How To Get A Walton County Beach Driving Permit

Walton County offers a variety of Beach Driving Permits, Charter Fishing Permits and Dogs on the Beach Permits for Walton County landowners and/or residents.  The procedures for applying for and receiving a permit are outlined and dictated by the Walton County Beach Activities Ordinance 2021-03.  For those wishing to receive a permit, each permitting processes has its own set of qualifications that must be met, and procedures that must be followed. For detailed information, please view the Walton County Beach Activities Ordinance 2021-03.

Additionally, each permitting process comes with it own set of application opening dates and deadlines for applying.  As these dates arise, the links to the online applications and printable applications will be available under the headings below.

For a high-level overview, please see the 2021 Beach Driving Renewal Information.

Click here to apply on the Walton County website.

Driving on the beach is primarily allowed on Grayton Beach, and two different types of permits are available, one for driving only, and one for driving and launching a boat. Driving on the beach is also allowed on a 66-foot stretch at the Phillips Inlet Access at Inlet Beach on South Walton Lakeshore Drive, which doesn't allow room for parking so it is used as a boat launch and drop off site.

In the past beach driving permits were available to all Walton residents, but the rules for driving on the beach have changed in recent years.

Walton County holds a lottery for 150 one-year beach driving permits available only to county residents and property owners.

The lottery limits beach driving access, while providing residents with an opportunity to take part in driving on the beach. Lottery winners and grandfathered permit holders pay $135 for the one-year permit. Grandfathered permits are available to Walton residents and property owners who have had a permit since before the lottery started. If the grandfathered permit holder fails to renew their permit they lose grandfather privileges would have to enter the lottery the next year.