Policy on Personal Beach Chairs vs Vendor

Why does it appear that some feel it's OK for "resort areas or resort towns" to have a Private Beach, but not an individual homeowner?

It's all the same beach.

Where's all the push back to Rosemary, Watercolor, Watersound, etc.?

Seems odd.

Not a good argument.

The real issue will quickly become not where you CAN sit on the beach, it will be HOW you get there (access).

Just wait.

Pandora's Box is open.

I also visited the Seacrest Beach area last week and was SO dismayed to see a solid line of chairs stretching from the Sandy Shores neighborhood all the way down to Rosemary. We bring our own two chairs and one umbrella and could not find a single tiny piece of water front sand to sit on without hiking down to Paradise by the Sea and "trespassing" on "their" sand. We stay in Sunset Beach which shares the access with the big Seacrest neighborhood across the street. That access has always been busy, but it all my years coming here I have never seen the chair vendors so bad. It's a sad day when you can't sit at your own neighborhood access without sitting behind three rows of chairs.

It seems like the chair vendors are being hired to basically build temporary fencing every day marking off "their" private beach. The menacing PRIVATE PROPERTY signs and chair set ups created a terrible vibe on the beach between vendors and people who want to carry in their own chairs. I witnessed angry confrontations between chair vendors and people who tried to set up around them. One person tried to sit between the property lines / a gap in the chairs and was told to move because they "have" to keep the lane cleared for water sport rentals. BS. The mood on the beach that week was anything but chilled out and relaxing. The look of the beach was the exact opposite of what is being heavily marketed by local realtors, rental agencies, the tourism board and sites like SoWal.com and 30A.com.

People who have never been there before probably assumed you HAVE to pay $60+ a day to rent a chair. Some people do want to rent chairs, but not everyone. There has to be room on the beach for both. I understand there is a complicated public vs private debate, and that these guys are just doing a job that they have been hired to do, but there has GOT to be a better solution. Most of these chairs sat out all day at less than 50% occupancy. I even thought I would "outsmart" them one day and set up my own chairs at 7 a.m. but they were already out there in full force at that early hour!! I don't want to sit right in front of a rental chair anymore than they want me to.... and I would practically have to sit IN the water because they set up so close to the wet sand.

Seems like an easy solution would be to not set them up until people actually arrive to use them. If they arrive at noon, they sit behind other visitors who've arrived early. If they leave early, the chair gets picked up or dusted off and reset for the next guest. No moving other people's chairs. Leave a towel on your chair if you're leaving for lunch and coming back later. Or restrict vendors to 50% of the area, and not the 50% right next to the water! But it all comes down to enforcement and it seems like these vendors have been allowed/hired to have the run of the beach, to the detriment and disappointment of MANY visitors. Everyone I chatted with that week was shocked at how much valuable beach real estate the vendors were taking.

As to the discussion above, our beach set up consists of two $30 Nautica chairs and a $40 SportBrella from Sam's Club. The umbrella is very sturdy and we can safely stake it down if it gets windy. This set up has served us well for years and we don't mind carrying it over. A set up to last for years for the same price as two days of chair rentals - makes sense to me! Now if only we could find a piece of water front sand to put it on! I really do try to "beach like a local" but these rampant chair vendors sure do make it hard!!

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I also visited the Seacrest Beach area last week and was SO dismayed to see a solid line of chairs stretching from the Sandy Shores neighborhood all the way down to Rosemary. We bring our own two chairs and one umbrella and could not find a single tiny piece of water front sand to sit on without hiking down to Paradise by the Sea and "trespassing" on "their" sand. We stay in Sunset Beach which shares the access with the big Seacrest neighborhood across the street. That access has always been busy, but it all my years coming here I have never seen the chair vendors so bad. It's a sad day when you can't sit at your own neighborhood access without sitting behind three rows of chairs.

