Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Fort Walton Beach’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or change of occupancy inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Application is made to the city building official.
  • Also covers electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing systems, parking areas and stormwater systems.

  “shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Adopted by reference as amended from time to time; Test Protocols volume excluded.

  “The current Florida Building Code, as adopted by rule of the Florida Building Commission as required by state statute”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Fort Walton Beach city limits

  • Zoning districts R-1E, R-1, R-2 and others are established in the Land Development Code.

  “The low density residential zoning district is established to provide for single-family homes in traditional residential neighborhoods.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Residential zoning districts R-1E, R-1, R-2 inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Non-residential districts also appear in Table 2.03.02 (MX-1, MX-2, MX-3, YC, CF, CG, CTP, MB, REC).

  “The estate residential zoning district is established to provide for waterfront locations for single-family dwellings,”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residential Single-family Low Density district inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Flag lots 12,000 s.f.; zero lot line development 5,500 s.f.
  • R-2 minimum is 5,000 s.f.

  minimum lot area: >= 7200 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft

  “Minimum lot area (square feet) 15,000 7,200 5,000 1 acre”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1E Residential Single-family Estate district inside Fort Walton Beach city

    “Minimum lot area (square feet) 15,000 7,200 5,000 1 acre”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 district inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • R-2 rear yard is 20 ft.

  front yard: >= 25 ft · interior side yard: >= 7.5 ft · side yard adjacent to street: >= 15 ft · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “Side yard, adjacent to a street 15 15 15 NA Rear yard 50 25 20 NA”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1E district inside Fort Walton Beach city

    “Side yard, adjacent to a street 15 15 15 NA Rear yard 50 25 20 NA”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 district inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • R-2 maximum is 75 percent.

  maximum impervious surface: <= 50 percent

  “Maximum impervious surface (%) 50 50 75 50”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1E district inside Fort Walton Beach city

    “Maximum impervious surface (%) 50 50 75 50”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 district inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • R-2 maximum is 70 ft.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “Maximum building height (feet) 35 35 70 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1E district inside Fort Walton Beach city

    “Maximum building height (feet) 35 35 70 35”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping or sleeping on City-owned buildings, grounds, streets and rights-of-way inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Applies to City-owned property only; private-land camping not addressed.
  • Unless authorized by City Council through resolution, ordinance, or contract.
  • Definition excludes overnight stays in a registered, insured motor vehicle lawfully located, and recreational camping on property authorized by the City.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to publicly camp or sleep in any City owned building or its grounds unless such act is authorized by the City Council”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured and mobile homes inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Permitted in manufactured home communities (minimum parcel 3 acres, lot rental only, lots at least 4,000 s.f.).
  • Elsewhere a special-use standard under Section 4.01.02 applies in some districts; R-2 description lists mobile homes.
  • In flood hazard areas installation must meet LDC 3.05.12.

  manufactured home community minimum parcel: >= 3 acres · manufactured home lot minimum area: >= 4000 sq ft

  “Mobile homes, manufactured homes, or modular homes may be located within a manufactured home community.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwellings in R-1E and R-1 inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • One per single-family lot.
  • Principal dwelling must still meet setbacks, height, impervious and other standards; no variance allowed.
  • One additional parking space.
  • Caretaker dwellings are allowed separately in CG, CTP and MB (max 750 sq ft).

  max size within principal dwelling: <= 25 percent of principal livable floor area · max size within detached garage: <= 600 sq ft (or 25 percent of principal living area, whichever is less)

  “Accessory dwelling units are permissible in R-1E and R-1 when established in compliance with the standards set forth in this section.”

• Who permits septicLocal

  Septic tanks and package treatment plants inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • City prohibits new installation; existing septic users must connect to sewer within one year of notice of availability.

  “The City shall continue its prohibition of the installation of package treatment plants and septic tanks.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Developed properties inside Fort Walton Beach city where city sewer is available

  • Owners of buildings abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sewer must connect within 90 days after official notice (10.70.07(3)).
  • Connection at owner's expense.
  • Water connection requirement not found.

  connection deadline after notice of availability: <= 1 year (90 days after official notice under subsection (3))

  “The City will require all developed properties to be serviced by the City's central sanitary sewer system within one year of notice by the City of availability of service.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Flood-hazard review applies; plats must delineate flood zones.
  • Manufactured home community lots intended for sale must meet subdivision standards of Section 4.07.00.

  “Subdivision proposals, including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions, shall be reviewed to determine that:”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development in flood hazard areas inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Manufactured homes must be installed by a licensed installer, elevated per Florida Building Code R322, and anchored.
  • RVs on site 180 or more consecutive days, or not road-ready, must meet manufactured home rules (3.05.13).

  “All new manufactured homes and replacement manufactured homes installed in flood hazard areas shall be installed on permanent, reinforced foundations that:”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term vacation rentals inside Fort Walton Beach city

  • Registration required (Chapter 8.13).
  • Parking at least 1 space per 2.5 occupants; life-safety requirements; noise limits; trash cans per four occupants.

  on-site parking: per 2.5 occupants per space

  “The following standards shall govern the use of any short-term vacation rental as a permitted use:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Fort Walton Beach or Okaloosa County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Fort Walton Beach city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fort Walton Beach city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Fort Walton Beach city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Fort Walton Beach city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Fort Walton Beach city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.