Beach Ordinance and Resolutions

 COMMON BEACH RELATED QUESTIONS:

See something that needs attention? Repairs request for Beach Front Parks, Boardwalk or any other County Facilities 

ACTIVITIES/ITEMS ALLOWED ON NASSAU COUNTY BEACHES

 - Driving on Unincorporated Beach Areas of Nassau County 

The parking and driving areas for motorized vehicles on the Atlantic Ocean beaches in the unincorporated areas of Nassau County are as follows:

(1)

The Peters Point Road intersection with the beach area north to the city limits of Fernandina Beach;

(2)

The Lewis Street intersection with the beach area north to the developed resort area parcel and south to the developed resort area parcel;

(3)

The southerly end of Amelia Island from the Nassau Sound side to the developed resort area parcel on the Atlantic Ocean side;

(4)

Scott Road intersection with the beach area

Driving in these areas are currently restricted to the following: 

- Nassau County Residents

- Operators of vehicles who have a valid United States Department of Defense United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card (a/k/a U.S. Military ID Card) 

- Operators or occupants of the motor vehicle that have a valid Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles disability parking placard that hangs on the rear-view mirror 

For a full list of beach driving/parking regulations, please visit Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 11

- Horseback Riding 

(a)

Horse trailer parking is on a first come first serve basis and is limited to the designated grass parking area in the Peters Point beachfront park. This applies to both commercial and non-commercial horse trailers. There is no guarantee that any entity, individual, or group will have space to park. There shall be no more than three (3) horse trailers parked in the designated grass parking area in the Peters Point beachfront park at any given time.

(b)

Horse trailer parking is prohibited at Burney Park, Scott Road Beach Access, the Dunes Club Beach Access and the American Beach/Evan's Rendezvous grass parking areas.

(c)

Horses are allowed on the unincorporated beach areas of Nassau County subject to the following:

(1)

No horses are allowed in the dunes.

(2)

Horses shall be under control of the rider at all times.

(3)

Horses shall not be allowed in the shelter areas in the beach parking locations or in the public showers.

(4)

Horses must be equipped with a manure catch bag. Manure is not to be discarded into the ocean or on the beach.

(5)

Horseback riding is only allowed after sunrise and before sunset from November 1 of each year until April 30 of each year.

(6)

Horses are not permitted in the water or "slew" areas.

(7)

Shall have documentation of negative Coggin's test for all horses in the horse trailer or vehicle pulling the horse trailer and be available for inspection by Nassau County upon request. No horse trailer or horses shall enter the Peters Point park without such documentation.

(8)

Between the dates of May 1 and November 1, horses are prohibited on the beach between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. each day.

(9)

• Horses shall use the designated vehicle travel lanes established at the Peters Point beach access to access the beach. Horses shall not be ridden in the areas where vehicles are prohibited.

For a full list of Horseback Riding regulations, please visit Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 21 

- Regulated Fires on the Beach - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 14

(1)

No fires shall be permitted between the dates of May 1 through October 31 of each year.

(2)

Fires, outside of those dates, shall be allowed subject to the following:

a.

No fires allowed in the dunes.

b.

The use of wood containing nails, staples, rivets, fasteners, straps or similar items is prohibited.

c.

• No fire area shall be vacated or left without completely extinguishing the fire and covering up the fire area.

- Dogs on the Beach - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 22

(a)

• Dogs may be permitted on the Atlantic Ocean beaches but must be under leash at all times and the owners shall not permit dogs to be at large. Owners shall remove and properly dispose of dog's litter from beach.

ACTIVIES/ITEMS RESTRICTED ON NASSAU COUNTY BEACHES

- Camping on the Beaches - Camping on the beach is prohibited. 

**Primitive Group Camping in an Off Beach Area is Available for Qualifying Groups - View Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 13 for guidelines

- Alcohol - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 15

(a)

• It shall be prohibited for any person on the beach or in the beach parking area to possess any sealed or open container containing any type of alcoholic beverage and consumption of any type of alcoholic beverage is prohibited.

- Glass Containers - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 16

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person, while on the beach or in the beach parking area, to possess or utilize any glass bottle or container outside the confines of a vehicle.

- Litter - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 17

(a)

• It shall be prohibited for any person on the beach or beach parking areas to discard or otherwise dispose of or abandon any trash, garbage, bottles, containers, cans, or any other litter, except in designated containers for that purpose.

- Sound Amplification - Nassau County Ordinance 23 1/2 - 19

No audio device, including vehicle audio devices or similar electronic devices, such as loudspeakers, televisions, audio compact disc, tape or musical instrument, except equipment used by law enforcement, rescue or county security agents shall be used on the beach or in the beach parking areas in a manner:

(1)

That is plainly audible at a distance fifty (50) feet or more from the source. Said determination to be made by a county security agent. A determination by a county security agent of a violation shall cause the issuance of a civil citation and confiscation of the equipment. The civil citation shall be in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and shall provide for a court appearance if the citation is not paid within thirty (30) days of issuance.

(2)

Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., no electronically amplified music shall be allowed on the beach or in the beach parking areas. A determination by a county security agent of a violation shall cause the issuance of a citation and confiscation of the equipment. The civil citation shall be in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and shall provide for a court appearance if the citation is not paid within thirty (30) days of issuance.

(3)

A violation of the provisions of this section may subject the violator to an order to leave the beach. Should the violator fail to leave, the violator shall be considered a trespasser and shall be subject to a penalty of a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine and/or sixty (60) days in jail.

- Personal Property Unattended on the Beach - Nassau County Ordinance 5-6

(1)

Personal items left unattended on the beach located in the unincorporated area of the county beach from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. daily except as otherwise permitted in this article, shall be considered a nuisance and unlawful.

(2)

Any personal property left unattended during the hours stated in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be discarded and the county shall dispose of them except as provided in subsection (d)(3).

(3)

From 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. daily, items of personal property that are relocated, with the upland owner's permission, as close to the farthest point landward of the frontal dune or line of permanent vegetation or where there are no dunes or native vegetation, are relocated as close as practicable to an existing permanent structure or the line of buildings will not be considered a nuisance, unlawful and discarded or a violation of this section provided:

a.

Such items are not placed on the dune or on native vegetation or under or adjacent to dune walkovers.

b.

Such items should be stacked. Stacked furniture shall have the shortest edge facing the ocean.

c.

Such items do not interfere with access to the beach from a public access nor obstruct access to the public beach nor impact native vegetation and are not within ten feet from any turtle nest or other protected species.

(4)

Items left in violation of this section are declared a public nuisance and shall be removed from the beach by county employees or contract individuals.

(5)

Those who store personal items overnight, as set forth herein, do so at their own risk. The county and the beach maintenance contractor do not assume any liability for items left after 8:00 p.m.

(6)

The county may request written consent from any property owner where there are items placed as set forth in subsection (d)(3) above. Failure of the owner of record to provide written consent shall cause the items to be removed by the county or its authorized contractor(s) or employees.