Two Atlantic County shore towns, Brigantine and Ventnor, have recently voiced a strong opposition to proposed state legislation that would eliminate municipalities from requiring beach tags for beach access below the mean high tide line.
Officials from both towns warn that the proposed law “would place significant financial and operational burdens on local governments and threaten the safety and quality of New Jersey’s beaches.”
The legislation in question — Assembly Bill A4816 and Senate Bill S4158 — seeks to guarantee public access to tidal waters by removing the requirement for beach tags for swimming, surfing or using the wet sand.
However, local leaders argue that the bill’s language is vague and could, in effect, create “confusion, open the door to conflict and reduce the effectiveness of current beach management practices.”
The Senate version of the bill was introduced in February and sent to the Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee. The Assembly version, introduced in September, has already advanced out of committee.
“Municipal beach tag programs are not about limiting access,” said Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera. “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.”
In Ventnor, for example, tags generate about $375,000 annually, while the town spends over $1 million on beach-related operations, including lifeguards, trash removal, beach maintenance and accessibility enhancements. Brigantine sees a similar pattern, with its seasonal, weekly and daily tags priced at $25, $15 and $10 respectively. Ventnor’s seasonal and weekly tags cost $20 and $10.
Eliminating tag revenue, officials say, would either reduce the quality of beach services or shift the financial burden onto local taxpayers — many of whom may not even use the beach.
Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf emphasized the city’s investment in public services and beach infrastructure, according to Breaking AC.
“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.”
Breaking AC reported, Landgraf also mentioned that Ventnor commits significant resources to promote accessibility and long-term sustainability. He said the city invests millions of dollars in capital improvements, which include periodic beach fill projects, installing mats and ramps to improve access for seniors and individuals with disabilities and Ventnor City Beach Patrol transporting people with mobility challenges down to the beach.
Landgraf said that the costs of these services far exceed the revenue generated through beach tags.
Critics of the legislation also point to a perceived double standard: the proposed rules would only apply to municipal beaches, not to state-run facilities like Island Beach State Park, which still charge entrance fees.
“This double standard is deeply concerning,” Sera added. “It’s fundamentally unfair for the State to strip municipalities of an essential funding tool while continuing to use that same tool for itself. Local governments are best equipped to manage their beaches responsibly, and they should be trusted to do so.”
In a July 16 press release, Mayor Sera acknowledged the intentions of the bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Margie Donlon of Monmouth County, who introduced the legislation following an August 2024 incident in Belmar where a surfer was arrested in a dispute over beach badge enforcement.
“Assemblywoman Donlon is trying to fix a real issue, and I believe her heart is in the right place,” said Sera. “But the language in this bill is too vague and too broad. It would create unintended problems in towns like Brigantine that had nothing to do with the original situation.”
Currently, Atlantic City is the only shore town in Atlantic County that does not sell beach tags. Brigantine and Ventnor have joined other coastal towns in formally urging state lawmakers to reject the bills, citing the need to preserve their ability to manage beaches effectively and fund critical services.
