There’s no better feeling than having your bare feet nestled into the beach sand on a hot summer day, a cold beverage in hand, and plenty of activities at your disposal, at least, according to your average beach-lover. These are the folks who anxiously await all year for the warmer weather to arrive and beach season to officially bloom, depending on where you live, of course.
As country sensations, the Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett sang in their hit 2010 track, “Knee Deep,” the scene is “paradise,” and many would agree they’re not wrong. It’s like there’s a gravitational pull that attracts people to the beach each summer, and we happily let it take us to soak up the sun, the ocean breeze, and calming views.
However, not every beach offers the same experience, as some have implemented bizarre rules for people to enjoy their public domain. Below are some of the unusual laws that U.S. beach towns have today, what led local authorities to enforce them, and the penalties for breaking these strict regulations.
Beach Entry Fees
While most of the country offers free entry to public beaches, many beach towns along the New Jersey Shore aren’t as lax. Popular neighborhoods like Seaside Heights, Long Beach Island, and Asbury Park require beachgoers to have tags or badges to access the sand between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. without exception during lifeguard hours.
According to Ocean City, New Jersey’s website, beach fees contribute to the local municipality’s costs of maintaining the pristine beaches, providing lifeguard services, and covering expenses for trash removal, police protection, and any necessary equipment. The town, which is also a sought-after vacation destination, charges guests $35 for the 2025 season and $10 per day, but that rate is on the low end compared to some other areas.
Central New Jersey towns like Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Deal are known for having steeper beach fees due to their high-end beachfront properties. New Jersey 101.5 reported in May 2025 that Deal raised the price of their yearly badges to $200, the highest in the state.
On the bright side, not all of the Garden State beaches charge you an arm and a leg. Parts of Cape May County, including Atlantic City and Wildwood, offer free beach access; however, the latter has discussed changing that, per New Jersey 101.5.
Alcohol-Free Neighborhood
Although summertime cocktails and boozy specials are often a promotional draw for restaurants and bars in beach areas, in some towns, alcohol is strictly prohibited. This is the case in the aforementioned Ocean City, New Jersey, which is notable for being a family-friendly neighborhood where alcohol is not sold at all.
This town rule is nothing new, as it dates back to the 19th century, when a group of Methodists who founded the island set out to transform it into a Christian resort, proclaiming it a “dry town,” according to a January 2023 Patch article. The production and sale of alcohol have been forbidden in the town since 1909, and the booze-free tradition has lived on with no plans of changing it anytime soon.
Many U.S. beach destinations have stern restrictions on drinking on the beach, one being Ocean City, Maryland, which also notes other public areas where consuming alcoholic beverages is forbidden on their website. Many beaches in Delaware, New Jersey, and the Hamptons follow similar rules, though others, such as Madeira Beach, Florida, and Treasure Island Beach, California, are more lenient, allowing alcohol except when it’s in glass containers.
While people often don’t abide by this law, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism insists it’s to ensure the public’s safety. According to a June 2025 article on their website, alcohol is a significant factor in drowning-related deaths and puts beachgoers at a higher risk for dehydration and poor skin protection. So, following these measures can literally save your life.
Umbrella Restrictions
Although your ideal beach trip might be lounging in the shade beneath an oversized umbrella, that’s not an option in certain beach towns. Some areas advise against using a sand umbrella due to its hazardous nature in windy conditions. However, others opted to impose restrictions on umbrella usage.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, umbrella sizes are restricted during peak seasons — Memorial Day through Labor Day — according to the City of Myrtle Beach. During these times, guests can only shield their eyes with umbrellas no larger than 7 1/2 feet in diameter and only if they’re in line with or behind the “umbrella line” to avoid blocking the lifeguards’ view.
Similar measurement requirements and approved times of year are in place in other areas, such as Horry County, South Carolina, and Bethany Beach, Delaware, with the towns urging that safety is their top priority. This rule may have stemmed from multiple incidents in the U.S. involving injuries and deaths from flying umbrellas.
In August 2022, a woman in Garden City, South Carolina, suffered chest trauma after being impaled by an umbrella that got loose in the sand and succumbed to her injuries (via WMBF News). Several similar instances occurred in other American beach towns, presumably leading authorities to reconsider the use of umbrellas.
Tents and Canopies Forbidden
Just like umbrellas, many towns are rethinking their stances on beach tents and canopies for concerns that they’re dangerous (and a nuisance) to patrons. Dozens of New Jersey towns have chosen to ban or restrict these items for various reasons, ranging from blocking people’s view of the water to adding extra barriers in case evacuation is needed due to lightning, per NJ.com.
