Most Florida counties don't allow summer beach bonfires. Here are 2 that do

Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·3 min read

Summer vacation time is almost here. From around June through August, Florida’s beaches fill with college students and stay-at-home moms looking to get their kids out of the house during summer days off.

On summer weekends, the beaches are packed with families and groups of friends enjoying the sun and surf.

But if you’re planning on lounging on a Florida beach and roasting marshmallows on the sand this summer, there are some rules to keep in mind about which beaches do and don’t allow alcohol, driving on the beach and of course, bonfires.

Most Florida beaches actually don't allow bonfires on the beach during the summer. Here's a list of the ones that do and what time of year you're typically allowed to start having bonfires on Florida's beaches.

Can you do a bonfire at the beach in Florida?

Most of Florida’s coastal counties don’t allow people to build bonfires on the sand, but there are a few that do.

Those that do usually have designated times of year when it is allowed and you have to pay a fee.

Which Florida beaches allow bonfires?

Nassau County has a document with a list of coastal Florida counties’ beach rules. The only two counties where you can have a summer bonfire on the beach are Pinellas and Walton County. And in Pinellas County, the only place to build a bonfire at the beach is at one of the camping sites at Fort De Soto Park.

If you do choose to legally build a fire on a beach where it's permitted, check the Florida Forest Service's statewide burn ban map to see if there is a county-issued burn ban in place where you are.

Here are the beaches that allow bonfires and the rules that go with building one on the beach in each place:

  • Nassau County: “No Open Fires from May 1st to October 31st, due to Marine Turtle Nesting Season. Fires allowed Nov 1 through April 30.”

  • Duval County: “Beach fires are allowed with the purchase of a $25 permit in Atlantic Beach. Those permits are available from November through February. No beach fires allowed on Neptune or Jacksonville beach. No charcoal is allowed on Neptune beach.”

  • Flagler County: “Yes, bonfires are allowed and must adhere to the following rules: Fires on the beach between May 1st and October 31st are prohibited. To have a fire on the beach, we require that you complete a burn permit request within 3 days of your desired fire and abide by the following: Complete a burn permit request form in person at the Flagler Beach Fire Department.”

  • Martin County: “Beach Fire Permits are only available during the non-turtle nesting season (November through February). Permits are issued no later than 48 hours prior to scheduled permit time.”

  • Pinellas County: “Fort De Soto Park only. No ground fires - (campfires must be in a container, with sides and a bottom).”

  • Walton County: “A Temporary Beach Bonfire Permit allows you to have a bonfire on the beach (Gulf Front Property) for one night, there is $50.00 fee for the permit. The application must be submitted to the South Walton Fire District, for approval prior to the bonfire.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida beach bonfires rarely allowed in the summer. 2 beaches that do