All counties are suggesting visitors to follow the restrictions set by Governor Ron Desantis. This means that people cannot gather in groups more than 10 and should stay at least six feet apart from others.
Bay Bounty: Beaches Open With Restrictions
The Panama City Beach Chamber announced that on May 1st Sandy Beaches is offically opened all day. All public gatherings at City facilities and property with more than 10 people are prohibited until May 15th.
Escambia County: Beaches Opening
On May 1st Pensacola Beach reopened. Public restrooms and an area under the pier will remain closed. County commissioners previously voted to close Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key Beach, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Gulf County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
On April 21st, county commissioners voted to open beaches from 6 a.m.to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., WMBB reports.
Okaloosa County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
County commissioners voted to open public beaches again for recreational use starting May 1st reports the Pensacola News Journal. The Okaloosa County Health Department said the beaches will have limited hours from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Santa Rosa County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
On May 1st, the Navarre Beach and pier is open from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. Visitors can use the beach for active and essential uses. Setting up a chair or blanket is permitted on the beach. Sound Side beaches of the island are open for walking and swimming. Parking will be available at all public lots and spaces. Normal Pier admission procedures will be in place and daily and annual passes may be purchased. Visitors may also walk and bike the multi-use path of the island of Navarre Beach. While the checkpoint will be down, law enforcement will maintain a presence on the island to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed.
Walton County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
On May 1st all public beaches in the county reopened to Northwest Florida Daily News.
Dixie County: Beaches Open
No announcements have been made on park or beach closures at Visit Dixie County or the county government website.
Franklin County: Beaches Opening With Restrictions
On May 4th, county officials announced beaches will reopen but for limited hours according to the Tallahassee Democrat. The hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the public will be able to access beaches. Beachgoers will not be limited as to what they can do on the beaches. Activities such as fishing, swimming, exercise, and sunbathing will be permitted.
Taylor County: Beaches Open
Ralph Thomas county commissioner announced on a Facebook post that Shell Point Beach and Mashes Sands Beach are open for all uses.
Citrus County: Beaches open
On May 1st, county commissioners voted to reopen all beaches and parks, including Fort Island Gulf and Hernando Beaches, reports the Citrus Chronicle.
Hillsborough County: Beaches Closed
The city of Tampa has closed the beaches. These beaches include Ben T. Davis Beach, Cypress Point Park, Davis Islands Seaplane Basin and Picnic Island Park. Picnic Island Park boat ramp will remain open. As of March 28th, all beaches and parks in unincorporated Hillsborough County are closed, according to my WUSF.
Pasco County: Beaches Open
On May 4th, all Pinellas beaches opened according to Bay News 9.
Pinellas County: Beaches Open
Pinellas County commissioners voted to open beaches with some restrictions, starting May 4th.
Charlotte County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
County beaches were closed down since March 22nd, with deputies threatening $500 fines to those breaking the rules, according to NBC - 2. On April 27th, Charlotte County commissioners authorized county administration to open beaches, according to county commissioner Bill Truex.
Collier County: Beaches open
As of April 30th, County Commissioners voted to reopen its beaches, while the board considered time restrictions, commissioners ultimately decided to fully open including it's restrooms and showers, according to the Naples Daily News. This includes Naples and Marco Island beaches in city jurisdiction, though the Naples Pier will remain closed, according to Wink News.
Lee County: Beaches open
Lee County commissioners voted to reopen beaches April 29th. That includes parking lots and with regular hours. Social distancing will be enforced. On May 2nd, the town of Fort Myers Beach voted to reopen its beaches to the public, Wink News reports. Parking will remain closed as only essential activities such as running and walking will be permitted.
Manatee County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
On May 4th, the county commission voted unanimously to open beaches at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Parking will be restricted to no longer than 2 hours with only a partial number of spaces available. Cities such as Anna Maria and Holmes Beach will expect further restrictions, reports the Sarasota Herald.
Sarasota County: Beaches Open
On May 4th, Sarasota County willfully opened beaches, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Parking will be open but concessions, playgrounds, amenities, and picnic shelters will remain closed. Social distancing and restrictions on groups of 10 or more will still be enforced. Cities are still able to close beaches within their borders. The City of Sarasota announced that Lido Key will remain closed until covid-19 cases decline in the north end of the county.
Broward County: Beaches Closed
On March 18th, Deerfield, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and Pompano Beach closed. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the rest of the beaches and the county to be closed as of March 20, according to Local 10 News.
Martin County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
The county will reopen beaches as of May 4th with restrictions, according to TC Palm. Opening included Jensen and Stuart Beach. Hope Sound, which borders Palm Beach County, remains closed. Bathtub Beach remains closed.
Miami-Dade County: Beaches closed
On March 19th, Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered all beaches closed in the community, the first South Florida jurisdiction to do so. As the mayor discussed developing a plan to reopen parks, he made clear that beaches are not planned to reopen yet in Florida County with the most cases of COVID-19.
