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Teresa

SoWal Guide

Well, at least it is doing something, even if it is not stopping the big problem:  tourists who leave big tents on the beach as if the beach is their giant garbage can. What ever happened to leave nothing behind but your footprints?

I would like to see Walton County do a similar collection and recycle program because we'll always have a problem with all manner of items left out on the beach - tons of plastic and alluminum!  so, clean and recycle program makes sense.

But that isn't good enough, imo.  Expecting locals and visitors to respect others, respect the environment and respect themselves by doing what is right and leaving no trash or items on the beach whatsoever.  I do not remember what current rules are pertaining to tents - I do think families should be able to keep them up - [I][B]in certain places on the beach,[/B][/I] and within reason -  such as not near the high tide mark, and not longer than 7 days, etc. I hope we can find solutions to work for our beaches.

Well, at least it is doing something, even if it is not stopping the big problem: tourists who leave big tents on the beach as if the beach is their giant garbage can. What ever happened to leave nothing behind but your footprints? 
 
I would like to see Walton County do a similar collection and recycle program because we&#039;ll always have a problem with all manner of items left out on the beach - tons of plastic and alluminum! so, clean and recycle program makes sense. 
 
But that isn&#039;t good enough, imo. Expecting locals and visitors to respect others, respect the environment and respect themselves by doing what is right and leaving no trash or items on the beach whatsoever. I do not remember what current rules are pertaining to tents - I do think families should be able to keep them up - in certain places on the beach, and within reason - such as not near the high tide mark, and not longer than 7 days, etc. I hope we can find solutions to work for our beaches.

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert

I don't have a problem w/ tents when people actively use them. I can definitely see their use for large groups, kids, sun sensitivity etc.

It is the tent (or umbrella or other item) left for hours, overnight, days, or weeks that is the issue - especially in windy or bad weather.

I don&#039;t have a problem w/ tents when people actively use them. I can definitely see their use for large groups, kids, sun sensitivity etc. 
 
It is the tent (or umbrella or other item) left for hours, overnight, days, or weeks that is the issue - especially in windy or bad weather.

beachFool

Beach Fanatic

I call them funeral tents.
 
"Welcome to Walton County. Now get your crap off the beach"

I call them funeral tents. 
 
&quot;Welcome to Walton County. Now get your crap off the beach&quot;

jpbhen

[quote="scooterbug44, post: 646642"]I don't have a problem w/ tents when people actively use them. I can definitely see their use for large groups, kids, sun sensitivity etc.

It is the tent (or umbrella or other item) left for hours, overnight, days, or weeks that is the issue - especially in windy or bad weather.[/quote]

we use an spf50 cabana on the beach when we have a family group (the irish are frighteningly fair), but ALWAYS take it down and back home EVERY DAY. they are NOT too difficult to set up and take down each day, and it really is not too much to expect people to do so.  what ever happened to "put things back the way you found them"?  learned it in kindergarten.  :D

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="scooterbug44">I don&#039;t have a problem w/ tents when people actively use them. I can definitely see their use for large groups, kids, sun sensitivity etc. 
 
It is the tent (or umbrella or other item) left for hours, overnight, days, or weeks that is the issue - especially in windy or bad weather.</blockquote> 
we use an spf50 cabana on the beach when we have a family group (the irish are frighteningly fair), but ALWAYS take it down and back home EVERY DAY. they are NOT too difficult to set up and take down each day, and it really is not too much to expect people to do so. what ever happened to &quot;put things back the way you found them&quot;? learned it in kindergarten. 😀

sunspotbaby

SoWal Insider

Meanwhile the tent issue in PCB is  "a lot of work"  

[url=http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/beach_city_council_settles_proposals/mbb7721392/]wmbb.com - Beach City Council Settles Proposals[/url]

[quote]Later in Thursday?s meeting, the council revisited the beach tent regulation. The council proposed a rule a while back that would stop hotel guests from leaving their tents in the sand overnight.  
Thursday Panama City Beach City Manager announced the new plan wasn?t working.

 ?We found out we don?t have the manpower to do what we have  spelled out in the ordinance as far as enforcing it,? Manager Richard Jackson said. ?It?s a lot  of work.?   
Jackson says the beach is trying to set up a system like the one in Walton County.
 
The council decided to just do away with the tent  regulation proposal right now.  Jackson says they will look at other methods of enforcement and discuss them another time.    

Read more: [url=http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/beach_city_council_settles_proposals/mbb7721392/#ixzz0fKjF064l]wmbb.com - Beach City Council Settles Proposals[/url]
[/quote]

Meanwhile the tent issue in PCB is &quot;a lot of work&quot; 
 
<a href="http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/beach_city_council_settles_proposals/mbb7721392/" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">wmbb.com - Beach City Council Settles Proposals</a> 
 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="">Later in Thursday?s meeting, the council revisited the beach tent regulation. The council proposed a rule a while back that would stop hotel guests from leaving their tents in the sand overnight.   
Thursday Panama City Beach City Manager announced the new plan wasn?t working. 
 
 ?We found out we don?t have the manpower to do what we have  spelled out in the ordinance as far as enforcing it,? Manager Richard Jackson said. ?It?s a lot  of work.?    
Jackson says the beach is trying to set up a system like the one in Walton County. 
 
The council decided to just do away with the tent  regulation proposal right now. Jackson says they will look at other methods of enforcement and discuss them another time.     
 
Read more: <a href="http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/beach_city_council_settles_proposals/mbb7721392/#ixzz0fKjF064l" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">wmbb.com - Beach City Council Settles Proposals</a></blockquote>

kathydwells

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Looks like Gulf Shores is well on their way to making this a reality. :clap:

[url=http://blog.al.com/live/2010/03/baldwins_beach_cities_eye_surf.html]Baldwin's beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com[/url]

Looks like Gulf Shores is well on their way to making this a reality. :clap: 
 
<a href="http://blog.al.com/live/2010/03/baldwins_beach_cities_eye_surf.html" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Baldwin&#039;s beach cities eye surfside recycling | al.com</a>

Wasn't sure where to put this....Anyway, I found this interesting and perhaps this is something SoWal could look into? 

[url=http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/beach_tent_law_surfside_recycl.html]Beach tent law, surfside recycling eyed in Gulf Shores | Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com[/url]

Wasn&#039;t sure where to put this....Anyway, I found this interesting and perhaps this is something SoWal could look into? 
 
<a href="http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/beach_tent_law_surfside_recycl.html" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Beach tent law, surfside recycling eyed in Gulf Shores | Breaking News from the Press-Register - al.com</a>

Beach Tent Law, Surfside Recycling in Gulf Shores

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Beach Tent Law, Surfside Recycling in Gulf Shores

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2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026