Walton County Seeks Resident Input on Land Development Code Rewrite
Walton County is asking residents to help rewrite the rules that shape how land is developed, where businesses can locate, and how natural resources are protected — and a new community survey opened this week gives Freeport residents a direct voice in the process.
The county announced the survey on August 28 as the next step in a months-long effort to overhaul its Land Development Code, the regulatory framework that governs everything from zoning and permitting to environmental protections and development standards. The 15-to-20-minute survey, accessible online and mobile-friendly, asks residents to rate the current permitting process, rank their priorities, and provide chapter-by-chapter feedback on the code. Responses remain confidential, and the deadline to participate is Friday, October 2 at 5 p.m.
Planning and Development Deputy Director Kelly Schultz discussed the rewrite and the importance of public participation in a video posted alongside the survey announcement. The county’s Planning and Development Services office, which oversees the LDC rewrite, is headquartered in the Freeport Commons complex at 842 State Highway 20 East — making the initiative a particularly local one for Freeport residents, who live in one of the fastest-growing areas of the county.
The rewrite process began in earnest this spring. In May, the county hosted 14 roundtable discussions across all five commission districts, drawing more than 106 residents, business owners, builders, and stakeholders to sit down with county leaders and planning staff. According to county officials, the most frequently discussed topics included compatibility between neighboring properties, sidewalk requirements, wetland protection and mitigation, and ways to improve clarity within the existing code. Residents also raised concerns about preserving the character of agricultural lands while keeping regulations practical and understandable.
District 1 Commissioner Dan Curry, whose district includes Freeport, emphasized the importance of reducing ambiguity in the code and making planning information more accessible through online resources. County planning staff acknowledged that portions of the current code contain outdated language and conflicting provisions that need modernization — issues that directly affect property owners and developers navigating the permitting process in the Freeport area.
The Land Development Code rewrite comes as Walton County grapples with rapid population growth and increasing development pressure, particularly along the US 331 corridor between I-10 and Freeport. The county’s own comprehensive plan identifies the US 331 and SR 20 East corridor as a key economic development area, and the updated code will shape how that growth unfolds. The current code was last comprehensively updated through a wholesale rewrite by Matrix Design Group that introduced new zoning districts, revised development review processes, and updated parking, signage, and environmental standards.
Residents can take the survey at arcg.is/1GCOOi2 — the county’s official ArcGIS survey portal. The county has framed the effort with a straightforward message: “Your county. Your code. Your voice.”
Originally reported by Walton County. Additional reporting by Scenic America.