It seems like the chair vendors are being hired to basically build temporary fencing every day marking off "their" private beach. The menacing PRIVATE PROPERTY signs and chair set ups created a terrible vibe on the beach between vendors and people who want to carry in their own chairs. I witnessed angry confrontations between chair vendors and people who tried to set up around them. One person tried to sit between the property lines / a gap in the chairs and was told to move because they "have" to keep the lane cleared for water sport rentals. BS. The mood on the beach that week was anything but chilled out and relaxing. The look of the beach was the exact opposite of what is being heavily marketed by local realtors, rental agencies, the tourism board and sites like SoWal.com and 30A.com.

People who have never been there before probably assumed you HAVE to pay $60+ a day to rent a chair. Some people do want to rent chairs, but not everyone. There has to be room on the beach for both. I understand there is a complicated public vs private debate, and that these guys are just doing a job that they have been hired to do, but there has GOT to be a better solution. Most of these chairs sat out all day at less than 50% occupancy. I even thought I would "outsmart" them one day and set up my own chairs at 7 a.m. but they were already out there in full force at that early hour!! I don't want to sit right in front of a rental chair anymore than they want me to.... and I would practically have to sit IN the water because they set up so close to the wet sand.

Seems like an easy solution would be to not set them up until people actually arrive to use them. If they arrive at noon, they sit behind other visitors who've arrived early. If they leave early, the chair gets picked up or dusted off and reset for the next guest. No moving other people's chairs. Leave a towel on your chair if you're leaving for lunch and coming back later. Or restrict vendors to 50% of the area, and not the 50% right next to the water! But it all comes down to enforcement and it seems like these vendors have been allowed/hired to have the run of the beach, to the detriment and disappointment of MANY visitors. Everyone I chatted with that week was shocked at how much valuable beach real estate the vendors were taking.

As to the discussion above, our beach set up consists of two $30 Nautica chairs and a $40 SportBrella from Sam's Club. The umbrella is very sturdy and we can safely stake it down if it gets windy. This set up has served us well for years and we don't mind carrying it over. A set up to last for years for the same price as two days of chair rentals - makes sense to me! Now if only we could find a piece of water front sand to put it on! I really do try to "beach like a local" but these rampant chair vendors sure do make it hard!!

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Couldn't have said it better myself. Like I stated previously, I have been vacationing here for more than a decade (which is nothing compared to many) and the vibe on the beach at Rosemary/Seacrest absolutely sucks. The signs, the ropes...this is all new. Since I've seen (justifiably) angry people on the beach I've driven down to Grayton and enjoyed the beach there. Which makes me question...

Why were there no vendors there but vendors throughout my stops at Blue Mountain and Dune Allen...those beaches looked just as packed w vendors yesterday.

Another question...is this one of the reasons why there is movement toward incorporation of South Walton? To help with disciplined development?

If I see this, I cannot imagine what actual residents must be going through. We have often thought of buying here but want to see how things shake out before we invest. And so far, as gorgeous as the area is, I see so much future development that I can't imagine what the beaches will look like in 10 years.

And to address another Sowal reply... Anything "west of Seacrest and east of Rosemary is private beach" that sounds like the entire 30a? I thought all beaches in Florida were public...did this recently change?

Great thread and all the info is appreciated. I love this area and also have a weird interest in city planning so it's fascinating.

Why does it appear that some feel it's OK for "resort areas or resort towns" to have a Private Beach, but not an individual homeowner?

It's all the same beach.

Where's all the push back to Rosemary, Watercolor, Watersound, etc.?

Seems odd.

Not a good argument.

The real issue will quickly become not where you CAN sit on the beach, it will be HOW you get there (access).

Just wait.

Pandora's Box is open.

They sholdn't be private either but the point is that people who go there expect to be told what they can and can't do ro where thay can and can't site on the beach. They want to pay for an umbrella on the front row and that's what they come for.

Beach enforcement Jeff 850-428-0089 or jeff@visitsouthwalton.com, or
Harold 850-428-7814
Director of Beach operation brian@visitsouthwalton.com
850-267-4578
District 5 county commissioner Cindy Meadows meacindy@ co.walton.fl.com

Copy,your post and forward,showing your concerns about the Vendor situation and your lack enjoyment of Sowal beaches.

