Two Atlantic County shore towns recently passed resolutions opposing proposed state legislation that would prevent shore towns from selling beach tags to access the ocean. The sale of beach tags provide partial funding for shore towns to maintain beaches for the pleasure of the throngs of visitors who flock to the beach to beat the heat of summer.
The cities of Brigantine and Ventnor recently passed resolutions formally opposing proposed state legislation that could effectively prohibit municipalities from requiring beach tags to access municipal beaches. Atlantic City is the only shore town in Atlantic County that does not sell beach tags.
Eliminating beach tag sales would place financial and operational burdens on local governments and jeopardize the quality and safety of New Jersey’s beaches, officials said.
New Jersey Assembly Bill A4816 and Senate Bill S4158 seek to ban municipalities from requiring beach tags for public access to the portion of beach located below the mean high tide line.
As written, the proposed legislation is overly broad and could effectively eliminate beach tag programs altogether, Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera and Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf said in a statement.
By prohibiting municipalities from requiring tags below the mean high tide line, the bills create an unclear and difficult-to-enforce standard, the release states. They place the burden on beach staff, often teenagers, to make nuanced distinctions between those using the beach and those claiming to access only the area below the high tide line for recreational purposes. This vague language creates confusion, opens the door to conflict, and reduces the effectiveness of current beach management practices.
“Municipal beach tag programs are not about limiting access,” Sera said. “They are a fair and essential tool that allows communities like ours to provide clean, safe, and accessible beaches for everyone. Eliminating this system would shift the financial burden from beachgoers to local homeowners, including many seniors living on fixed incomes who may not have used the beach in years.”
Seasonal beach tag revenue helps cover the cost of critical services such as lifeguards, restroom facilities, trash removal, beach maintenance and public safety staffing. In most shore towns, the cost of providing these services far exceeds the income generated from beach tags. The proposed legislation would eliminate this modest but vital revenue stream while offering no alternative funding mechanism.
Landgraf emphasized the significant investment that local shore towns make to serve the public and maintain high-quality beaches.
“Ventnor City is a seashore community that provides extensive services to the beachgoing public,” Landgraf said. “We staff the beach with highly skilled and trained lifeguards throughout the summer season. The city also collects trash and debris daily and rakes the beaches to ensure a safe and clean environment for residents and visitors.”
He noted that Ventnor makes additional investments to ensure accessibility and long-term sustainability.
“We invest millions of dollars in capital improvements, including periodic beach fill projects,” Landgraf said. “We also install mats and ramps to improve access for seniors and individuals with disabilities, and our Beach Patrol helps transport people with mobility challenges down to the beach.”
He pointed out that the costs of these services far exceed the revenue generated through beach tags.
“In 2025, Ventnor expects to collect about $375,000 in beach tag revenue while spending over $1 million on beach-related services,” he said. “Limiting our ability to collect even modest user fees would unfairly shift the cost onto local taxpayers and could force us to reduce services that protect public safety and enhance the beach experience.”
Officials from both municipalities also pointed out a significant inconsistency in the proposed legislation: it applies only to municipal beaches, while the state would retain its authority to charge access or entrance fees at state-managed locations such as Island Beach State Park. The bill exempts the state from the very same restrictions it seeks to impose on local governments.
“This double standard is deeply concerning,” Sera said. “It’s fundamentally unfair for the state to prohibit municipalities from collecting user fees while continuing to collect its own. Local governments are best equipped to manage their beaches responsibly, and they should be trusted to do so.”
Both cities are calling on legislators to oppose A4816 and S4158 and to protect the ability of New Jersey's coastal communities to maintain safe, clean, and accessible beaches, without unfairly burdening local taxpayers.
