Holmes Beach, FL – Holmes Beach has enacted a new ordinance this summer banning the digging of holes deeper than one foot on its sandy beaches. The rule also prohibits the use of metal shovels, such as gardening tools, but allows children’s plastic shovels. The law aims to improve beachgoer safety and protect local wildlife, especially sea turtles.
City Commissioner Carol Whitmore explained that the ordinance was introduced due to safety concerns, highlighting incidents where deep holes were left uncovered, creating hidden hazards for others. “We almost had a person fall into a gigantic hole that nobody covered up. It’s a safety issue,” Whitmore stated.
The rule comes after a tragic incident in 2024, when a young girl died after falling into a nearly six-foot-deep hole in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The sand collapsed on her, leading to her death. In 2023, nearly 143 million people visited Florida, making safety concerns on the beaches particularly relevant…