Barnegat Light, NJ

Perched at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, Barnegat Light is home to some of the widest, most expansive beaches on LBI — a quiet, laid-back alternative to the island’s busier southern towns. The borough’s beaches sit in the shadow of the historic Barnegat Lighthouse (“Old Barney”), a 172-foot, 19th-century beacon that still stands watch over Barnegat Inlet, and the town’s working waterfront at Viking Village is home to one of the busiest commercial fishing ports on the East Coast. Whether you’re looking to surf, fish, birdwatch, or just spread out a towel on wide, uncrowded sand, Barnegat Light delivers a classic LBI beach day.

Looking for Barnegat Light, NJ beach badge prices, lifeguard hours, surfing rules, restroom locations, accessible beach options, or today’s fly report? This guide covers everything you need to know before heading to the beach in Barnegat Light, New Jersey.

Forecast updated hourly. Last update: July 28, 2026, 4:20 pm

Beach Badge Information

Beach badges are mandatory for all beachgoers aged 12 and above on every Barnegat Light beach. Proceeds from badge sales support the Borough’s lifeguard staffing and beach maintenance. Badges can be purchased for daily, weekly, or seasonal needs, with a discounted pre-season seasonal rate available through June 5th.

Note: Barnegat Light badges are only valid within Barnegat Light. They are not interchangeable with badges from Long Beach Township, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom, or Beach Haven — each LBI town sells and honors its own badges only.

Badges can be purchased at:

  • Borough Hall, 10 East 7th Street, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006 — off-season hours Monday–Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
  • The Beach Badge Booth behind Borough Hall — in-season, open daily 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, with extended hours until 6:00 pm on Saturdays
  • Directly on the beach from a Badge Checker during the season

There is currently no mobile app or online option for purchasing Barnegat Light beach badges — sales are in person only, either at Borough Hall/the Badge Booth or from a Badge Checker on the beach.

Check out the 2026 Beach tags prices for Barnegat Light and other Jersey Shore towns.

Guarded Beaches

Barnegat Light beaches are supervised daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with full lifeguard coverage running from mid-to-late June through Labor Day. Swimming is permitted only on guarded beaches when lifeguards are on duty — always swim within the flagged, guarded areas.

Guarded street ends: 30th, 27th, 26th, 25th, 22nd, 21st, 19th, 17th, 14th, 12th, and 10th Streets, plus the 25th Street Bay Beach.

For families with young children, the guarded Bay Beach at 25th Street & Bayview offers a calmer alternative to the ocean side, with shallow, relatively still water. Parking at 25th Street and Bayview Avenue provides convenient access.

For real-time lifeguard locations and daily beach conditions, visit SafeBeachDay.com — select New Jersey, then Ocean County, then Barnegat Light Beach Patrol.

Please note the guarded schedule and lifeguard locations are subject to change based on staffing and surf conditions.

Beach Tram

Barnegat Light offers a free Beach Tram for patrons accessing the beach between 4th Street and 9th Street. The tram picks up beachgoers at each street end and brings them to the lifeguarded area between 9th and 10th Street. It runs the same hours as the lifeguards, 10 am to 5 pm, but does not operate between 1 pm and 2 pm. All riders over age 11 must have a valid, current beach badge — the tram itself is free.

Accessible Beaches & Beach Wheelchairs

Barnegat Light offers a free Beach Wheelchair program for any beach patron with a mobility-limiting disability. The chairs are equipped with wide balloon wheels designed to move easily across sand. Availability is first-come, first-served, and a reservation is required — the Borough delivers and picks up the chair at no cost, as the program is funded entirely by donations. Reservation forms are available on the Borough’s forms page and can be emailed to dana.sonnabend@barnegatlight.org.

Restrooms

Public restrooms in Barnegat Light are located at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park (in the main parking lot and at the park office) and at 10th Street & Bayview Avenue. There are no public changing rooms available on the beach itself, and most individual beach access points do not have restrooms directly on-site — plan around the locations above, especially if you’re set up on the bay beach or the far ends of town.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

Beach Driving

Barnegat Light does not offer a public beach-driving or vehicle permit program. Per Borough ordinance, no one may operate a motor vehicle of any kind on the beach without written permission from the proper Borough official.

