Do you need a Beach Permit for your Destin Wedding?
Advice from our Destin Wedding Planners at SunQuest Beach Weddings
Congratulations! You’ve finally decided to say your vows over the sound of the waves on the Emerald Coast. We can envision it now! The sun setting over the water, the candy white sand beneath your feet, and Cannon in D is playing in the background. The last thing you would imagine is a Beach Code Enforcement officer walking onto the set of your ceremony and asking, “Do you have a permit to be here?”
Talk about an uninvited guest! At this thought, you might ask yourself, “Do I really need a beach permit?”
As experts in the beach wedding industry for over 17 years, we can tell you that the answer is Yes! But let us save you the trouble of trying to decipher all the official lingo. Here is everything you need to know about obtaining a beach permit for your Destin Wedding!
How Much Does a Beach Permit Cost?
These prices are up to date as of September 2022.
Walton County
Walton County includes the areas of Miramar Beach, Sandestin, and all of 30A. Popular beaches for weddings include Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Seaside, Seacrest Beach, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach & Inlet Beach! Note that additional fees may apply for private beach accesses, such as private homes or condos.
- $50: 9 or fewer guests/vendors
- $150: for 10 – 30 guests/vendors
- $250: for 31 – 50 guests/vendors
- $500: for 51-75 guests/vendors
- $1,000: for 76+ guests/vendors
Events with over 76+ guests require a Walton County deputy security detail (estimated $160) at the event.
Okaloosa County
According to the City of Destin, “Okaloosa County requires a wedding permit to be obtained from the county for all weddings taking place on county-owned property regardless of the number of attendees” Beach locations in Okaloosa County are limited in the number of events they allow to host at one time. We suggest choosing your desired location early so that our team can obtain your permits.
Some locations in Okaloosa County may not require a permit, such as private beach residences. The owner of the property may still require a special permit or additional event fees.
Regardless of event size, permits in Okaloosa County are $50.
Why Do I Need a Beach Permit?
Just like booking any other event venue, the surrounding cities require a beach permit to have a record of all participants, event operations, and possible hazards to the beach and surrounding occupants. Without a beach permit, you might run into all sorts of issues like needing a special authorization form, conflicting with a blackout date, in need of security detail, etc.
If a wedding, bonfire, party, or any other type of event occurs without a permit, Beach Code Enforcement officials will ask all event participants to shut the event down. If they need to, they can and will call the county police department. Trust us, we’ve seen it happen!
Most importantly, a permit is needed to host a wedding on the beach to ensure that you don’t host a wedding at the same beach access at the same time. No bride wants to share their big day with someone else’s!
Can I Celebrate on a Private Beach?
Yes! Private beaches are available if you book your beach ceremony at a resort, a private beach home, or at a venue that has private beach access. Our team has trusted relationships with private beach locations and your SunQuest wedding planner can assist you in choosing the perfect location for your ceremony on a private beach. There are typically additional costs associated with hosting your ceremony at a private beach access.
Let Us Do the Work for You!
When you book your wedding through SunQuest, you secure an entire team of wedding experts at your side. We know all the tips and tricks, and differences between private properties and public beaches, and have long-standing relationships with the county officials. We can contact the space, complete the permit request, and everything else in between for you! All you need to do is choose your favorite beach, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Interested in learning more about booking a beach ceremony with us? Contact us to get started.