Along the Jersey Shore, beach tag prices in 2026 run about $5 to $15 for a daily badge and $25 to $200 for a seasonal one, with most towns landing between $40 and $90 for the full season. Children under 12 are free everywhere by state law. Veterans, active-duty military, seniors 65 and older, and people with qualifying disabilities can get free or discounted tags in most shore towns, though only the under-12 waiver is mandatory. Everything else is up to the municipality.
What You’ll Pay in 2026
Every town sets its own prices, so the number on the badge depends entirely on which stretch of sand you’re walking onto. A tag from one municipality does not work in the next town over, even when the beach looks continuous.
- Daily tags: $5 to $15. Most towns charge $10. Weekend and holiday rates sometimes run a few dollars higher.
- Weekly tags: $15 to $50, usually Saturday through Saturday.
- Seasonal badges: $25 to $200 at full price. The majority sit in the $40 to $90 range. Deal is the most expensive at $200. Brigantine and Sea Isle City are among the cheapest at $25 to $30.
Preseason pricing is where the real savings live. Most towns discount seasonal badges by $5 to $15 if you buy before the season opens, typically from March through late May. If you plan on more than a few beach days, the preseason seasonal badge almost always costs less than stacking daily or weekly tags.
Not every New Jersey beach charges at all. Atlantic City, Wildwood, and several state parks are free. Outside New Jersey, the tag-and-badge model is rare, so this guide is essentially about the Jersey Shore.
Who Qualifies for a Free or Reduced Beach Tag
State law creates one firm rule and a list of options that towns may adopt. The practical result is that almost all shore towns offer free tags to veterans and active military, most offer senior discounts, and the exact terms vary.
Children Under 12 (Free, Mandatory)
No municipality can charge for a child under 12. This is the only exemption New Jersey law requires.
Veterans
Municipalities may waive fees for anyone who served in the Armed Forces, received an honorable discharge, and either completed at least 90 days of active duty or was discharged for a service-connected injury. Most shore towns provide free seasonal tags to qualifying veterans. Bring a DD-214, a VA-issued veteran ID card, or a New Jersey driver’s license with the veteran designation.
Active-Duty Military and National Guard
Most towns offer free tags to active service members, their spouse, and dependent children over 12. A military ID or Common Access Card is the standard proof.
Gold Star Family Members
Towns may waive fees for holders of a Gold Star Family designation on a New Jersey driver’s license or state ID.
Seniors 65 and Older
State law allows towns to offer free or reduced senior badges, and the actual pricing is all over the map. Some towns charge as little as $5 for a senior seasonal badge. Others charge $65 or more. Bring a government-issued ID showing your date of birth.
Disabled Persons
Towns may waive or reduce fees for people who meet the disability criteria under Title II of the Social Security Act. Disabled veterans are also entitled to a free motorized vehicle beach permit where those permits are issued.
The pattern to remember: under-12 is guaranteed, everything else is permissive. Check the specific town’s beach tag page before you arrive expecting a waiver.
How to Buy a Beach Tag
In Person
During the summer, you can buy tags from roving badge checkers on the sand or at staffed booths near beach entrances. Town halls and tax collector offices sell them year-round during business hours, and a few towns have installed vending machines in municipal buildings that dispense tags around the clock.
Online and Through Apps
Many towns partner with third-party platforms to sell tags online and ship physical badges for a small fee. Some municipalities offer digital daily and weekly passes through apps like My Beach Mobile, where you purchase and display the tag on your phone. Seasonal passes bought through an app usually still require you to pick up a physical badge somewhere, so phone-only works best for shorter stays.
Preseason Mail-In
Towns that offer preseason pricing typically accept mail orders starting in early spring. You send a check to the tax collector’s office with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the office mails back either the tag or a receipt you exchange at the beach booth once the season opens. The mail-in window usually closes by late May or early June.
When and Where Tags Actually Apply
Tags cover the dry sand above the high-water line. Under the public trust doctrine, the wet sand, the water, and the tidal zone are public. No town can charge you to walk the shoreline, wade in, or fish from the water’s edge. The access logistics are the catch: if every entry point runs through a tagged zone, you still have to pass badge checkers to reach the free wet sand.
Enforcement runs during posted beach hours, which are generally about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Early-morning and evening visitors generally avoid tag checks, though schedules vary by town. Tags must be worn visibly, pinned to a bag, or clipped to a chair.
If a badge checker asks for a tag and you don’t have one, the usual options are to buy a daily on the spot or leave the beach. Refusing both can result in a municipal summons. The fine amount is set by local ordinance.
Refunds, Lost Tags, and Fighting a Summons
Sales are final. Towns do not refund tags for bad weather, beach closures, or a cut-short vacation. Lose a seasonal badge and you’ll typically pay full price for a replacement, which is a strong argument for not using the $90 one as a bookmark.
A beach tag summons is a municipal violation, not a criminal charge. You can pay the fine or contest it in municipal court. Appealing a guilty finding means filing a notice within 20 calendar days, paying a $75 non-refundable filing fee, and covering the cost of a trial transcript. For most beach tag fines, the appeal costs more than the ticket. Unless you have a solid legal basis, paying is usually the practical answer.