Engineering Department

ABOUT US:

The Engineering Department facilitates various functions for the County such as Traffic Operations, Right-of-Way Permitting, Public Roadway Drainage Improvements, Utility Service, Surveying, Planning Development Reviews and Project Development and Management.

Traffic Operations

The traffic division operates and maintains over 48 traffic control devices including signalized intersections and emergency signals. 

Right of Way Permitting

Staff reviews permit applications for opening of unimproved right of ways, driveway connections, right-of-way use and right-of-way utility placement.  The Walton County Right of Way Policy and permit applications for right of way permitting can be found HERE. 

Public Roadway Drainage Improvements

The Public Works Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all stormwater systems that serve County maintained infrastructure. This jurisdiction is in unincorporated areas and locations where Stormwater Infrastructure is dedicated to the public and accepted for maintenance by the Board of County Commissioners. Other Stormwater Infrastructure within the County may be the responsibility of a municipality or a private entity such as a Homeowners Association or property owner.  The first step in response to citizen inquiries concerning Stormwater is the determination of who is responsible for the system.

All stormwater issues and complaints are investigated. If the problem can be solved through routine maintenance, the work is scheduled for completion as resources become available. If the problem appears to be extensive and/or requires engineering analysis, it is added to a list of Stormwater Needs maintained by the County Engineering Department and evaluated for future capital improvement projects. Projects are prioritized based on degree of impact to the public and environment as well as cost.

Utilities

Walton County Board of County Commissioners provides sanitary sewer service within the Northwest Florida Commerce Park at Mossy Head.  Engineering staff along with several other departments facilitate the operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment plant and transmission system.   For a list of other water and wastewater utility providers within Walton County, please see the link on this page.   

Surveying

The Surveying Department provides essential support services to the Engineering Department by reviewing development order planning reviews and plat applications as well as offers in-house survey project support.  Surveying also provides necessary support to County Legal, Administration, Planning and other County Departments.

Planning Development Reviews

Staff provides technical support of public right-of-way review for County development order applications, engineering review of County plat applications, engineering review of County single-family stormwater applications.  For municipal development order projects, staff performs driveway connection permit review for those projects connecting to County maintained facilities. 

Project Development and Management 

Staff participates with the Emerald Coast Regional Council in the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization’s (OWTPO) Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC) and other associated transportation committees.  Staff coordinates with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) and other State and Federal Agencies on behalf of Walton County.

Identification of Infrastructure (Transportation and Stormwater) Needs as well as identifying potential funding sources for those needs is facilitated by the Engineering Department.  The preparation of technical documents required for funding applications is also performed by staff.  Upon receipt of any grant funding, staff administers the projects to meet contract requirements. 

Walton County Public Works Department and engineering staff has developed the County’s adopted Five-Year Work Plan and prepares the annual work plan updates.

Department staff manage the County’s Continuing Engineering Consultants/ Firms on Design and CEI (Construction Engineering and Inspection) Projects.  They also coordinate with Public Works drainage crew on construction of in-house projects. Coordination with utility companies on Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) is also facilitated by engineering department project managers.