Okaloosa County, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)
Key Facts
- Coastal buildings
- Must sit on pilings/columns (R322.3.3)
- Breakaway walls
- 10-20 psf resistance limit (R322.3.5)
- Below-flood enclosures
- Parking, access or storage only (R322.3.6)
- No finished rooms
- Except stairwells/ramps/elevators (R322.3.6)
- Stem walls
- Backfilled stem walls barred in Coastal A Zone (§ 6-137)
- Variances
- Follow Fla. Stat. § 553.73(5) via § 117.1
Summary
Okaloosa County's flood-resistant construction amendments, Section 6-138, require enclosed areas below the design flood elevation to be used only for parking, building access or storage, matching Florida Building Code Residential Section R322.3.6. Coastal high-hazard buildings must sit on pilings or columns, and any walls below the flood line must be designed to break away under flood loads.
R322.3.6 Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation. Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation shall be used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage. The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be partitioned or finished into separate rooms except for stairwells, ramps, and elevators, unless a partition is required by the fire code. Access to enclosed areas shall be the minimum necessary to allow for the parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises (standard exterior door) or entry to the building (stairway or elevator).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-138 amends Florida Building Code Residential Section R322 for buildings in flood-resistant construction areas. 4. 5 requires them to be non-structural and either fitted with insect screening or open lattice, or engineered to break away or collapse under a resistance of not less than 10 and not more than 20 pounds per square foot; where wind loads exceed 20 psf, a registered design professional must certify the walls will collapse from a lesser water load than the base flood produces. 6 then limits what those enclosed areas below the flood elevation can be used for: parking of vehicles, building access, or storage only, with no partitioning into separate rooms except stairwells, ramps and elevators, and access limited to a garage door, a standard exterior door or a stairway/elevator entry.
A companion amendment, Section 6-137, bars the ASCE 24 exception that would otherwise allow backfilled stem-wall foundations in Coastal A Zones anywhere in Okaloosa County. 73(5) to the building official.
Violations & Fines
Building an enclosed area below the design flood elevation as finished living space, or installing a rigid load-bearing wall where a breakaway wall is required, is enforced the same way any other technical-code violation is: Section 114.1 makes it a second-degree misdemeanor, charged separately for each day the noncompliant construction stands, and the building official can withhold approval of that inspection stage under Section 110.3 until the space is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finish out the space under my elevated Gulf-front home?
What kind of walls are allowed below the flood line in a coastal zone?
Is a stem-wall foundation allowed on Okaloosa Island?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Okaloosa County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Okaloosa County to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.