip current

How to Help Someone Caught in a Rip Current

Notify a lifeguard
Have someone call 911, give accurate landmarks
Do not enter the water, you too will be caught in the current
Throw them a flotation device
Try not to lose sight of the victim

What To Do If You Are Caught in a Rip Current

Don’t panic or swim against the current
Relax, float with the current until it dissipates
Swim parallel to shore and back in
Of course, the best way to avoid a rip current is to know the surf conditions before entering the water!
Know the conditions and watch the flags!

Lifeguard Information

Lifeguarded beaches are available year-round at regional public beach accesses including Inlet Beach, Santa Clara, Van Ness Butler, Jr., Blue Mountain, Gulfview Heights, Ed Waline, Dune Allen and Miramar Beach. Lifeguards are provided by South Walton Fire District and funded as a part of the Visit South Walton Safety Program. (Number of lifeguarded beaches, dates and times are subject to change.)

Beach Wheelchairs

The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) offers beach wheelchairs at the following beach accesses: Pompano Joe's (Miramar Beach), Ed Walline (Santa Rosa Beach), Dune Allen Regional Beach Access, Santa Clara Regional Beach Access (Seagrove), Van Ness Butler, Jr. (Seaside), and Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access from 10 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. daily, through the lifeguard season. An interactive map of lifeguard towers and beach wheelchair locations is available here.

Each chair must be operated by an on-duty lifeguard and a beach wheelchair waiver must be signed by the beach wheelchair patron or their caregiver. It is requested that the beach patron limit the usage of the beach wheelchair to the beach area in the immediate area of the public beach access. In order to facilitate the possible need for multiple patrons, it is recommended that the beach patron's personal chair be used once the patron has reached their beach location.

Drone Information

What are the rules you need to know before flying your drone in South Walton? From FAA rules, regulations and guidelines to ordiances specific to Walton County, you can find a round-up of pertient drone regulations by clicking here.

Other Services

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office can provide assistance through Project Lifesaver which makes it possible to locate lost Alzheimer's patients. Parties considering the service should call (850) 478-7790.