When Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell bought a stretch of beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach, he likely didn’t expect the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to play the role of absentee landlord. But that’s exactly what’s alleged in a new legal petition filed this month.
Littrell claims that, despite repeated reports of trespassers crossing onto his deeded beach, sheriff’s deputies refused to intervene — citing vague jurisdictional rules and unclear direction from county leadership. Translation: “Not our problem.”
This isn’t just a celebrity property dispute. It’s a window into how local red tape — in this case, through inaction rather than overreach — can leave taxpayers holding the bag for services they’re already paying for.
A Legal No-Man’s Land
In Florida, the line between public and private beach is supposed to be clear: sand below the mean high-water mark belongs to the public, while sand above it — if deeded — is private. But in practice, that line is invisible. And when county law enforcement refuses to enforce property rights above it, homeowners are left to defend their land themselves.
That’s exactly what Littrell is now doing. In his petition, he says he’s been forced to pay out of pocket for private security just to keep trespassers off his property — all while still paying taxes that fund the very law enforcement agency declining to act.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the pending legal matter. A public records request by Red Tape Florida turned up no current policy or directive governing beach trespass enforcement.
The Politics of Non-Enforcement
This isn’t the first time Walton County has punted on beach-related governance. In 2018, under pressure from the state, the county repealed its customary use ordinance — which had allowed the public to access privately owned beach areas — sparking years of legal and political battles.
Now, in the vacuum left behind, enforcement appears to be optional. But optional for whom?
This case reveals the dangers of selective governance: when public officials shy away from enforcing established rules because the issue is politically hot, regular citizens — even famous ones — get left behind.
The Red Tape at Work
At Red Tape Florida, we spotlight government dysfunction in all its forms — whether it’s regulatory overload or bureaucratic cowardice. This case is the latter.
If citizens must pay out-of-pocket to enforce their own legal rights, then we’re no longer just talking about bad governance — we’re talking about a fundamental failure of public duty.
Walton County doesn’t get to stay silent forever. The taxpayers — and beach owners — deserve a straight answer.