Commission adopts low‑speed vehicle rules for county roads; ordinance requires decal, clarifies agricultural exceptions

The Board of County Commissioners voted 3–1 (Commissioner Drake opposed) on Jan. 28 to adopt a county ordinance creating Article 6 (Low Speed Vehicles) in the county traffic code. The ordinance establishes where and how low‑speed vehicles may operate on Walton County roads, creates an enforcement rubric and requires county decals for permitted vehicles. Staff and legal briefed commissioners on operational elements included in the ordinance: a registration/decal requirement (to be coordinated with the tax collector’s office), restrictions on wet‑sand beach setup and a path for code enforcement to identify noncompliant vehicles. County staff said tax-collector registration is the practical mechanism to distribute decals and to track compliance; enforcement will be handled jointly by code officers and sheriff’s deputies. Commissioners and public commenters discussed agricultural uses and other exceptions. County staff clarified that farm and public-works equipment used for agricultural purposes are excluded from the LSV rules; LSVs used as working farm vehicles on county roads should be identified and documented as agricultural equipment under state rules. The commission directed staff to coordinate with the tax-collector and law‑enforcement offices on decal distribution and to prepare public outreach materials. The ordinance takes effect Feb. 1, 2025. Ending: Staff will return with operational details (decal issuance, outreach timeline and enforcement protocol) before the decal requirement begins.