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Okaloosa County BOCC — October 2, 2012 — reading text
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having been warned by any law enforcement officer that
the health and safety of bathers is being endangered; or
(2) While on the beach or within 2,500 feet from shore to intentionally fish for sharks or to fish by
those methods commonly known as "chumming" or "blood baiting".
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a duty on the part of any governmental
employee or agent to prevent fishing or to warn of the presence of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 6 of 22
Packet Pg. 256
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
(d) [Glass containers.] No person, firm, corporation, joint venture, partnership, or other legal entity
shall possess or utilize any glass or ceramic bottle or container in or on any public park, beach, or
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
recreational area in the cCounty.
(e) [Soliciting and canvassing]. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or canvass within the
boundaries or in front of any cCounty park, beach or recreation area, except those operating with a
permit issued by the Board of County Commissioners.
(f) [Littering]. It shall be unlawful for any person to discard or otherwise dispose or abandon any
trash, garbage, bottles, containers, cans, dead fish or parts thereof, charcoal briquettes or ashes, or
any other litter on the beach, cCounty park or recreational area except in designated containers for that
purpose. It is further unlawful to dispose of any household garbage on the beach, cCounty park or any
recreational area.
(g) [Obstructions on the beach]. It shall be unlawful for all types of personal property, including by way
of example and not limitation, canopies, cabanas, umbrellas and other shading devices, picnic tables,
coolers, tiki huts, volleyball nets, hammocks, beach chairs and other furniture, tents (including tent
frames), and other personal articles to be left on the beach in such a manner that they interfere with
beach maintenance, or cleaning, nesting turtles, emergency vehicles, or lifeguards' view of the water.
There shall be a minimum setback of 25 feet from the gulf side of the dune on all public beaches on
Okaloosa Island and James Lee Park for an emergency access lane.
(1) It shall be unlawful for all types of personal property, including by way of example and not
limitation, tents (including tent frames), canopies, cabanas, umbrellas and other shading devices,
picnic tables, tiki huts, volleyball nets, hammocks, beach chairs and other furniture, and other
items generally used for swimming, sunbathing, or beach recreation to remain on the beach
between midnight and 8:00 a.m. Central Time. As used in this section, the phrase “items generally
used for swimming, sunbathing, or beach recreation” shall include, but not be limited to, beach
chairs, umbrellas, coolers, tents (including tent frames), hammocks, tables, toys, towels, blankets,
etc.
(h) Swimming and surfing. Swimming, surfing, use of rafts, floats and other flotation devices.
(1) It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity to operate any watercraft,
swim, bathe, surf, wade or dive within 150 feet of the Okaloosa Island Pier extending into the Gulf
of Mexico on Santa Rosa Island.
(2) (1) The director of public safety or the Okaloosa County Sheriff shall have the authority to
declare that a state of emergency exists and order the posting of double red flags prohibiting entry
into the water. This shall apply to all public beaches on Okaloosa Island, the county operated
beaches of John Beasley Park, Ross Marler Park, First Access Way, Second Access Way, Third
Access Way, Seventh Access Way, Newman C. Brackin Park, and James Lee Park.
(3) (2) Following a declaration of a state of emergency for any portion of any water body in
Okaloosa County including the incorporated areas, and the posting of double red flags prohibiting
entry into the water, failure to comply with directions of lifeguards or law enforcement officers shall
be a violation of Section 843.02, Florida Statutes, or other applicable statute. Those persons
surfing as defined herein with a surfboard attached to the surfer by a leash are exempt from this
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 7 of 22
Packet Pg. 257
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
article.
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
(3) No person, firm, corporation or other legal entity except a lifeguard or other person
actually engaged in a rescue attempt shall:
a) Swim or bathe more than 300 feet perpendicular from the water's edge except as a
necessary incident to other activities permitted beyond such distance.
b) Operate any watercraft, swim, bathe, surf, wade or dive within 150 feet of the
Okaloosa Island Pier extending into the Gulf of Mexico on Santa Rosa Island.
c) Use any raft, float, boogie board, belly board or other flotation device of any
description, except for a boat, surfboard, windsurfboard or sailboard, more than 300
feet from the water's edge, or in violation of an order given pursuant to subsection (h)
of this section
d) Swim or bathe in violation of an order given pursuant to subsection (h) of this
section.
