Walton County, FL Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Chapter 14 of the Walton County Code requires a department permit before any group event may use county park facilities. Section 14-6 covers sporting fields: any person, group or organization that wants to use the sporting fields in a park or recreation area must obtain a permit from the Parks and Recreation Department under the athletic field use and allocation policy and pay the fees the county sets by resolution before use begins. Section 14-19 separately governs public demonstrations, gatherings, performances and speeches: a band, procession, military company, or any group carrying flags, banners or transparencies may use a park or parkway only on approval and permit from the director, subject to reasonable regulation of the time, place and manner of the activity; entertainment or exhibitions likewise require department authorization, and public meetings, speeches by political, religious or civic groups, and similar gatherings may be held subject to time-place-manner regulation set by the director to preserve public peace, safety and welfare.

A related rule in Section 14-5(e) requires the director's prior permission, plus payment of the appropriate fee, before any person, group or nonprofit conducts an activity in a park for financial gain, such as a sports camp or instructional clinic, and Section 14-5(g) bars charging admission for a park event without the director's authorization; if donations are collected, the collection point must sit at least 50 feet from any park entrance and be marked as voluntary. Enforcement of these permit requirements falls to sheriff's deputies, code enforcement officers and designated park officials under Section 14-22, and a permit holder who violates the terms of the permit is subject to removal from the park.