Commissioners grant variance for encroaching sunroom on Okaloosa Island

The Okaloosa County Commission approved a variance to permit a 2.5‑foot encroachment into a 15‑foot right‑side setback for a sunroom at 623 Pelican Drive on Okaloosa Island. Growth management staff explained the request was a follow‑up to a November 2021 approval that allowed a 2‑foot variance; the current request seeks an additional 6 inches (2 ft 6 in) after the property owners discovered the foundation had been built further into the setback during contractor replacement efforts.

Attorney Hayward Dykes, representing Edward and Susan Wall, told the board the original contractor walked off the job after partial construction and subsequent inspections showed additional encroachment. He said the owners sued the contractor (Okaloosa County case number 2022 CA2262) and that the encroachment resulted from contractor error and not owner intent. Staff said the request does not amend covenants or change residential density and that the variance process under the land development code was followed.

Commissioner Kechel said he had no objection and moved approval, which Commissioner Boyles seconded. The board voted unanimously to grant the variance. County counsel explained the board was not amending the neighborhood covenants but exercising its authority under the land development code to permit the existing foundation to remain because of a hardship not of the owners’ making.

The variance allows construction to proceed without removal of the existing foundation and does not alter the governing covenants for Okaloosa Island.