A New NJ Bill Could Change Who Pays to Go to the Beach

It looks like the rest of New Jersey may be copying what’s already done in the Wildwoods, as lawmakers have introduced legislation that would give shore towns broader discretion to waive or reduce beach fees for teenagers and veterans.

The move could modestly reshape how access to the state’s beaches is priced during the summer season.

The bill, S1533, was introduced this session by Carmen F. Amato Jr., an Ocean County Republican, and Raj Mukherji, a Democrat from Hudson County. The proposal updates the state statute that governs municipal authority over beach access fees.

To Read the full bill, Click Here.

Under current New Jersey law, municipalities are prohibited from charging beach fees to children under the age of 12. The new bill would allow local governments, at their discretion, to extend reduced or waived fees to teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17.

The legislation does not mandate free access for that age group, instead leaving the decision to individual municipalities through local laws

The measure also revises and clarifies beach fee exemptions for veterans and Gold Star families.

It allows municipalities to offer reduced or waived beach fees to honorably discharged veterans without tying eligibility to disability status or length of service.

In addition, residents holding a New Jersey driver’s license or state identification card with a Gold Star Family designation would continue to be exempt from beach fees.

Also See: Record Breaking 6.5 Million Dollar Waterfront Sale in Cape May

One provision specifically bars towns from charging for beach vehicle permits issued to disabled veterans, aligning municipal beach rules with federal veterans affairs definitions of disability.

Municipalities that adopt these exemptions would be required to maintain records tracking how many individuals qualify under the various categories.

The bill does not prescribe a specific reporting method, instead giving towns latitude to determine how documentation is collected and maintained.

Supporters of the legislation say it preserves local control while offering communities new flexibility to ease costs for families and veterans.

Because the bill is optional rather than compulsory, its impact would vary widely depending on how shore towns choose to implement it.

The proposal does not alter a municipality’s general authority to regulate beach access, bathing areas, boardwalks, or recreational facilities, nor does it cap beach tag prices.

Instead, it modifies who towns may choose to exempt or discount under existing beach fee frameworks.

Or, as we would suggest, you could always come down to the Wildwoods, where the beaches are free 24/7 regardless of your age.

As of this week, the bill remains in the early stages of the legislative process within the New Jersey Legislature and has not yet advanced to a committee vote. This means that if you were hoping to have this passed for this summer, forget about it.

But if enacted, the legislation would take effect immediately, leaving shore communities to decide ahead of future beach seasons whether to adjust their fee structures.

Where do you sit on this?