Franklin County now enforcing "Leave No Trace" ordinance

Franklin County has begun enforcing its new “Leave No Trace” ordinance.

The ordinance bans people from leaving items like tents and beach chairs on public beaches on St. George Island overnight items that are left out can be confiscated and destroyed at the landfill.

The “leave no trace” ordinance is designed to protect nesting sea turtles and to keep local beaches looking cleaner.

Franklin County beaches are popular with sea turtles – every year hundreds of sea turtle nests are laid in our beaches and thousands of baby turtles hatch and crawl to the gulf.

County administrative Director Alan Pierce said until further notice, every Tuesday morning, Parks and Rec personnel will be on the beach to tag personal property as a reminder that unattended personal property has to be removed by 9 PM.

So Tuesday will be known as “Tag Day.”

On Wednesday nights Park and Rec employees will drive the beach with a motorized vehicle and trailer and will remove unattended items after 9 PM.

Mister Pierce was quick to point out that as long as people are using their stuff they can keep it on the beach all night, but if it’s just left there it will be confiscated.

On Saturday morning Parks and Rec crews will return to the beach to clean the beach and remove any unattended items again.

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