Environmental Rules in Okaloosa County, FL (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Okaloosa County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Florida Statutes Section 373.413 requires a permit before anyone constructs or alters a stormwater management system, dam, impoundment or appurtenant work, administered by the governing water management board or the state department. Applications must identify the landowner and describe the work, and Okaloosa County layers its own Stormwater Utility Ordinance, Chapter 8, Article III, on top to fund the county's drainage system.
Okaloosa County Stormwater Construction Permits
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 373.413(1)-(2)
373.413 Permits for construction or alteration.-(1) Except for the exemptions set forth herein, the governing board or the department may require such permits and impose such reasonable conditions as are necessary to assure that the construction or alteration of any stormwater management system, dam, impoundment, reservoir, appurtenant work, or works will comply with the provisions of this part...
Erosion Control
Before building or altering a stormwater management system, dam, impoundment, or similar water-control structure in Okaloosa County, Florida law requires an environmental resource permit from the water management district or the Department of Environmental Protection, and imposes detailed application, notice, and financial-responsibility requirements under Fla. Stat. § 373.413.
Okaloosa County Stormwater System Construction Permits
Significant RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 373.413(1)
Except for the exemptions set forth herein, the governing board or the department may require such permits and impose such reasonable conditions as are necessary to assure that the construction or alteration of any stormwater management system, dam, impoundment, reservoir, appurtenant work, or works will comply with the provisions of this part and applicable rules promulgated thereto and will n...
Coastal Development
Destin, Okaloosa Island, and Fort Walton Beach front the Gulf of Mexico. Under Fla. Stat. §161.053, an FDEP permit is required to build, excavate, or alter ground seaward of the coastal construction control line.
Okaloosa County Coastal Development Rules
Heavy RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 161.053(2)(a)
Upon such filing with the Department of State, no person, firm, corporation, or governmental agency shall construct any structure whatsoever seaward thereof; make any excavation, remove any beach material, or otherwise alter existing ground elevations; drive any vehicle on, over, or across any sand dune; or damage or cause to be damaged such sand dune or the vegetation growing thereon seaward t...
Flood Zones
Okaloosa County's Floodplain Management Ordinance regulates all development within flood hazard areas in the unincorporated county, from subdivisions to pool installations, based on the March 9, 2021 Flood Insurance Study and FIRM maps. Anyone building in a mapped flood hazard area must get a permit from the County Engineer, who serves as Floodplain Administrator, before starting work.
Okaloosa County Flood Hazard Area Development Rules
Some RestrictionsOkaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code §§ 3.06.01, 3.06.02, 3.06.05
Title. These regulations shall be known as the Floodplain Management Ordinance of Okaloosa County, hereinafter referred to as "this section." Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to all development that is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area, including, but not limited to, the subdivision of land; filling, grading, and other site improvements and utility install...
Boat Dock Permits
Boat docks, piers, bulkheads and boathouses are exempt from the county's standard mean-high-water-line setback in every zoning district. Only the home or other principal structure on a tidal waterfront lot must sit back 50 feet from the mean high-water line under Section 2.19.00.
Okaloosa County Boat Dock Setback Exemption
Light RestrictionsOkaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code § 2.19.00(1)
In all zoning districts, the setback requirements from the mean high-water line (MHWL) do not apply to boat docks, piers, bulkheads (seawalls) or boathouses. For principal structure on tidal waterfront lots, the setback from the mean high-water line (MHWL) is 50 feet.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Okaloosa County requires new and substantially improved buildings in flood hazard areas to meet minimum elevation standards under the Florida Building Code and ASCE 24, and it goes further on Okaloosa Island: buildings in Zone V there must have their lowest structural support member at or above 9.6 feet NAVD 1988, regardless of what the base Building Code would otherwise require.
Okaloosa County Base Flood Elevation Freeboard Rules
Some RestrictionsOkaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code § 3.06.10
C. Minimum elevation requirements for buildings in flood hazard areas. The minimum elevation requirements for buildings in flood hazard areas, including new construction and substantially improved buildings, are specified in: (1) The Florida Building Code, Building by reference to ASCE 24. (2) The Florida Building Code, Residential, in Section R322.2 (Zone A) and Section R322.3 (Zone V and Coas...
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