Walton County Launches Paid Parking Program

Walton County is officially shifting gears on its beach-access strategy with the launch of its first paid parking program. Set to take effect on April 3, 2026, the initiative aims to fund public services and maintain infrastructure while encouraging a "park once" approach through an expanded tram system.

The program, managed by PCI Municipal Services, LLC, focuses on three primary municipal parking facilities in the southern part of the county. While the county moves toward a paid model at these high-demand hubs, parking at all other municipal lots remains free of charge,  but the program will likely be expanded to other lots and roadside parking areas in the future.

Read more: details & discussion on the SoWal Forum.

The Paid Parking Locations

Van Ness Butler Municipal Lot: Located between Seaside and WaterColor.  The lot is a good place to park and walk to events, dining, and shopping in Seaside or WaterColor.
Note: the beach access is closed. Read more about the lawsuit that killed public access.

County Road 393 Municipal Lot: Situated across from Ed Walline Regional Beach Access.

Grayton Beach Municipal Lot: Known as "Grayton Central" on County Road 283.

 Walton County, in partnership with its contracted vendor, PCI Municipal Services, will host parking permit sign-up events as it launches its paid parking program at select municipal parking lots. Residents and visitors can apply for up to two parking permits per household.
When:
April 2 - 3, 2026 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Locations:
Van Ness Butler Municipal Lot – 40 Western Lake Dr., Santa Rosa Beach
Grayton Beach Municipal Lot – 1505 County Hwy 283 S, Santa Rosa Beach
Ambassadors will be roving through the lots to assist with sign-ups.

Resident vs. Visitor Rates

To minimize the impact on local taxpayers, the Board of County Commissioners has established a tiered pricing system:

• Walton County Residents: Eligible for a $5 annual parking permit. This permit covers a full year of parking at the three managed lots.
• Non-Residents/Visitors: Fees vary by season. During the peak season (March through October), non-residents will pay $15 per day. During the off-season (November through February), the rate drops to $5 per day.
• Visitor Permits: Non-residents can also purchase a weekly permit for $120 or an annual visitor permit for $205.

Enforcement and Fines

The county is taking a firm stance against overnight parking to ensure these spots remain available for daily beachgoers rather than as overflow for short-term rentals.

• Standard Fines: Uncontested citations are subject to a $25 fee.
• Overnight Penalty: Parking is prohibited between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. at these facilities. A violation for overnight parking carries a steep $500 fine if paid within 30 days, increasing to $750 thereafter.
   

The "Park Once" Tram Service

Parallel to the parking fees, the Walton County Tourism Development Council has launched a complimentary beach tram service to ease traffic congestion. Running daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the trams provide frequent loops between the municipal lots and regional beach accesses:

• 393 Lot: Trams run every 10 minutes to Ed Walline and every 15 minutes to Dune Allen and Fort Panic.
• Grayton Central: Service connects riders to Hotz and Garfield beach accesses every 10 minutes, with additional routes to Blue Mountain Beach and Gulfview Heights.

• Read more: New: Free Beach Trams To Connect Public Parking And Beach Accesses

Revenue from the program is split, with 60% going directly toward Walton County operations and maintenance of public amenities, while 40% covers the management costs of the private vendor. Residents can register their vehicles and apply for the $5 annual pass by visiting www.parkwaltonco.org.