Small beach fire on the sand at night, Cape San Blas, Florida

Can you have a bonfire on the beach at Cape San Blas?

Yes

no permit needed

Gulf County allows beach fires without a permit. The rules are about where you build it, what you burn, and leaving nothing behind when you go.

Permit

Not required

Setback

100 ft

Fuel

Natural wood

The rule

No permit. But 100 feet from anything built, and natural wood only.

It shall be unlawful for any person to have open fires within 100 feet of any structure (boardwalks included) on the county beaches.

§ 8-39, Gulf County Code of Ordinances

Section 8-39 sits inside the Gulf County Leave No Trace Ordinance (Ord. 2015-07). It applies to the county beaches seaward of SR30A, C-30B and C-30E — which is Cape San Blas, Indian Pass and St. Joe Beach. There is no county bonfire permit and no state authorisation to apply for.

Penalty (§ 1-7): up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offence.

What the ordinance requires

Four conditions, and all four are on you.

Section 8-39 is short. These are the whole of it.

At least 100 feet from any structure — boardwalks included

Natural wood only. Pallets, wood with screws or nails, and pressure-treated wood are all prohibited

Controlled, supervised and attended for the entire time it is burning

Extinguished and every piece of wood, ash and debris carried off the beach the same day

Before you light it

Four things worth checking first.

A fire that was legal last week can be illegal today.

Check the burn ban. Gulf County was under one as recently as March 2026. The Florida Forest Service publishes county-by-county status

The county reserves the right to prohibit open fires on any given day for unfavourable weather or public safety — with no notice period

Inside St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, fires are campground fire rings only, and the park closes at sunset

Sea turtle season runs 1 May – 31 October. The county asks that the beach is kept clean, flat and dark for nesting turtles and hatchlings

More Cape San Blas rules

The other three, in the same shape.

Staying on Cape San Blas?

Rentals booked direct with the owner. No service fee.

Browse rentals

Official

§ 8-39, Gulf County Code of Ordinances Gulf County — Leave No Trace

Rules and regulations change. This page is intended as a general overview to help you plan your trip and is not a substitute for reading the current official rules yourself. Laws, permit requirements, and enforcement can change at any time, and this content may not reflect the most current version. It is your responsibility to verify current rules directly with the relevant city, county, or State of Florida agency. Book Direct Forgotten Coast is not responsible for citations, fines, accidents, or other consequences resulting from reliance on this page.