We are committed to returning the beautiful 30A beaches
to all people
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History
Read the history of this topic in Walton County and the state of Florida. Click HERE.
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Link to the Surfrider organization HERE to learn about their work and how they are getting involved in Walton County.
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Walton County Board of County Commissioners
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The latest headlines…
For ALL the latest news, visit that webpage by clicking HERE. Read below for the latest headlines.
SB 1622 was passed by the Senate Rules Committee on April 21. Special thanks to our supporters who testified before the committee. The only reason we have been able to get this far is the commitment and passion of those who want to see our beaches set free.
HB6043 passed the Florida Judiciary Committee on April 8, 2025 by a vote of 18-0. From the Shoreline Defender on Facebook, Update: House Bill 6043 is undefeated so far—unanimous votes in all three House committees: 14–0 Civil Justice & Claims, 17–0 Natural Resources & Disasters, 18–0 Judiciary. It’s headed to the House floor next week, where it’s expected to pass with broad support.
John Dillard Testified in support of HB 6043 Locals know Dillard as the one who launched the fight for beach access. In his testimony, he argued that HB 631 unfairly targeted Walton County. “No law should favor or punish one group,” he said, echoing earlier remarks by Rep. Shane Abbott. “Yet Walton was singled out—and it’s hurt us deeply.”
Since the bill’s passage, Dillard has seen the fallout firsthand: a sharp drop in tourism and business. While Florida’s overall economy grew by 2% last year, Walton County fell by 11%. Per the Walton County Tourism Board 328,000 tourists who visited the Emerald Coast in 2023 opted not to visit Walton County in 2024. “Rentals are down. Local businesses are struggling. And our beaches now feel like guarded zones.”
”He closed with a simple, powerful request: “Support HB 6043. Restore what’s always been ours.
John Dillard, the man who sparked Florida’s beach access movement delivered passionate testimony this week before the Florida House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee, urging support for HB 6043, a bill aimed at reversing the controversial effects of HB 631.
The following was posted to Facebook by a resident of Walton County, Susan Bell.
In 1975, my friend /neighbor Anne Remmers and her husband built their beach house on North Bishop in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Their house was just north of the 30A, which was a dirt road, and her family enjoyed the short walk to their neighborhood beach.
Many years ago, Mr Stallworth tried to prevent them from using “his” beach or “his” lake, but lost in court because the beach was determined to be for everyone! Fast-forward to 2008, when those who built their homes on the Gulf Front, long after she built hers, gained quiet title to the Beach Highlands Neighborhood beach. It was determined that the HOA, north of 30A, no longer existed because its members were deceased, so no one showed up to fight the quiet title or even knew about it. Anne was never contacted!
Our homes north of 30A were built before those south of 30A. We are called the 1st addition but we were deliberately called that to be excluded! Everyone was allowed to enjoy the beach, sit in chairs, swim, fish, and play because customary use was understood.
Then in 2018, just one year after we bought our house on Baird Rd., right around the corner from Anne’s home, HB631 was pushed through the legislature and Rick Scott signed the bill! It was supposed to provide a legal way for our county government to keep the beaches open for everyone!! It didn’t limit access, which is only walking in the wet sand, but suddenly we had no right to set up chairs or umbrellas on what was always our neighborhood beach.
Anne, with over 500 of us, showed up at the Walton County High School to let it be known that we wanted customary use to be returned. She stood in line for hours to have her voice heard! That was at the beginning of the battle and over time we have all grown weary, trying to fight the greed and entitlement of the gulf front owners.
Anne is 94 years old now and can’t climb the stairs anymore at the Stallworth/Beach Highlands Neighborhood access! The only way for her to go to her beloved beach, previously our Beach Highlands Neighborhood beach, was to walk the path at Bullard & Highland which has no stairs. That path is blocked by a locked gate, keeping her from accessing the beach there. I occasionally drive her to a beach access with a handicapped ramp but it is usually very crowded and disturbing.
The county quit fighting for over 90 percent of its taxpayers and made a ridiculous settlement with a few Gulf front owners. Judge Green granted the quiet titles for about $100 per house and they do not pay taxes on the sand because nothing can be built there! Judge Green also told the county commissioners to settle because they couldn’t win! That seems to be a conflict of interest and he sometimes would move the court times to 1 hour earlier, in my opinion, so if anyone showed up to contest it would be too late!
Now our entire neighborhood beach is red, indicating strictly private, on the maps. Signs are often littered across our beautiful beach with ropes and sometimes chains to keep us at the water’s edge! We can use the beach in front of a few of the Stallworth homes, between 9:00 and 4:00 if their ugly signs aren’t out. We can’t even sit in a chair and watch the sunset! Sometimes there will be one man sitting in a chair with six signs telling people not to come on his property. That is sad for all of us and should never happen on our beautiful beach!
New developments are popping up everywhere in Walton County forcing everyone to crowd into small areas. Soon there will be nowhere for residents or visitors to go! We want HB 631 to be repealed because it is an unfair and horrible law that is destroying our area. Please help us stop the fighting, anger, and hostility between the Gulf Front owners and the rest of us who also pay very high taxes to live and own homes here! This is not a sustainable situation and our paradise is being destroyed! Photos are from Anne (1974 – 2025) at Beach Highlands Neighborhood Beach and Stallworth Lake. Sincerely, Susan Bell
The following comment was shared on “The Best of 30a” Facebook page by a guest who said they won’t be returning anytime soon because “although they love 30A, they don’t love it enough to be treated poorly.”
“We are looking for a beach town that allows visitors to use all the beach and spread out. We stayed in Blue Mountain and loved it. But, we were disappointed in the tiny area of public beach space. We were all sitting so close together, and then the beach chair dictator at Ed Walline Beach kept calling code compliance on canopies that were too large, and placed in the wrong spot, or chairs being in the wrong space.”
Posted by a frequent 30a visitor who took the time to write the following letter to a Walton County Commissioner:
Hello! My family and I are visiting from the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. We’ve been blissfully traveling to the Walton County area for our family vacations since 2017. We’ve noticed a disturbing trend in increased unwelcoming behavior from apparent beach front property owners. It is my understanding that many of the beach front properties in this area are now considered private due to HB631 and it is now being aggressively enforced by lifeguards, property managers, and hired security. This leaves access for tourists like us and locals who do not live beach front small sections to enjoy the sand between our toes. How is this feasible with the influx of tourism? How is it feasible for the local economy when tourists cease coming to the area because of the unwelcoming atmosphere and inconvenience? What will happen when other counties across Florida start imposing the same policies for their beach front property owners?Obviously I do not have a vote in this fight as I am not fortunate enough to reside in this beautiful area, but I’m hoping that my concern encourages you to consider the negative ripple effect this is causing. Heartbreakingly, my family and I have decided this is our last family vacation to this area until the issue is resolved. I fear that many others feel the same way. I appreciate your time and for sharing this community with your fellow Americans, again, I know I have no vote but I hope you consider my concerns. Sincerely, LO (initials only)
Comments taken with permission from social media sites to gain an understanding of what our 30A guests have to say regarding the beach situation.
