Beach Bonfires

Please Note:

All beach bonfires are required to be permitted through the South Walton Fire District.

Our offices will be closed for the Holidays on these days

Office Holiday Schedule

New Year's Day 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
President's Day 
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving 
Christmas 
New Year's Day

 

THE PERMIT:

The schedule of fees for the beach bonfire permit shall be established through local ordinances and  resolutions as described below:
  • $50 shall be remitted to SWFD per SWFD Beach Bonfire Ordinance 2010-02 and SWFD Resolution 10-10 (effective date 2010)
  • $50 shall be remitted to Walton County per Walton County Code of Ordinances Chapter 22 and Resolution 2021-27 (effective date 2021)
  • The total fee per beach bonfire shall be $100.00 cash/check or $105.00 for credit card payments ($5 Credit card processing fee).
  • Both fees shall be collected by SWFD.
PERMIT INFORMATION:
  • Permits can be obtained for any South Walton beach public access, and are first come, first served.
  • Most of our locations have a limit on the quantity of bonfires each night.
  • Applicants wishing to obtain a permit for a private location must have and present written permission from the property owner during the application process.
  • The person obtaining the permit must be present during the hours of the bonfire, and provide your legal name on the permit.  Your permit will be revoked if a legal name is not provided.
  • The approved bonfire permit must be presented upon request of a Fire Official, Law Enforcement Officer, or Walton County Code Compliance Officer.
  • The South Walton Fire District reserves the right to check for permit compliance at any time.
  • Authorized permits are limited to 29 people or less.
  • Gatherings on the beach of 30 people or more will be required to provide an approved special event permit from Walton County prior to obtaining a bonfire permit.

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Participants under the age of 18 must be chaperoned by an adult EIGHTEEN (18) years of age or older.
  • FOR SUCH GROUPS, THE PERMIT WILL ONLY BE ISSUED TO THE CHAPERONE.
  • Children should be accompanied by an adult at all times when near a recreational fire.

WEATHER:

  • Unsuitable wind or weather conditions must be taken into consideration prior to and during the actual bonfire; adverse conditions may cause the revocation of this permit.
  • Refunds or rainchecks are not granted on the permits, so please plan your bonfire event carefully.

SETUP AND MATERIAL:
  • Flammable and/or combustible liquids must not be utilized for fueling the bonfires.
  • Use paper and matches rather than lighter fluid/gasoline to ignite your fire.
  • Bonfire material must not consist of salt treated lumber, tar paper, contents containing any rubber products, creosote treated lumber, glue impregnated material, plastic, foam, and household trash.
  • All burn material shall be free of nails/ metals.
  • Bonfire material must be placed in a metal burn barrel or tub.
  • Keep minimum of (3) feet clearance from the outer edge of the barrel at all times.
  • Material should be stacked no higher than four (4) feet.
  • Servicing of the bonfire site will be accomplished by hand carrying the equipment and supplies to the site.
  • Vehicles shall not service the bonfire site (unless you have a beach vehicle permit).
SITE REQUIREMENTS:
  • Bonfires must be at least 100 feet away from habitable structures and a minimum of 50 feet away from vehicles, public roads, other structures, plants and vegetation.
EXTINGUISHMENT:
  • Upon completion of the bonfire, all ashes and leftover material must be thoroughly wet down and removed from the beach.
  • Material and/or hot ashes shall not be buried in the sand or disposed of in a trash dumpster.
  • Keep a garden hose, bucket of water or other extinguishing device nearby.
CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION:
  • Cleanup and restoration of the site must be completed by the expiration date and time set forth by this permit.
  • The person obtaining the permit is responsible for providing the trash bags, removing of the trash and placing all the trash in the proper containers.
PENALTIES
  • Persons that light a beach bonfire without a permit are in violation of SWFD and Walton County Ordinances.
  • Penalties for lighting a fire on the beach without a permit is $500.00 as listed in Walton County Resolution 2021-151
  • https://www.co.walton.fl.us/471/Resolutions-Ordinances



Order Permit Online:

Bonfire Permit Requests


If you need assistance with this process our Administrative office is open Monday through Friday, between 8am and 4pm
 
South Walton Fire District
911 N County Highway 393
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-267-1307

Email: beachbonfire@swfd.org
 

CLICK HERE

for an informative brochure.