By Adrian Middleton, Sword & Shield, PLLC · Updated Friday, November 6, 2026
The busiest full year on record was 2016, with 56 orders. In 2026, 24 stop-work orders were served through November 5, 2026, compared with 28 in all of 2025.
Received a stop-work order in Walton County?
Deadlines are short and penalties can grow while you wait. Get a free consultation before you talk to the investigator or hand over a record.
Stop-work orders in Walton County by year
| Year | Orders served |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 (through Nov. 5) | 24 |
Why Walton County employers received stop-work orders
- Failure to obtain coverage: 534 (98%)
- Site-specific: 4 (1%)
- Failure to produce records (5 days): 2 (under 1%)
- Failure to produce records (21 days): 2 (under 1%)
- Understated or concealed payroll: 1 (under 1%)
Cities with the most stop-work orders in Walton County
- Santa Rosa Beach: 166
- Defuniak Springs: 112
- Freeport: 109
What to do if you receive a stop-work order
- Stop work as the order directs. Working in violation of an active order costs $1,000 per day under section 440.107(7)(c).
- Read the order and any business records request, and note every deadline. Many of them run 21 days. See the process.
- Gather your payroll, tax, contract and insurance records, but have them reviewed before anything goes to the Department. Here is why.
- Get workers' compensation coverage in place if you do not have it.
- Talk to a lawyer about the penalty calculation, release options and your right to contest the order.
About these numbers
Source: Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers' Compensation, Stop-Work Order Database. Data pulled 2026-11-06; covers November 11, 2004 through November 5, 2026. Counts reflect the county listed for each employer in the Division's records. This page is general information, not legal advice.
If your business is the one being served
The numbers show how common these orders are. These pages cover what to do when one lands on your jobsite.
Questions
How many stop-work orders have been served in Walton County?+
According to the Division of Workers' Compensation's public stop-work order database, 543 stop-work orders were served on employers listed in Walton County from November 11, 2004 through November 5, 2026. 24 stop-work orders were served in 2026 through November 5, 2026.
Why do employers in Walton County get stop-work orders?+
98% of Walton County orders were issued for failure to obtain workers' compensation coverage. Another 4 were issued for failing to produce business records the Division requested.
Can I keep working after I receive a stop-work order?+
No. A stop-work order generally requires the business to stop all work until the Division releases the order. Working in violation adds $1,000 per day and can bring criminal exposure. Talk to a lawyer before taking action.