Ocean City, Maryland, recently made headlines for being a desirable family destination that’s hopping on the bandwagon of restricting these structures on the beach. However, they’d been leaning this way for quite a while. In 2023, Chesapeake Bay Magazine reported that the constant complaints from the public about tents and canopies claiming too much space and spoiling others’ views had them reconsidering allowing these luxuries at all.
They follow suit with other Northeast beach towns that have had enough of the protests and eliminated the allowance of tents and canopies from their beaches altogether. It’s strongly encouraged that visitors check the town’s website for its beach rules before setting up camp, as many are going down this route.
Large Sand Holes Are Illegal
It might not be too farfetched to understand why massive sand pits are illegal in some beach towns, but we’ll explain. Sizable holes could result in injuries and someone falling into the exposed area if the hole isn’t filled before patrons leave the beach, creating a potentially fatal hazard. Many beach towns already had this rule in place, but some have further enforced it by slapping disobeyers with a hefty fine.
One town is Bethany Beach, Delaware, which, as of the 2021 beach season, introduced a fine between $50 and $100 for those who refuse to fill their sand holes, per a Coastal Point article. The outlet also notes that the town followed the lead of others, like Ventura Beach, California, and Nags Head, North Carolina, which also have ordinances forbidding the digging of large holes.
A May 2022 13 News Now article again highlighted the issue when they showcased a several-feet-deep unattended hole encompassing a large portion of the sand in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, raising alarm on the severity of having too much fun in the sand. The outlet pointed out that poor nighttime visibility and fears of it collapsing on someone were the primary concerns. The town doesn’t have a strict no-digging policy, but they’ve strongly advised against it on multiple platforms.
Can’t Collect Sand
It’s a considerable offense in some places if you collect sand off their beaches. While the penalty in the U.S. isn’t as severe as in Sardinia, Italy, where a French couple faced up to six years behind bars for taking sand as a memento from their vacation on the island, per The Guardian, it’s still a costly punishment in certain areas. Specifically, tourists of Hawaiian spots like Papakolea Beach and Punalu’u Beach could potentially be fined up to $1,000 for swiping sand (via Reader’s Digest).
In Crete, known as the “pink beach,” the government went so far as to declare it a nature reserve to prevent visitors from stealing the sand, which has become noticeably less pink due to people constantly taking a souvenir of the uniquely colored sand. However, Hawaii isn’t the only American state fed up with patrons messing with their grounds.
The California State Parks‘ website states the removal of sand, gravel, oil, minerals, and rocks, among others, is prohibited, as it is considered tampering with geological features. Other outlets also emphasize that keeping the sand in place helps prevent beach erosion and maintain ecosystems.
No Singing in a Swimsuit
If you enjoy belting out in song in public from time to time, just be sure you’re not wearing a swimsuit, or else you’d be breaking the law, according to Florida rules. In a September 2021 blog post, the Florida-based law firm The Law Place highlighted the uncommon rule and noted that it’s fortunately not enforced, and it’s unknown if it ever was.
Though often cited, there are few reports on when this quirky law was enacted, and some believe it’s an outdated ordinance that was never repealed. Nevertheless, it is a peculiar and funny discussion topic when visiting The Sunshine State.
No Throwing Objects
It might seem harmless to play a game of catch or pass a frisbee around on the beach, but for some locations, those kinds of activities are a big no-no. In 1970, Los Angeles beachgoers were prohibited from throwing any objects on the sand; however, the year-round ban was updated in 2012.
While these activities are still restricted, lawmakers have adjusted the ruling so that it’s only illegal between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the beaches are the most crowded, according to NPR. Those who choose to ignore this law could face a maximum $500 fine. Ocean City, Maryland, and Bethany Beach, Delaware, also have similar restrictions in place, per a FOX Weather article.
Don’t Be a Fool
While reading this list, you might have rolled your eyes at some of these laws, especially if you frequent beaches with more relaxed rules. However, the towns assure that these laws are in place for a reason (aside from the no singing in a swimsuit one, as the origin is unclear) and are expected to be obeyed, regardless of the regulations, or lack thereof, that visitors are accustomed to.
As a reminder, consider checking the town’s beach laws before venturing to the sand to familiarize yourself with their rules and avoid any unnecessary penalties. To many, beach trips are the best parts of the summer and can continue to be a safe environment as long as everyone works together.