BEACH REGULATIONS

BEACH REGULATIONS

A. GENERAL BEACH AND BATHING REGULATIONS

* Beach access and policies may change in response to pandemic-related conditions and government requirements.

1. Access to the beach shall be gained only through designated entrances on the boardwalk.

2. Bathing at guarded beaches only.

3. All persons on beach over age 11 must display valid Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA) beach tag. All minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

5. No refunds in the event of inclement weather or rough surf; no refunds for lost or stolen beach tags.

6. Place all litter in receptacles in accordance with recycling directions.

7. Obey lifeguards at all times.

8. Ball playing, frisbees, sports activities permitted as conditions allow.

9. Use of SCUBA equipment and spear guns prohibited.

10. No person shall offer for sale, or sell any article, commodity, beverage, food or perform any service for which such person anticipates payment either on boardwalk, sidewalk or ocean front park area except with the written permission of the OGCMA. All such activity is also under and subject to zoning and mercantile license regulations of the Township of Neptune.

11. No organized assemblies or promoted events on the beach, boardwalk, pier, pavilion, or green spaces without written OGCMA permission.

12. The Ocean Grove Beach is a totally smoke-free/vape free zone.

NOTE 1: United States Coast Guard regulations define all waters inshore of the outer limits of seaward extending rock groins as bathing areas in which the operation of any motorized vessel is prohibited.

NOTE 2: Nothing in these regulations shall be construed as to restrict or impede access to the ocean to persons engaged in sport fishing at locations not being used for recreational bathing and surfing. Bathing tags are not required of persons engaged in sport fishing.

B. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

1. All alcoholic beverages (Neptune Twp. Ordinance).

2. Music - any use of electronic devices (radios, tape/cd players, amplifiers, etc.) unless played through headsets.

3. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates except between 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM (Neptune Twp. Ordinance).

4. Dogs on beach or boardwalk except service dogs. Water and shelter from sun must be provided for such dogs.

5. No tents or canopies permitted beyond 30 yards of the Boardwalk, only umbrellas with one central stanchion to support shade whether upright or a ninety-degree position. Devices designed or used to shade infants, no larger than thirty-six inches wide by thirty-six inches deep are permitted for infant use only.

6. Open fires (NJ State Regulation). Charcoal/Propane cookers.

7. Digging holes in sand deeper than knees of the smallest participant, not to exceed 12” deep.

8. “Burying” persons below grade or in standing position.

9. Flying kites over beach or boardwalk.

10. Surfing at other than designated surfing area.

11. Motor vehicle on boardwalk or beach. (exception: emergency and beach support vehicles.)

12. Camping, sleeping overnight.

13. Disrobing or changing clothes.

14. Launching of any vessel not specifically permitted by these regulations. Lifeguard, Police and Emergency Management vessels are permitted at times.

15. Throwing of sand.

16. Fishing in bathing areas; use or presence of spear guns.

17. No trespassing on the dunes.

18. Activity which directly or indirectly endangers the safety of others.

C. SURFING/KAYAK REGULATIONS

1. Surfing only at designated surfing beach. Location of designated area subject to change dependent upon surf and beach use conditions.

2. Surfers must have valid Ocean Grove Beach tag during bathing hours.

3. Surfers are subject to requirement of demonstrating swimming skills to supervising lifeguard or other OGCMA personnel prior to entering waters.

4. Tether required.

5. Lifeguards have final authority on use of any equipment and swimmer/surfer in surfing waters.

6. Personal kayaks permitted in surfing waters. Kayak use must conform to pattern established by surfers.

7. Kayak operators must wear Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFDs or life jackets).

8. OGCMA is not responsible for surfer/kayak/windsurfer users who enter water via Ocean Grove Beach and subsequently surf/wind surf or paddle into neighboring jurisdictions or eastward beyond supervision of lifeguards.

9. No aquatic activity is permitted within 150 feet of the pier. Includes: swimming, surfing, kayaking.

D. FLOTATION DEVICES

1. Aquatic recreational devices other than personal flotation devices (PFDs) or closely fitting body tubes used must have some device that prevents separation from the user (a tether or surf leash). The use of a tether is required on all surfboards, boogie boards, belly boards, and similar devices that are in use in water of any significant depth. Significant depth means other than at the water’s edge. South End beach is free of all flotation devices, for bathing only. Lifeguards have the authority to forbid the use of any and all such implements when surf or wind conditions warrant.

2. Surf rafts used must have safety ropes on all four sides installed using securely mounted grommets or similar fastener so that the user will have access to a safety rope no matter what side of the implement is presented in an emergency. Air mattresses are not permitted in water.

3. Surfboards (rigid, fiberglass covered, with tether), kayaks, and wind surfers are permitted only on the designated surfing beach. Such users must adhere to the tether and personal flotation device requirements as outlined above, have valid Ocean Grove beach badge and demonstrate adequate swimming ability.
   Beach management reserves the right to ban surfboard use on a beach normally designated for surfing and to open any area for general bathing to alleviate overcrowding on the regular bathing beaches.
   Fiberglass surfaced or similar rigid devices are not permitted elsewhere on the beachfront.

4. Use of a recreational flotation device wider that 28 inches is not permitted. The use of multi-passenger craft, life rafts, large inner tubes or similar multi-user inflatable is not permitted.

5. Personal flotation devices, tubes, bubbles, “swimmies”, etc. may only be used in water depth no greater than the user’s waist. The presence of an accompanying adult does not eliminate this depth requirement.

6. The launching of any catamaran, outboard, personal water craft, sail boat or other water craft other than emergency rescue or lifeguard equipment from the Ocean Grove beachfront is not permitted.

NOTE: Many bathers, most of them children, have been rescued by lifeguards after drifting into deep water pushed by ocean currents or off shore breezes while depending upon inadequately designed inflatables or flotation devices - or when aboard larger devices capable of carrying several people. In the interests of a high standard of safety for all our bathing patrons, the preceding regulations regarding flotation devices are in effect on the Ocean Grove Beaches. The intent of these regulations is not to restrict causal play at the water’s edge by very small children; only to invoke the requirements when the device is used in any manner that includes the possibility it might be swept away from the user, strike another bather, or leave the user stranded in water of significant depth.

E. POTENTIAL RESTRICTIONS

1. Rough surf conditions may cause restricted bathing or a ban on all bathing.

2. High and/or gusty wind conditions may cause a ban on the use of beach umbrellas.

3. Rough surf conditions may cause a restriction or ban on the use of flotation devices, rafts and other aquatic recreational devices.

F. SUMMARY

The use of the beach, boardwalk and general beachfront park area by the public is considered by the OGCMA as the extension of a privilege to the user. The OGCMA reserves the right through its authorized representative(s) to with- draw that privilege from any person (whether or not such person paid an entrance fee) who misuses that privilege by violating any of the above rules, or for indecent exposure, inappropriate display, abusive act or language directed to another user or a representative of the Association, destruction of property, conduct considered hazardous to other persons or property, or for any other conduct which is not generally considered compatible with the interest or purposes of the Association or interest of the community.

The standard for the application of the terms “indecent exposure”, “inappropriate display”, “abusive act or language” as used in the preceding sentence shall be generally accepted standard for the community of Ocean Grove in keeping with the stated purpose of the Association being to provide and maintain “for members and friends of the Methodist Episcopal (now United Methodist) church, a proper, convenient and desirable permanent Camp Meeting Grounds and Christian seaside resort.”

Rev. 11/2022