Why does it appear that some feel it's OK for "resort areas or resort towns" to have a Private Beach, but not an individual homeowner?

It's all the same beach.

Where's all the push back to Rosemary, Watercolor, Watersound, etc.?

Seems odd.

Not a good argument.

The real issue will quickly become not where you CAN sit on the beach, it will be HOW you get there (access).

Just wait.

Pandora's Box is open.

I hear your argument in that view john g. the thing is that multi unit resorts have NO more right to exclude random sand sitters than any OTHER beach front owner. ANY beach front owner as ANY beach GOER should expect and be able to rely upon the assurance that individual bad behavior will be punished pursuant to existing nuisance ordinances or new ones as the need may be. Those pictures are thoroughly depressing.

I hear your argument in that view john g. the thing is that multi unit resorts have NO more right to exclude random sand sitters than any OTHER beach front owner. ANY beach front owner as ANY beach GOER should expect and be able to rely upon the assurance that individual bad behavior will be punished pursuant to existing nuisance ordinances or new ones as the need may be. Those pictures are thoroughly depressing.

But where's the outrage from the Stand Your Sand Group, or a formal stance from A Better South Walton? They appear to be the same group, but not the same group.

Why can the big resort communities get a "pass" and Gulf Front Owners get the hate?

Time to streamline this argument and have it so it's not so slanted and basically, discriminatory.

But where's the outrage from the Stand Your Sand Group, or a formal stance from A Better South Walton? They appear to be the same group, but not the same group.

Why can the big resort communities get a "pass" and Gulf Front Owners get the hate?

Time to streamline this argument and have it so it's not so slanted and basically, discriminatory.

Because the resorts are business entities that contribute much to our community and economy. They are good neighbors. Gulf front owners who kick people of their beach and put up chains are greedy bastards.

From what I can see on those pics, the signage is not proper according to the 810th chapter of Florida Statutes. You would think that if they are going to quote that chapter that they would at least READ it...

(2.a.Conspicuous no trespassing notice is painted on trees or posts on the property, provided that the notice is:
(I) Painted in an international orange color and displaying the stenciled words “No Trespassing” in letters no less than 2 inches high and 1 inch wide either vertically or horizontally;
(II) Placed so that the bottom of the painted notice is not less than 3 feet from the ground or more than 5 feet from the ground; and

We are back at Sowal and see that the beach chair rentals are now $365 for 6 days. When we first started visiting Sowal there weren't very many vendors and now the beaches are completely dominated by the . Further, the beaches are all divided up in small portions this year with ropes and signs stating where you can sit and can't sit depending on where you are staying.

Anyway, if we wake up early and go down to the beach to set up first, then walk the beach with the kids, can these vendors move my things? I just don't want to be behind 3 rows of chairs because I can't see my children in the water.

Thanks so much!

You must be renting quite a few chairs and/or umbrellas because my husband and I were just there in the spring and paid less than $200.00 for a week .... 2 chairs, table, and umbrella.

Beach chairs, beach rights, overcrowding, local economy,infrastructure, local government, special interest groups. Merge all the threads to one. "This town needs an enema".

As to the discussion above, our beach set up consists of two $30 Nautica chairs and a $40 SportBrella from Sam's Club. This set up has served us well for years and we don't mind carrying it over. A set up to last for years for the same price as two days of chair rentals - makes sense to me! Now if only we could find a piece of water front sand to put it on! I really do try to "beach like a local" but these rampant chair vendors sure do make it hard!!

Consider the beaches in Seagrove from N Dothan Ave to Nightcap St, this stretch of beach is Public. No private property signs and low vendor usage.
Also, requesting public to please support an additional beach access proposed by TDC on Headland ave to this area of "public beach". Beach front owners on either side of this county owned land are attempting to block construction of a walkover and bike rack.

Posted on: June 17, 2016
NOTICE of PUBLIC WORKSHOP - Headland Ave Public Beach Access
NOTICE of PUBLIC WORKSHOP
You are hereby notified that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners will hold a workshop on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM or soon thereafter. The meeting will be held at the South Walton Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Hope you find a peaceful "piece of water front sand" to put your chairs and umbrella on.

