What are the beach rules at Perdido Key?
The core Perdido Key beach rules are simple: no glass on the sand, fill in any holes you dig and knock down sandcastles at the end of the day (they trap nesting turtles and hatchlings), keep lights low at night in turtle season, leave only footprints, and obey the beach flags. Specific rules on alcohol, pets, tents, and overnight gear vary by jurisdiction — check posted signs.
The rules that protect wildlife
Perdido Key is critical habitat for nesting sea turtles and the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse. That's behind several rules locals take seriously: fill in holes and flatten sandcastles before you leave (open holes trap nesting females and hatchlings), remove all gear from the beach overnight ("Leave No Trace" — abandoned chairs and tents are hazards), and keep lights off or shielded on the Gulf-front at night during turtle season (roughly May–October). More on that on our sea turtle page.
The everyday rules
- No glass on the sand, anywhere.
- Obey the flags — double red means the water is closed.
- Pack out your trash and fishing line.
- Pets, alcohol, tents, and bonfires are regulated differently on the FL vs. AL side and in the parks — check posted signage.
Reviewed June 2026. Conditions change daily — for live numbers see Beach Today.