Obtaining a Marriage License

Both parties will need to appear in the Clerk of Court’s office (Walton County Courthouse, Annex 31 Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, (850)267-3066) and have a picture identification which includes birth date, such as a driver’s license or passport. The fee is $93.50 and may be paid by cash, check, MasterCard, Visa or Discover. If either party has been previously married, you must know the date of death of previous spouse, or the date on which the divorce, annulment or dissolution of the previous marriage was finalized. Both parties must read a handbook detailing the rights and responsibilities of marriage and sign a sworn statement affirming that it has been read. You may download this handbook from the webpage at www.co.walton.fl.us, then selecting Constitutional and Clerk of Courts.

There is no blood test required, and there is no waiting period for non-Florida residents. The license is good for 60 days and may be used throughout the state of Florida, regardless of the county in which it was obtained. A license received outside the State of Florida will not be valid and cannot be used in the State of Florida.

If an applicant is 16 or 17 years old, he/she must present a certified copy of their birth certificate and a notarized parental consent from both parents in addition to the above requirements.

All Florida residents may take advantage of the Florida Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act and reduce the fee to $61.00 by completing a four hour preparation course. If the couple chooses not to attend the course, there will be a three day waiting period. This applies to Florida residents only.

Bonfires

Bonfires on the beach are only permissible with a permit. To obtain one, call the sheriff’s office at 267-1955 on the day you wish to build the bonfire. Calling ahead will not help because a judgment of conditions on the actual day of the fire must be made. Go to the sheriff’s office (on Hwy 331 about 0.5 mile from intersection with Hwy 98) and provide a driver’s license or other photo identification. The fee is $50 and must be paid in exact cash. Provided conditions are favorable, you will be issued a permit but you  must provide your own burn barrel.

Flag System/Beach Safety

There is a flag warning system in place on the beaches of South Walton. To find the current conditions, check the web site at www.swfd.org. Double red flags indicate the water is closed to the public. Red flag indicates high hazard, yellow is medium, green is low, and purple indicates the presence of marine pests. For more on the flag system, visit www.seemoresafetycrab.com.

Lifeguards

Lifeguards are stationed at the following regional accesses from mid-March through September: Inlet Beach, Santa Clara, Gulf View Heights, Ed Walline Park, Dune Allen, and Miramar Beach. Please visit www.seemoresafetycrab.com for current information.

Driving on the beach is not allowed.

Hwy 30A is crossed frequently by pedestrians of all ages headed to the beach, often burdened with beach chairs and gear. Extreme caution and adherence to speed limits is required. Please also be aware that speed limits vary on Hwy 98 through Santa Rosa Beach from 45 mph to 65 mph.