Rules & Laws of Beach Use

Fires on the Beach

Section 12-73. - Fires prohibited on the beach.

It shall be unlawful for any person to start, ignite, or maintain an open wood campfire on any public beach, public beach access, street end adjacent to the beach, or any town-owned land immediately adjacent to the beach at any time, unless the fire is part of a town-sponsored event or by special permit for a sanctioned special event approved in advance by the administrator. Exception: Propane fired grills or other cookers heated by fire may be used for the purpose of food preparation.

Smoking on the Beach

Smoking is prohibited on the beaches and public beach accesses. See the full smoking ordinance.

Holes on the Beach

It's a lot of fun to dig a hole on the beach, but you really can't dig to China! Remember:

  • A cubic yard of sand (3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet) can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds - this is why people who are buried in sand cave-ins suffocate.
  • Two feet, don't dig over two feet deep. A hole no deeper than two feet can cause serious injury if someone accidentally steps in it, and if it contains water, it poses a drowning hazard for small children and a trap for sea turtles.
  • Sea Turtles, which are an endangered species, get trapped in holes and cannot get out to return to the sea. Baby turtles would die overnight.
  • Town equipment used to clean the beach will be damaged in large holes.

So, please, fill in the holes you dig on the beach! It's a safety thing.

Beach Sweep

Our annual volunteer beach sweep is usually held in October. Volunteers spend two hours on the beach, collecting and removing trash from our most valuable possession, our beach. Please check the calendar for the current Beach Sweep event.

Boating & Fishing

  • Operation of any watercraft in a reckless or negligent manner is strictly prohibited.
  • Operation of any watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is unlawful.
  • Launching of watercrafts is limited to the 4th Avenue South beach access only.
  • Boat parking-storage is provided for at the designated parking facility located between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue South on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Boats are not permitted to operate any closer than 50 yards from the shoreline.
  • Jet skis are not permitted to operate any closer than 150 yards from the shoreline between May 15 and September 15.
  • Shark fishing within the Town's limits is prohibited.
  • Commercial fishing on the public beach is not permitted.
  • Surf Fishing is not permitted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from May 15th to September 15th.