Monroe County: Beaches Open Travel Restricted
As of April 27th, Key West city leaders open all parks and beaches, according to the Key West Citizen but it remains difficult for anyone not living on the Florida Keys to visit them. On March 24th, county commissioners imposed limitations so only residents and limited workers could access the string of islands via US 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a safer at home order closing down all nonessential businesses in South Florida counties until mid-April on March 30th. County beaches never closed. Keys Weekly reports that some municipalities close beaches under their jurisdiction. On May 4th Marathon will reopen beaches, but will limit access to pavilions. Islamorada will open on May 4th to residents only.
Palm Beach County: Beaches Closed
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on March 20th closing all Palm Beaches, originally making closures last through March 31st. He has since issued a safer at home order for South Florida counties that will last through mid-April. That order was later extended nationwide. The beach closure in Palm Beach is tied to that order, which will be in place through April. Palm Beach leaders have said they will not reopen beaches until the county reaches its peak in cases.
St. Lucie County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
On April 28th, county commissioners voted to reopen beaches. The county will allow walking, jogging, fishing, surfing, swimming, collecting seashells, kayaking and paddleboarding at all public beaches, which are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On March 23rd county beaches closed after crowds failed to adhere to social distancing, TC Palm reports.
Brevard County: Beaches Open With Restrictions or Closed
As of May 4th, The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier has announced the opening of their parking lot, Trader Rick’s, Sea Dogs, and beach chair rentals. Parking is $20 or $10 for Brevard County residents and ALL Police/ Fire Fighters/ Hospital/ First Responders with valid Form of ID. Plans to fully open will be announced soon.
According to the City of Cocoa Beach, Beach access parking shall be permitted on May 4th in the following locations: Shepard Park (south area only), Fischer Park, Downtown Parking Garage, 2nd Street South (ADA Accessible Dune Crossover), Meade Avenue (west of Cocoa Beach Pier entrance).
Although Brevard County has re-opened beach parking in unincorporated areas, Patrick Air Force Base beach access and parking will remain closed until further notice. This includes parking alongside A1A, where defenders are enforcing restrictions.
According to the City of Cocoa Beach effective May 4th, amendment to open certain non residential zone parking until rescinded. City is removing probation regarding beach parking on privately owned property, but only as to those properties which have previously been approved by the city for paid parking.
County officials have decided to leave beaches in unincorporated Brevard open to residents only, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach and Indian Harbour Beach voted to open their beaches to sunbathing while restricting gatherings to no more than
5 people, according to Florida Today.
Satellite Beach City Manager announced beach parking will remain closed until May 15.
Indiatlantic and Melbourne Beach have reopened to limited use for residents only
Parking in cities remains closed and many businesses are towing beach goers parking on private property; county parking lots are open. Local officials closed Cape Canaveral beaches through April 30th, though walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming are permitted. Mayors and 16 municipalities have asked for county beaches to close completely according to Fox 35.
Indian River Beach County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
Vero Beach, Golden Sands, Wabasso Beach, Tracking Station Beach, Round Island Beach, and Indian River Shores opened with limited uses on April 28th from sunrise to sunset, Florida Today reports. The East end of Beachcomber Lane, South Beach, Humiston Beach, Sexton Plaza Beach, Conn Beach, and Jaycee Beach will open with conditions. Blankets, chairs, coolers, beach umbrellas, and tents are prohibited until further notice.
Volusia County: Beaches Open
As of April 25th, all beaches in the county including Daytona Beach, are now available to use. On May 2nd, all beaches were fully opened with social distancing enforced.
Duval County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
Beaches began to reopen on April 18th with social distancing enforced. Activities were limited to walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets, and surfing.
On May 4th beaches open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m with restrictions on activities still remain in place, the FL Times Union reports.
Flagler County: Beaches Open
On April 21st, county officials announced the opening of all beaches for physical and mental health activities. As of April 29th, all restrictions of activities on the beach are lifted but with social distancing.
According to www.clickorlando.com officials said last week that handicapped friendly parking and beach access is available just north of the pier and at South 2nd Street and State Road A1A. According to a news release access to the beach is available at dune walkovers from 3rd Street North to the north city limits and from 9th Street South to the south city limits The dune walkovers on the boardwalk will remain closed. At last check county officials said fishing on the beach and the walking of pets will only be permitted north of 10th Street North and south of 10th Street South.
Nassau County: Beaches Open With Restrictions
May 1st county officials open beaches from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. according to Action News Jax.
St Johns County: Beaches Open
On May 4th St. Johns County beaches have fully reopened according to, the St. Augustine Record.
Some Florida beaches reopen amid virus outbreak - Associated Press VIDEO
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