Because the resorts are business entities that contribute much to our community and economy. They are good neighbors. Gulf front owners who kickpeople of their beach and put up chains are greedy bastards.

I've been visiting the area for 28 years and I've been a member on the SoWal forums for 11 years. I've been following these discussions over the past couple of years as I've noticed the area, beaches, restaurants, roads and other amenities get more and more crowded.

I definitely see, understand, and respect the multiple points of view of ALL sides in this discussion (there aren't just "2 sides").

I do want to continue the discussion, though, about the large communities being allowed to place no trespassing/private beach signs (and I've even heard of wristbands or other ID being required), while smaller developments or single family owners are not allowed to place such signage or require such credentials.

It is stated above that the reason for this difference which some see as an inconsistency is because the larger (and more upscale) communities are "businesses entities that contribute much to our community and economy." I don't disagree that these businesses and/or their owners contribute to varying degrees in civic and community contribution as well as revenue generation. But does that give them more leverage to tell an inland-dwelling, non-beachfront property-owning resident of SoWal, or a visitor, for that matter, that they can't walk or hang out on their beach, yet it doesn't give a single unit beachfront property owner, or a small unit condo association, the same power?

To be honest, I wish everyone could "beach" wherever they want to, without annoying other beachers or crowding people out or blocking their view. But I see signs less prominently at houses and small condos than I do at the "large communities" including Seaside as pictured above in last week's Walton Sun...

If you are staying somewhere that owns 100 yards of beach to share among 500 rental houses, there might be an issue with crowding. Not a negative for people who like a lot of action and interaction.

This is the most asinine statement I've seen on this forum.

How is this legal? The chairs are on the wet sand.

Because the resorts are business entities that contribute much to our community and economy. They are good neighbors. Gulf front owners who kick people of their beach and put up chains are greedy bastards.

This post seems circular. Are the resorts not technically gulf front owners? Are many/most of the gulf front homes not businesses? (Vacation rentals).

This post seems circular. Are the resorts not technically gulf front owners? Are many/most of the gulf front homes not businesses? (Vacation rentals).

Comparing Seaside to an individual rental home makes no common sense.

Comparing Seaside to an individual rental home makes no common sense.

Since you note Seaside as your example....you do realize that the gulf front homes in seaside are privately owned, right?

You must be renting quite a few chairs and/or umbrellas because my husband and I were just there in the spring and paid less than $200.00 for a week .... 2 chairs, table, and umbrella.

This was the one beach chair vendor for Seacrest Beach. Asked the attendant last Sunday and he said $365 for two chairs and an umbrella for 6 days. It was less than $300 at Rosemary when we stayed there last summer.

$30bux a day for two chairs & umbrella in Destin. $150 Weekly rate.
I know because friends were just there at a condo and used the service.
Me thinks the Cabana Boys on 30A are skimming off some pocket cash.

This is the most asinine statement I've seen on this forum.

I'm social as hell but that line made me chuckle too. Yikes.

Since you note Seaside as your example....you do realize that the gulf front homes in seaside are privately owned, right?

Seaside is borg.

This is the most asinine statement I've seen on this forum.

Haven't been around long have you?

I never related to my sister and her husband who loved taking their kids to the most crowded tourists spots they could find. They are part of a fringe group known as "social".

Simple answer. It's not, Enforcement is the answer. Use TDC funds to provide it instead of advertising.

Re this situation IF you are a tourist, basically have 3 options: A) help make a change; B) adapt ; or C) move on. Everybody has to decide for themselves where they stand on this issue. I stopped going to Destin and began coming to 30A because of the crowds and four plus rows of chairs and umbrellas. I come to the beach to be at the water's edge and relax in the peace and tranquility I find there. I don't know enough about the local politics and what can be done. But if someone local wants to point me in the right direction, I certainly don't mind , respectfully, letting the powers that be know 30A is a special place and not to screw that up!

Seaside is borg.

Not sure what that means. Is this a diversionary tactic?