The Ocean Isle Beach fishing pier stretching out over the ocean, seen from the beach
Know before you go

Beach rules and parking.

What it costs to park and how to pay, when dogs can be on the beach, which shades are allowed, when gear has to come off the sand, and what to do around sea turtle nests.

Parking ↓Rules by seasonBeach rules🌐 Seguridad en la playa (español)
The year at a glance

What changes with the seasons

Paid parking and the summer dog rule are the two big seasonal changes. The marker shows today's date.

Paid parking · Town of Ocean Isle Beach

Parking: prices, times & how to pay

Paid parking runs April 1 to October 31, 9 AM to 5 PM. Designated areas are free from 5 PM to midnight and 6 AM to 9 AM. No parking from midnight to 6 AM. Your permit is tied to your license plate.

Pay or see open spaces (SurfCAST) ↗ Pay by phone: 910-200-1497

🅿️ Rates

What the Town page lists

  • $5 an hour, up to 3 hours
  • $20 a day (more than 3 hours)
  • $80 a week (7 days in a row)
  • $175 a calendar season, per vehicle

The Town page heads these "2025 Parking Rates". Check SurfCAST for the current price before you pay.

📱 How to pay

SurfCAST by Otto Connect

♿ Handicap parking

Free in a handicapped space

  • Free in designated handicapped spaces only
  • Any other space needs a paid permit
Free beach wheelchairs & accessible accesses →
🌳 Free park parking

For park visitors

  • Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St: free up to 2 hours, for park use
  • Ferry Landing Park: free, no time limit, for park use
🛺 Golf carts & LSVs

Same rates, own permit

  • Golf carts and LSVs pay the same rate, and every vehicle needs its own permit
  • The Town map shows LSV paid parking at the Shelby St. and Lumberton St. accesses
  • LSVs: public streets only, not sidewalks, licensed driver, NC DMV registration, tag, inspection and insurance. The Town issues no temporary golf-cart permit.

From the Town of Ocean Isle Beach paid parking page and golf cart and LSV page, checked Sept 27, 2026. The Town also links an updated fee schedule (PDF) there. The signs on site are the final word.

On the sand

Beach rules

From the Town's Beach Rules and beach shade pages. Breaking a Town ordinance carries a fine of at least $25.

🐕
DogsMemorial Day to Labor Day: no dogs on the beach strand from 9 AM to 6 PM. No dogs at any time in public beach access or parking areas. Dogs must be leashed, contained or fenced at all times, and you pick up after them.
⛱️
No tents, cabanas or canopiesNot at any time. Allowed: umbrellas with one central pole, infant pop-up tents up to 46" x 36" x 36", and wind-powered shades (like Shibumi) with no more than 160 sq ft of fabric. The "Wind Assist" add-on isn't allowed. Wind shades need one continuous pole, touching the sand in no more than 2 places, with no more than 2 other anchor points.
🌙
Gear off the beach every nightAnything left on the beach from 7 PM to 7:30 AM is removed and thrown away by the Town. Keep gear at least 10 ft from turtle nests and dune plants, and out of the 25 ft around every beach access. $50 per offense.
🕳️
HolesNo bigger than 16" deep and 5' wide. No shovels except children's toy shovels. Watch holes at all times and fill them before you leave or by 7 PM, whichever comes first.
🌾
DunesStay off the dunes: strictly enforced, $100 fine. Use the public access walkways; everything else is private property.
🍾
Glass & alcoholNo glass containers on the strand. The Town bans drinking or serving alcohol in public places or in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. No littering.
🎆
Fireworks & firesAbsolutely no fireworks: NC law, $500 fine. No sky lanterns. No fires on the strand, dunes or other public places.
🚙
No vehicles on the beachNo motor, battery or wind-powered vehicles on the dunes or strand. Battery-operated wheelchairs are allowed. No bikes on the strand from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
🏄
SurfingNo surfing within 1000 feet of the pier. The Town allows surfing east of Monroe St. and west of Oxford St.
🛟
No lifeguardsThe Town does not have lifeguards on duty. Children's safety in the water is up to their parents. Check the NWS beach forecast for today's rip current risk.
🦊
WildlifeFeeding foxes and other wild animals is prohibited. Report a threatening or sick-looking fox to Police at 910-579-4221.
🔇
Quiet hours & canalsNo unreasonably loud noise, especially 10 PM to 7:30 AM. Boats and jet skis go at idle speed ("No Wake") in all canals.

Sources: Town of Ocean Isle Beach Beach Rules, beach shade and foxes pages, checked Sept 27, 2026. These pages don't cover drones, kites, metal detecting or fishing licences; ask Town Hall at 910-579-2166. The Town is the final word.

Sea turtles

Sea turtles nest here.

The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization looks after the nests on the island.

  1. See a marked nest? Leave it alone and keep your gear at least 10 feet away, never on the ocean side of it.
  2. See a turtle or hatchlings? Don't pick them up. Stay back and keep lights off.
  3. Report nesting turtles, dead turtles, unmarked nests or crawl tracks: 910-880-8715 (Deb Allen), oibseaturtles.org.
  4. Leave it flat. Fill holes and take your gear in every evening.
🐢 Call 910-880-8715

🐢 Turtle-friendly rental checklist

  • ☐ Porch and pool lights off at night
  • ☐ Blinds closed after dark
  • ☐ Chairs, shades and toys off the beach by 7 PM
  • ☐ Holes filled in before you leave
  • ☐ Turtle hotline saved: 910-880-8715