Santa Rosa Beach FL Public Adjusters | Hurricane, Wind, Water & Roof Damage Claims Help

Santa Rosa Beach is the largest of South Walton's beach neighborhoods, an unincorporated part of Walton County that reaches from Choctawhatchee Bay south to the Gulf. It began in 1910 as a settlement on Hogtown Bayou, and it takes in the old bayfront community of Point Washington, home to Eden Gardens State Park and the Wesley Mansion built in the 1890s. Visit South Walton has more on the area's history and neighborhoods.

US-98 crosses Santa Rosa Beach from east to west. US-331 starts here and runs north over Choctawhatchee Bay on the Clyde B. Wells Bridge toward Freeport. South of 98, Scenic Highway 30A follows the Gulf through beach communities that share the 32459 ZIP code, including Dune Allen, Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach. North of 98, homes sit along Hogtown Bayou, Churchill Bayou and the bay shore, next to the more than 15,000 acres of pine flatwoods, sandhill and swamp in Point Washington State Forest.

Several of Walton County's 15 named coastal dune lakes, among them Draper Lake and Western Lake, lie between the dunes and 30A. These shallow lakes break through to the Gulf from time to time, and storm surge can push saltwater into them, so low ground around the lakes can take water from both the Gulf side and heavy rain.

Property here runs from Gulf-front homes, condominiums and vacation rentals along 30A to bayfront houses and wooded lots north of 98, along with the shops, restaurants and rental businesses that depend on the season. With water on both sides, one hurricane can bring roof and wind damage, surge on the Gulf side and rising bay and bayou water on the north side. For rental owners, a damaged unit also means lost bookings, so it pays to document the damage quickly.

Our team also serves Grayton Beach, Miramar Beach and Destin, and the rest of the Florida Panhandle.

When a storm is headed for the bay, sign up for AlertWalton and follow updates from Walton County Emergency Management, which posts its Hurricane Isaias FAQ and recovery notices there.

Santa Rosa Beach has no city government, so roof and structural repairs are permitted by the county: the Walton County Building Division has the re-roof affidavit and the coastal building zone forms used for homes near the Gulf.

If repairs will cost half or more of the building's market value, the county can treat it as substantially damaged and require it to be raised to the base flood elevation plus one foot; the Substantial Damage and Improvement page explains the 50% rule and how to book an inspection with the Floodplain Manager, so ask about Increased Cost of Compliance coverage before you sign a repair contract.