The county handles permitting for all unincorporated areas, while incorporated municipalities like Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville maintain their own independent building and zoning departments. Development in coastal areas is subject to additional review under the Coastal Construction Control Line and specific flood zone management ordinances.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.