DeSantis Approves New Public Access Beach Law

Gov. Ron DeSantis drew a new line in the sand on which beach areas Floridians can enjoy, repealing a controversial law with a new bill signed on Tuesday.

At a press conference in Santa Rosa Beach, DeSantis publicly signed a repeal of a 2018 law limiting public access on beaches in Walton County, a small Panhandle district marked by 26 miles of coastline.

"That law tied the hands of counties and cities...to enjoy the same beaches they had used for generations previously," DeSantis said, noting that money for beach renourishment efforts can now go to "sand and vegetation, not needless litigation."

In 2018, the legislature under Gov. Rick Scott passed a law overturning a 2016 ordinance by the Walton County Commission. The county had declared that the public could recreationally use all 26 miles of the dry sand beach.

So when the state legislature banned everyday Floridians from using sand above the high tide water mark, reversing the county ordinance, public backlash ensued. The law divvied up which areas belonged to private beachfront owners and which could be used by the public.

According to WMBB, 39 beach property owners settled in a lawsuit with county commissioners in March, meaning the public can have limited use of a 20-foot transitory zone while the over 1,100 other private properties can remain completely private.

Under SB 1622, which takes effect immediately, public access will return to Floridians.

"It will repeal the burdensome state mandates," DeSantis added.