(i) [Flag warning system.]
(1) A flag warning system shall be adopted by the bBoard of cCounty cCommissioners.
(2) All cCounty beaches as referenced in item (h)(2) and public access points to beaches
leading to the Gulf of Mexico shall display a sign informing the public of the beach flag warning
system, and hours lifeguards are on duty and notification that when lifeguards are not on duty
swimmers shall swim at their own risk. The sign shall not be less than 24 inches wide and 30
inches long.
(3) Beach vendors and contractors and other governmental entities are encouraged to post the
beach flag warning system sign in a prominent place at their place of business. The sign shall be
in color and not less than 24 inches wide and 30 inches long.
(4) Beach lifeguards at cCounty beaches, as referenced in item (h)(2), shall post the appropriate
flags depicting current conditions at each designated beach from the second Saturday in March
through the second weekend in October, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Warning flags will be
raised when lifeguards are on duty and actively guarding and will be lowered when lifeguards
leave the beach daily.
(j) [Sound amplification].
(1) No audio device, such as but not limited to, loudspeakers, television, radio, compact disc,
tape, record player, iPod, phone, computer, or musical instrument, except equipment used by law
enforcement, rescue or beach safety personnel, shall be used on the beach, cCounty park,
recreational areas and water bodies in any manner, that can be heard by a person using normal
hearing facilities, at a distance of 100 feet or more from the source of the sound, except if
permitted by a County sanctioned event, e.g., a concert or other event.
(k) [Removal of beach sand].
(1) No beach sand may be removed from the beach except for permitted construction under
guidelines established by the cCounty.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Code of Ordinances
Page 8 of 22
Packet Pg. 258
8.6.3.a
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 16 - PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE II. - COUNTY RECREATION AREAS
(l) [Removal of water.]
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance 08-06 County Recreation Areas Revision 005 - DRAFT FORM (1122 : Public Hearing Request)
(1) No water may be pumped from the Gulf of Mexico except for permitted construction under
guidelines established by the cCounty.
(m) [Animals.] Animals are prohibited in cCounty parks, beaches or other recreational areas with the
exception of those used for assistance by handicapped, blind person, or law enforcement.
(n) [Illegal drugs, alcohol, firearms and fireworks.] Use of illegal drugs, alcohol, firearms and fireworks
shall be prohibited in any cCounty park, beach or other recreational area. The prohibition of the use of
alcohol does not apply within the appropriately licensed establishments at the Island Pier, Newman C.
Brackin Park and James Lee Park.
(o) [Disorderly conduct.] Disorderly conduct will not be permitted at any cCounty park, beach or
recreational area. It shall include but not be limited to profanity, fighting, and disturbing the public
peace.
(p) [Abandonment.] Any item generally used for boating, swimming, sunbathing, beach recreation,
advertised sports activities and/or gatherings which remains on the beach or County recreational area
for more than the permitted time, or during a time that it is prohibited, unless a permit has been
obtained from Okaloosa County by the owner or person in possession and control of the item, shall be
deemed abandoned and shall become the property of Okaloosa County which may dispose of the item
in any manner it sees fit.
(1) A method will be devised to identify and mark said objects in order to notify the property owner
of possible corrective action.
(2 1) Abandoned items of personal property in violation of this Article are a public nuisance.
(2) Removal and/or disposal of such abandoned items may be performed by Okaloosa County
Sheriff’s Department and/or Okaloosa County Code Enforcement. Remove and/or disposal of
such abandoned items by the Okaloosa County Parks Department, Okaloosa County Public
Safety, and/or the County’s beach cleaning contractor would be at the direction of the Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Department and/or the Okaloosa County Code Enforcement.
(q) [Enforcement.] It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department
and/or the Okaloosa County Code Enforcement Department to enforce all provisions of this section.
(Ord. No. 08-06, § 3, 3-18-08)
Sec. 16-44. - Gulf of
