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Okaloosa County BOCC — October 2, 2012 — reading text
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following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alcoholic beverage means a beverage containing more than one percent of alcohol by weight.
All-terrain vehicle means any motorized off-highway vehicle 50 inches or less in width, having a dry
weight of 600 pounds or less, traveling on three or more low pressure tires. ,designed for operator use
only with no passengers, having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator, and having
handlebars for steering control.
Animal means any animate being other than a human which is endowed with the power of voluntary
motion.
Bather means any person who is in the Gulf of Mexico, Choctawhatchee Bay, bayous, rivers, streams
and lakes, whether said person is swimming, wading, or engaged in any other activity in the water.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 3 of 22
Packet Pg. 253
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
Beach and shores means the coastal and intracoastal shoreline bordering upon the waters of the Gulf
of Mexico, Choctawhatchee Bay, and any water bodies under the jurisdiction of Okaloosa County
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
between the mean high water and the water's edge. On Okaloosa Island, beach means the area of
white sandy beach between the southernmost property line of the adjacent parcels and the waters of
the Gulf of Mexico.
Blood baiting means the use of blood or bloody fish part to attract sharks.
Boat. See "Vessel."
Camping means the erection of shelter or a similar structure for the purpose of sleeping; or sleeping or
lying upon the beach or recreational area either under or outside of any shelter, vehicle, bedroll,
blanket, or other protective garb.
Chumming means the throwing of bait or fish parts into the water to attract fish.
County or Okaloosa County means the unincorporated area of Okaloosa County, Florida.
Fireworks means no person shall bring into, or possess, or set off or otherwise cause to explode or
discharge or burn, in any park area or any other county owned or leased property, any firecrackers,
torpedoes, rockets, toy firearms, cannons, or other fireworks or explosives of or containing flammable
material or any substance, compound, mixture, or article which in conjunction with any other substance
or compound, my explode, discharge, or burn, unless a letter of approval is received from the Board of
County Commissioners.
Idle speed means the lowest speed at which a vessel or sailcraft can operate and maintain steering
control.
Motor vehicle means any vehicle which is self-propelled, including golf carts.
Operator means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, and any other legal
entity.
Park means any area designated by deed, recorded plat, or contractual agreement for use by the
general public of Okaloosa County for park purposes.
Person means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, and any other legal
entity.
Personal watercraft is as defined by Section 327.02(28), Florida Statutes, and means a vessel less
than 16 feet in length which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of
motive power, and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on, or
being towed behind the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the
vessel; i.e., Jet Ski.
Recreational area means any area designated by deed, recorded plat, or contractual agreement for use
by the general public of Okaloosa County for recreational purposes.
Sailcraft means a wind-propelled vehicle used or capable of being used as a means of transportation
on or in the water, including sailboats, sailboards, and windsurfboards.
Shoreline means the beaches, river shores and lake shores under the jurisdiction of Okaloosa County.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 4 of 22
Packet Pg. 254
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
Solicit or canvass means any act, delivery, or exchange not initiated by the prospective customer or
which directs attention to any business, mercantile, or commercial establishments, or any other
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
commercial activity, for the purpose of directly or indirectly promoting commercial interest through
sales, rentals, or any exchange of value.
Special events means:
(1) Any use, activity, or event conducted or promoted at any cCounty park, beach or recreational
area of Okaloosa County that would constitute a violation of any provision of this article or any rule
or regulation issued under the authority of this article.
(2) Any activity or event that is organized and promoted to attract, and is likely to attract, a crowd
of more than 50 49 persons to a certain place at any cCounty park, beach or recreational area at a
certain time under circumstances that are likely to interfere with the public's right of access and
use of the beach or create a need for additional police, lifesaving, or other services; or
(3) Any activity or event at any cCounty park, beach or recreational area that is promoted or
sponsored by commercial interest and will advertise or promote private commercial interest.
(4) Special events does not include private parties on private property unless they are of such a
nature to create a need for additional police, lifesaving, or other services.
Surfboard means a fiberglass, epoxy, closed-cell neoprene or Styrofoam instrument with one or more
fiberglass fins or skegs attached or inserted into the belly or bottom of the surfboard. This definition
shall include windsurfboards, yolo boards, and sailboards. This definition shall not include rubber rafts,
floats, belly boards, or boogie boards.
Surfing means the riding or paddling of a surfboard within the waters of the Gulf of Mexico abutting or
adjacent to the beach.
Ultralight aircraft means any heavier-than-air, motorized aircraft which meets the criteria for maximum
weight, fuel capacity, and airspeed established for such aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration
under part 103 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Vehicle means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is, or may be, transported or
drawn upon a highway.
Vending means offering for sale, rent, or as part of a contractual agreement any services, goods or
materials to be consumed or placed on the beach, or recreational area without a permit, lease contract
or franchise duly issued or executed by the governing body of the cCounty.
Vessel is as defined by Section 327.02(37), Florida Statutes, and means (and is synonymous with boat
as referenced in section 1(b) Article VII of the State Constitution) and includes every description of
watercraft, barge, and air boat, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a
means of transportation.
Water-based activities means those vendor operations in which the customer will participate in an
activity on or in the water. This includes, but is not limited to, ocean kayak rentals, water trampolines,
climbing walls, inflatable boat rides, personal watercraft rentals, and parasail operations.
Water body means Gulf of Mexico, Choctawhatchee Bay, and bayous, rivers, creeks, lakes located in
Okaloosa County.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 5 of 22
Packet Pg. 255
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
Water's edge means that portion of the shore at any given time of the day where the tide flows and
reflows along a water body.
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
Windsurfboard means a surfboard equipped with a sail and designed to be propelled by the wind. The
term "windsurfboard" shall be synonymous with the term "sailboard."
(Ord. No. 08-06, § 1, 3-18-08)
Sec. 16-42. - Authority; purpose and intent.
This article is adopted pursuant to Section 125.01, Florida Statutes. Unless stated otherwise, is
intended to regulate comprehensive public health, safety and welfare on or pertaining to the cCounty
beaches, James Lee Park, and all parks and recreation areas in the unincorporated areas of Okaloosa
County. Local government policy toward the beach, cCounty parks, water bodies and recreational
areas should be guided by the recognition that proper management of these areas is vital to the
economic development of the cCounty and that all reasonable competing uses of these areas must be
protected and balanced.
This article makes no finding of fact that the public either has or has not customarily used any particular
place of gulf front property beach.
(Ord. No. 08-06, § 2, 3-18-08)
Sec. 16-43. - Regulation of use and conduct at the beach, cCounty parks, water bodies, and all
recreational areas in unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County.
(a) [Overnight camping.]Overnight camping is restricted to posted parks only. Otherwise it shall be
unlawful to camp or leave nonpermitted items such as, but not limited to, collapsible structures, tents
(including tent frames), umbrellas, sheds, trailers, etc., overnight and/or those time periods during
which the beaches, cCounty parks, or recreational areas are closed.
(b) [Fires and Fireworks]. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity to
ignite any substance or material or to light or participate in the lighting of any fire or fireworks between
the vegetation line or mean high water mark (beach area), whichever is a greater distance from the
water's edge, and the water's edge of the Gulf of Mexico in Okaloosa County, Florida.
(1) No open fires/flames are allowed at John Beasley Park. This includes but is not limited to
sternos, Bar-B-Que grills, candles, tiki torches, fireworks, etc.
(2) No fires are allowed in County public parks or recreation areas except where grills and/or fire
rings have been provided by the Parks Division.
(c) [Fishing]. It shall be unlawful for any person in Okaloosa County, including the incorporated areas:
(1) To fish in the Gulf of Mexico after
