Beach passes: What to know about getting them in Long Island's towns, cities

As this long, harsh winter draws to an end, Long Islanders can't help but think of warmer days ahead and the allure of basking in the sunshine on a local beach. 

For some town residents, that dream is a little closer to reality: Beach passes have gone on sale for the upcoming season. But others might have to stare longingly at their bottle of SPF 50 for several more weeks until their town or city passes are available.

Below is a breakdown of beach access information and fees in Long Island’s 13 towns and two cities. Check the municipalities' websites for more.

Babylon

The town began registration for resident mobile beach passes last month through its Yodel portal, which can be used on a desktop or mobile device. Cost for residents is $50. Seniors ages 60 and older, volunteer firefighters and EMS, along with veterans and active military members pay $25.

The pass gives Town of Babylon residents access to Overlook, Cedar and Gilgo beaches as well as Cedar Marina, and Tanner and Venetian Shores parks.

Sticker permits will be made available starting in May, according to town officials.

Brookhaven

Instead of a standalone beach pass, Brookhaven offers virtual parking lot permits linked to vehicle license plates that allow access to town facilities, including pools, parks, beaches and marinas.

For residents, the cost is $32 for the first vehicle and $17 for each additional vehicle in the household. The fee is $9 for seniors 60 and older, the disabled and veterans. Parking permits for nonresidents is $358 per vehicle.

Town residents who register before March 31 are eligible for a discounted “early bird” rate of $27 for the first vehicle, and $7 for seniors, the disabled and veterans.

Registration through the town’s parking permit portal became available starting last month. 

East Hampton

Town residents can get beach parking permits for free. A nonresident permit is $600, but residents can buy up to two permits for nonresident family members for $175 each.

Nonresidents also can pay a daily parking fee of $50 at Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett and $35 at Kirk Park Beach in Montauk.

Glen Cove

Only Glen Cove residents may use Pryibil Beach and Crescent Beach, according to the city’s website. Residents of Glen Cove and Locust Valley can use Morgan Park. Glen Cove residents can get free beach passes, which must be placed on vehicles. 

Residents may apply online or in person, but stickers must be picked up at the Recreation Department in City Hall. During the beach season — Memorial Day through Labor Day — stickers are also available at the beaches.

Hempstead 

The Town of Hempstead will begin selling seasonal beach passes at the Point Lookout administration office on May 18, said town spokesman Brian Devine. The town offers only physical beach passes, which allow access to the town’s ocean and bay beaches. A separate pass isn’t needed to walk on the beaches, Devine said. Town-operated beaches are open only to Hempstead Town and Nassau County residents, according to the town’s website.

A seasonal pass costs $138 but is $83 for seniors 60 and older, the disabled, auxiliary police, volunteer firefighters, veterans and active military members.

Huntington 

Seasonal beach passes go on sale April 1 at tohbeachpermit.com, according to the town's website. The cost is $40 for the season, with permits available to residents only. Permits are free for seniors 60 and older, veterans and active duty military members. The town no longer uses stickers and instead has a resident beach permit system that uses license plate reading devices to scan vehicles at town beaches.

Islip

Resident-only recreation cards are available to purchase anytime during the year and are good for two years. The cards, which cost $40, allow access to all town beaches, as well as discounted prices for using town pools, according to town spokeswoman Caroline Smith. Residents can order them online through the town’s recreation programs portal or submit a physical application at the town’s recreation office at 50 Irish Lane, East Islip.

Long Beach 

Seasonal beach passes will go on sale May 11, according to city spokesman John McNally. The city sells both mobile and physical beach passes, and all visitors — both residents and nonresidents 13 and older — are required to have a pass to be on the beach during the summer.

Seasonal passes for adult residents cost $85, while passes for seniors 62 and older and children cost $30 each. For nonresidents, adult seasonal passes cost $170, with seniors and children paying $60, according to the city’s website.

North Hempstead 

The town will begin selling resident-only beach parking permits at North Hempstead Beach Park on May 18 at the recreation office’s south entrance, according to town spokesman Umberto Mignardi.

The town uses only physical passes, which cost $50, or $25 for seniors 60 and older, the disabled, veterans, active military members and volunteer firefighters.

Oyster Bay

Daily entry fee for town residents to town beaches is $25. The town also offers seasonal stickers for beach parking passes, which cost $70 per vehicle.

Early sale of the stickers begins daily on May 9 at Tobay Beach, John J. Burns Park and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The stickers will be available at all beaches starting June 27. Seniors 60 and older do not need a sticker and can get free access by showing an ID when arriving.

Riverhead 

Town beach stickers are now available, town officials said. The passes cost $30 for residents and $10 for seniors 60 and older. They are free for veterans and fire department and ambulance volunteers.

While the stickers are typically reserved for residents, the town this year is introducing an “extended community pass” allowing residents in bordering ZIP codes 11901, 11792, 11933, 11948 and 11949 to buy beach permits for $50, the town’s assistant recreation superintendent, Ashley Schandel, said. Residents are also entitled to one $225 guest pass per household.

Shelter Island

Beach parking permits are free for residents. Nonresidents can purchase a one-day permit for $25, a weekly permit for $70, a monthly permit for $125 and a seasonal permit for $250. The one-day permit is available through an app, while the other permits must be purchased at the town clerk's office at 38 North Ferry Rd.

Smithtown 

Residents don’t need permits but must register their vehicles for a $5 annual fee. They can do so, beginning next month, either online at the town's recreation website or at the town clerk's office at Town Hall, 99 W. Main St., Smithtown. The town waives fees for seniors over 65 and veterans, according to a town spokesperson. Nonresidents can obtain a $12 day pass.

Southampton

Beach permits can be purchased online as of March 5, and in-person at the town's parks office in Hampton Bays beginning on April 1. Those permits cost $50 for residents, $40 for senior residents 62 and older and $500 for nonresidents.

Prices for physical permits increase after May 23 to $60 for residents, $50 for senior residents and $525 for nonresidents.

Daily parking is available through the Passport Parking app at eight town beaches.

Southold

Town resident beach parking stickers are $30 and valid for two years. The permits cover parking at six town beaches: Gull Pond, George R. Sullivan Town Beach, Kenney’s Beach, McCabe’s, Goose Creek and New Suffolk Beach.

The parking stickers are now on sale at the Southold Town clerk’s office. Residents can also purchase them on the town website or via mail.

Residents can purchase $40 guest permits. People who rent for less than 12 months can also buy lessee permits for $300. Both of those permits are only valid for the year.