October 21, 2026
Miramar Beach sits on the Walton County side of the Okaloosa County line, so the sand outside most Miramar condos and resorts falls under Walton County’s beach ordinance and the South Walton Fire District, not Destin’s rules. Some of those rules surprise first-time visitors. Dogs generally aren’t allowed, bonfires need a permit, and anything you leave on the sand overnight can be thrown away. This guide summarizes the rules from the county’s current Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance (Ordinance 2025-22, adopted November 24, 2025) and the South Walton Fire District’s own pages, checked on October 21, 2026. It’s a plain-language summary, not legal advice. When in doubt, read the linked ordinance or ask the county.
Why Walton County rules apply in Miramar Beach
The ordinance covers conduct on the beach and water bodies south of Highway 20 in Walton County. The South Walton Fire District, which runs the beach lifeguards and issues bonfire permits, says its area runs from the Okaloosa County line east to the Bay County line, south of Choctawhatchee Bay. Miramar Beach is the westernmost part of that stretch. If you cross the county line into Destin, you’re under a different jurisdiction, so don’t assume the rules match.
The after-dark rule: take your gear off the beach
Under Section 22-54(g), it’s unlawful to leave personal property on the beach from one hour after sunset until one hour after sunrise unless the county has issued a permit. That includes chairs, umbrellas, tents and toys. Items left behind are treated as abandoned, become county property and can be disposed of. The same rule covers the dunes and the toe of the dune. Overnight camping on the beach, beach accesses, dunes or county parking areas is also prohibited.
One more line matters in hurricane season: when the county declares a state of emergency for a storm, all items, permitted or not, must be removed from the beach within 24 hours.
Setting up: tents, umbrellas and where they can go
- Tents: no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet in total footprint, including strings, straps and legs. On county-owned, leased or maintained beach, they’re limited to the upland half of the beach and need a 4-foot walkway between tents so people can reach the water.
- Umbrellas: no larger than 8 feet by 8 feet.
- Keep the wet sand open: beach equipment can’t block people walking along the wet sand. On county-maintained beach, it can’t sit within 15 feet of the seawall, the toe of the dune or the dune vegetation line.
- Holes: no bigger than 3 feet by 3 feet and 2 feet deep. Holes must be attended and filled in before you leave. Steel-blade shovels and other metal digging tools are prohibited for the public.
- Sand stays: you can’t remove beach sand.
Many Miramar Beach condos and resorts sit on private beachfront and may have their own setup rules or chair services. Follow those as well as the county’s.
Dogs: generally not allowed
Section 22-31 bans animals from Walton County’s public beaches, with two exceptions: service animals, and leashed dogs belonging to Walton County property owners or permanent residents who hold an annual county dog permit. Even permitted dogs are allowed only between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Permits require proof of county property ownership or residency and a rabies certificate, so a typical vacation rental guest can’t get one. Plan to leave the family dog at the rental or take it somewhere other than the beach.
Bonfires and fireworks
Every beach bonfire in South Walton needs a permit from the South Walton Fire District. SWFD lists the penalty for lighting a beach fire without one as $500. If you book a permitted beach vendor, the vendor can buy a temporary bonfire permit for you with your authorization. The main requirements:
- Fires must be in an SWFD-approved container. Wood fire pits need a steel bottom at least 4 inches off the sand, and bottomless fire rings are prohibited. Propane pits must be UL- or CSA-listed, no more than 3 feet across and fueled by a 20-pound (maximum) tank.
- A working 5-pound ABC fire extinguisher must be on site, and the fire can’t be left unattended.
- Fires must be 200 feet from marked sea turtle nests, 100 feet from habitable structures and 50 feet from the dune vegetation. They must be at least 30 feet from any other permitted fire on county beach.
- Burn only clean, combustible material: no treated lumber, plastic, household trash, nails or glass. Don’t use lighter fluid or gasoline.
- Timing changes on November 1. From March through October, fire pits can’t go on the beach before 5 p.m., and everything must be cleaned up by midnight. From November through February, setup starts at 4 p.m. and cleanup is due by 11 p.m. Ashes can’t be buried or dumped in county beach trash stations.
- Charcoal grills are banned on the beach. A small propane grill using a 1-pound cylinder, with less than 225 square inches of cooking surface, may be permitted.
Personal fireworks are prohibited on any county-owned or county-maintained beach or beach access. Bringing firecrackers, rockets and similar items onto the beach is banned, and parents can be held responsible for violations by the minors they’re supervising.
Glass, noise, litter and other rules
- No glass: no glass or ceramic items, bottles or containers on the beach. Pack cans or plastic.
- Litter: trash, cigarette butts, charcoal and fish parts go in designated containers only, and household garbage can’t be dumped on the beach.
- Music: speakers and instruments can’t be audible 75 feet or more away.
- Floats: rafts, floats and body boards can’t be used more than 500 feet from the water’s edge. Paddleboards, surfboards and vessels are exempt.
- Fishing: shark fishing, chumming and bloodbaiting are prohibited from the beach and within 2,500 feet of shore.
- Driving: driving on the beach without a county permit is prohibited, and the county’s beach-driving permits are for residents and property owners.
- Parking: no overnight parking in county beach-access lots, and don’t block spaces or emergency access.
Flags and closed water
The South Walton Fire District flies Florida’s beach warning flags at each access. Green means low hazard, yellow means medium hazard, red means high hazard with high surf or strong currents, and purple means marine pests are present. SWFD notes that flag colors are set by the most dangerous conditions anywhere on the county’s beaches, so water near you may look calmer than the flag suggests. Double red flags mean the water is closed. The county ordinance requires permitted beach vendors to post double-red signs warning that violations may bring a $500 fine. The ordinance also lets the county, SWFD or the Sheriff’s Office close the beach or water when conditions are dangerous.
Fines and who enforces them
Walton County Sheriff’s deputies and county code compliance officers write citations. A violation of the beach ordinance is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $500 per occurrence. For continuing violations, each day counts as a separate offense. You can pay within 30 days or ask for a hearing before the county’s special magistrate.
After Hurricane Isaias
The Walton County Tourist Development Council’s recovery page, last updated October 16, 2026 when we checked, says many businesses have resumed normal operations while some amenities and services remain limited. Check its beach access updates before you head out, and see our Miramar Beach parking and beach access tips and Miramar Beach essentials guide for the practical side of a beach day.
Quick checklist
- Pack out everything, including chairs, tents and toys, by an hour after sunset.
- Tent 10×10 or smaller on the upland half of the beach. Umbrella 8×8 or smaller.
- No glass, no dog (unless it’s a service animal), no personal fireworks.
- Bonfire? Get an SWFD permit first. From November through February, setup starts at 4 p.m. and cleanup is due by 11 p.m.
- Fill in holes before you leave.
- Check the flag every time. Double red means stay out of the water.
Sources: Walton County Ordinance 2025-22 – Waterways and Beach Activities · Walton County – Beach driving, charter fishing and dogs-on-the-beach permits · South Walton Fire District – Beach bonfires · South Walton Fire District – Surf conditions and beach flags · South Walton Fire District – About (service area) · Walton County TDC – Hurricane Isaias updates