More Barnegat Light Beach Regulations

Barnegat Light’s beach ordinance (Chapter 144 of the Borough Code) lays out several rules to keep the beaches safe and enjoyable:

  • Alcoholic beverages, drugs, and narcotics are prohibited on all Borough beaches.
  • Fires are not permitted without permission from Borough Council and a fire permit from the Ocean County Fire Marshal.
  • Beach parties, picnics, and similar organized outings are not permitted.
  • Selling food, drink, or confections on the beach is prohibited.
  • Surf fishing, fishing, and crabbing are only allowed in areas designated by the Council or lifeguards; bathing is not permitted in those designated fishing zones.
  • Proper foot protection (shoes, sneakers, sandals, or flip-flops) must be worn at all times while crossing beach access walkways and decks.
  • Dogs are prohibited on Barnegat Light beaches from April 15th through September 30th. Outside that window, dogs are permitted but must be leashed at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you hit the sand in Barnegat Light, NJ.

Yes. Beach badges are required for all beachgoers aged 12 and older on every Barnegat Light beach. Badges are sold daily, weekly, or seasonally, with a discounted pre-season seasonal rate available through June 5th. See 2026 beach tag prices →
No. Barnegat Light beaches require a paid beach badge for anyone 12 or older. Revenue from badge sales funds lifeguard staffing and beach upkeep. Children under 12 can access the beach at no charge.
Barnegat Light Beach Patrol lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with full-season coverage running from mid-to-late June through Labor Day. Swimming is only permitted on guarded beaches when lifeguards are present.
Barnegat Light beaches are guarded daily from 10 am to 5 pm during the summer season, generally running from mid-to-late June through Labor Day. Guarded street ends include 30th, 27th, 26th, 25th, 22nd, 21st, 19th, 17th, 14th, 12th, and 10th Streets, plus the 25th Street Bay Beach. Schedules can shift based on staffing and surf conditions.
Beach badges can be purchased at Borough Hall (10 East 7th Street) during the off-season, Monday–Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. In-season, badges are sold at the Beach Badge Booth behind Borough Hall (daily 8 am–3 pm, until 6 pm on Saturdays) or directly on the beach from a Badge Checker. There is currently no app or online purchase option.
Surfing is generally permitted in areas that aren’t designated swimming zones, consistent with the rest of Long Beach Island. Barnegat Light’s Council and lifeguards designate specific areas for surf fishing, surfing, and diving separately from guarded swimming beaches — check with lifeguards on duty for the current day’s designated areas.
Dogs are prohibited on Barnegat Light beaches from April 15th through September 30th. Outside of that period, dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Public restrooms are located at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park (main parking lot and park office) and at 10th Street & Bayview Avenue. There are no public changing rooms on the beach itself, so plan accordingly if you’re set up away from these locations.
Yes. Barnegat Light offers a free Beach Wheelchair program for patrons with mobility-limiting disabilities. Chairs feature wide balloon wheels for sand use and are available first-come, first-served with a required reservation. The Borough delivers and picks up the chair at no cost. Email dana.sonnabend@barnegatlight.org to reserve one.
The Beach Tram is a free service for beachgoers accessing the shore between 4th and 9th Streets. It picks up passengers at each street end and drops them at the lifeguarded area between 9th and 10th Street. It runs 10 am–5 pm (with a break from 1–2 pm), and all riders over 11 must have a valid beach badge.
No. Alcoholic beverages, along with drugs and narcotics, are prohibited on all Barnegat Light beaches under Borough ordinance.
Check out the daily fly report for real-time current conditions before heading to Barnegat Light beach.
No. Barnegat Light does not offer a public beach-driving permit program. Operating any motor vehicle on the beach requires written permission from the proper Borough official.