NAVARRE BEACH, Fla. — There have been recent reports of vendors selling goods, like ice cream, on Navarre Beach.
Santa Rosa County says vendors are prohibited from selling, if they don’t have permission from the county commission.
“Selling on the beach is prohibited by ordinance,” said Santa Rosa County Administrator Brad Baker.
That ordinance states a person cannot solicit for the sale of goods, property or services, nor can they display advertising of any sort. Nonprofit civic organizations can sell items, like food or merchandise, but only if it obtains a permit from the county.
“If you want to sell something, you need the license to do it,” tourist Lily Stricker said. “So get the license. I feel like that’s so much easier than trying to find a loophole.”
But some people have found that loophole. Some vendors have been spotted selling things, like ice cream.
“This vendor is doing it in this ‘wet sand water area’ of the beach,” said Baker.
That “wet sand water area,” though it is a part of Navarre Beach — it is technically state property — Baker says. That’s because it is not regulated by the county.
“So we have to catch them when they’re not in that area,” Baker said.
“I don’t know what is so special about wet sand that that’s the loophole,” tourist Lexi Nash said. “But it’s confusing for sure.”
Nash and Stricker are tourists from Greenwood, Indiana, visiting Navarre Beach for the week. They say they’d be less likely to give an unlicensed vendor their business.
“Yeah, if you’re selling food, I’d want to know that everything is by the book, by the board all of that,” Stricker said.
The two women also worry on days, like Monday, when yellow flags are flying, “wet sand vendors” could be causing safety issues.
“It’s almost like you’re enticing people to come to the water just because you’re trying to get away from that… especially kids,” Nash said. “If you’re selling ice cream and like little treats, I feel like kids are running to that. That water is pretty rough right now. That seems a little dangerous.”
Baker says the county’s code enforcement is aware.
