The Department of Growth Management provides a broad range of development and regulatory services to both the citizens and the development community. With offices in Ft. Walton Beach and Crestview, we provide services in five primary areas of responsibility mandated by federal, state and local codes and ordinances. These are: the implementation of the adopted Okaloosa County Comprehensive Plan, the Land Development Code and the National Flood Insurance Program, the plan review, permitting and inspection of construction activities in the unincorporated county and the municipalities of Cinco Bayou, Shalimar, and Mary Esther. Additionally, we provide for the enforcement of local codes and ordinances relating to growth and land use development, and the administration of Community Development Block Grant and the Federal Transit Administration Grant programs.
The Department of Growth Management supports the County Administrator and Board of County Commissioners and several citizen and technical advisory boards, namely; the Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, the Code Enforcement Board, the County Contractor Licensing Boards (Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals) and the Fire Code Advisory Board.
The Department of Growth Management is organized into two Divisions; the Planning Division and the Building Inspection Division. Additionally, an Administrative Staff oversees required daily administrative duties.
The Administrative Section consists of the Growth Management Department Director, Elliot Kampert , the Deputy Director, Randy Woodruff, and the Chief Building Official Purl Adams, with support staff located in both the north and south offices. Please address your comments or concerns to the appropriate administrator.
The Planning Division has the lead responsibility for the implementation of the County's Comprehensive Plan, the Land Development Code, the National Flood Insurance Program, the Community Development Block Grant Program, the Federal Transit Administration Grant Program, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
The Planning Division provides direct staff support to the County Administrator, Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, the Technical Review Committee, various citizen advisory committees, and technical committees.
The Building Division is made up of four sections: Permitting and Licensing, Construction Plans Review, Inspection, and Code Enforcement. The staff of the Building Inspection Division provides direct staff support to the Code Enforcement Board, the Fire Code Advisory Board, and the County Contractor Licensing Boards (Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. The Inspection Section also provides permitting and inspection services to the municipalities of Mary Esther, Cinco Bayou, and Shalimar.
Additional state permitting information may be obtained at the Florida One Stop Permitting Center.
Please Note: As of 2/2/25 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) administers on-site septic system permitting. For further assistance with this permitting process please contact FDEP at 850-245-4070.
