Beach wedding permits on the Emerald Coast, by beach

Checked against official county, city and state sources on September 21, 2026. Rules change, and the office named for each beach has the final word, so call before you commit to a date or a layout.

Which office covers your beach

Okaloosa Island and Okaloosa County beach parks

Okaloosa County says every wedding at a county beach or park is scheduled and permitted through Okaloosa County Parks. Call at least 14 days ahead. The fee depends on the date, location and time frame, and dates go to whoever books first.

The county’s beach rules that shape a rental order:

• No glass. The county’s note says this includes bottles and ceramic coffee cups.
• No setting up before 7:00 a.m.
• On Okaloosa Island and at James Lee Park, a 25-foot emergency lane stays clear on the gulf side of the dune.
• Parks are open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
• No fires, except on grills the county provides. Personal grills are not allowed.
• No sound amplification.

City of Destin beaches

The city’s beach parks are June White Decker, Norriego Point, the Shore at Crystal Beach and Tarpon Beach. James Lee Park, near the Walton County line, is a county park and follows the Okaloosa County rules above. For a ceremony at a city beach park, ask the City of Destin about permits before you plan the layout.

• Glass is not allowed on the beach, by city ordinance.
• Pets, fires, fireworks, littering and vehicles are not allowed either.
• Anything left on the beach overnight is removed by city staff.
• Sea turtles nest on these beaches from May through October, and the city asks that no lights shine on the beach. Plan evening lighting with that in mind.

Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach is a state park with its own process for events. Call the park before you plan a ceremony there.

South Walton: Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and 30A

Walton County’s code requires a permit for every wedding held on a public beach access, and the county’s tourism office says all weddings on South Walton beaches need a Beach Wedding Permit, applied for through Walton County Beach Code Compliance. The fee is set by county resolution and rises with the guest count.

The county’s code and permit guidelines that affect rentals:

• The application asks for a detailed equipment list and layout, including how many tables, chairs and lights you will set up. Settle your rental counts before you apply.
• A vendor who organizes or conducts the event for a client must be listed on the application, so name the vendors setting up on the sand.
• Setup can begin one hour before the event, and take-down must finish within one hour after it. The tourism office’s FAQ says rented items come down immediately after the ceremony.
• No glass, mirrors or ceramics.
• No setup within 100 feet of a marked turtle nest, in the 15-foot emergency corridor at the water’s edge, or in front of a beach access boardwalk.
• Artificial petals are not permitted.
• Candles, tiki torches and any other open flame need a South Walton Fire District permit.
• Generators, lighting, dance floors, large tents and stages need a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
• Tents are limited to 10 by 10 feet, except at the Inlet Beach, Ed Walline, Dune Allen, Santa Clara and Miramar Beach regional accesses, where the limit is 20 by 40 feet.
• An event on private gulf-front property needs a Special Event Permit Authorization or, for a rented house, a copy of the rental agreement.

Navarre Beach

Santa Rosa County’s Navarre Beach rules are no glass, no fires and nothing left on the beach overnight; property left unattended after sunset is removed and thrown away. Ask the Navarre Beach Department about a ceremony before you plan one.

What this means for your rental order

• Keep glass off the sand everywhere, and ceramics off Okaloosa County and South Walton beaches. That includes porcelain pieces such as our porcelain serving platters; save them for a reception off the beach. Our punch bowls are hammered stainless. Confirm the material of any beverage dispenser before it goes on the sand.
• Order for the setup window. With one hour in South Walton, the sand gets the essentials: ceremony chairs, an arbor such as the bamboo or Carolina arbor, and a small table.
• Nothing stays overnight, so everything on the sand has to come off the beach the same day.
• Open flame needs a conversation first. Chafing fuel and candles are both open flame, which Okaloosa County bans on its beaches outside county grills and South Walton requires a fire district permit for.
• In turtle season, keep lights off the beach. In South Walton, lighting on the sand needs a state permit in any season.

For the full list of what to rent, see the beach wedding rental checklist; for rows and aisle widths, the ceremony chair layout guide. When your beach and guest count are set, send a quote request.

Sources

• Okaloosa County: wedding and special event permits
• Okaloosa County: park rules
• City of Destin: beach information
• City of Destin: frequently asked questions
• Walton County: special event permit guidelines and code
• Walton County: beach and outdoor event permits
• Walton County Tourism Development Council: weddings FAQ
• Santa Rosa County: Navarre Beach