Town of East Hampton beach permits
East Hampton Town resident beach permits are free. Non-residents pay $600 for a general permit, or $175 for a family, cooperative or commercial-lodging permit. A Town sticker does not work at the five Village of East Hampton beaches.
- Resident
- Free. A New York registration with an address in the Town, or a Town property tax receipt with registration in the owner's name. Permits expire December 31 of years ending in 0 or 5.
- Non-resident
- General $600. Family (up to two vehicles) $175. Cooperative ownership $175. Commercial lodging $175. Expires December 31 of the year bought.
- Daily parking
- Atlantic Avenue Beach $50, weekdays only. Kirk Park Beach $35 for an 8-hour session, every day.
- Drive-on
- Free for residents. Non-residents $450 general or $135 cooperative.
- Where
- Town Clerk, 159 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, or the Montauk Playhouse annex, by mail, or online for residents.
Town of East Hampton beaches run from Wainscott to Montauk and include Amagansett, Springs and Napeague. If your car is registered at a home in any of those places, you pay nothing. If it is not, the price starts at $175 and climbs to $600, so read the categories before you pay. Renting for a season? The East Hampton renter guide walks through it.
Permit types and prices
| Permit | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident parking | Free | Registration with a Town address, or Town tax receipt plus registration in the owner’s name |
| Resident drive-on | Free | Needed to drive on designated beach areas |
| General non-resident parking | $600 | For anyone who does not qualify for another category |
| Family parking | $175 | Up to two vehicles registered outside the Town, in the name of a person related by blood or marriage to a resident permit holder |
| Cooperative ownership parking | $175 | Shareholders of a cooperative corporation that owns residential property in the Town |
| Commercial lodging parking | $175 | For guests of hotels, motels and similar facilities, issued to the owner or manager |
| Non-resident drive-on, general | $450 | Designated beach areas only |
| Non-resident drive-on, cooperative | $135 | |
| Non-resident launch ramp | $175 |
The Town Board can change fees and the number of permits by resolution, so confirm with the Clerk before you buy.
What counts as a resident
Town code lists two paths. One is a valid New York State vehicle registration in the applicant’s name with an address inside the Town, which includes East Hampton Village and the part of Sag Harbor Village that lies in the Town. The other is a validated current-year tax receipt for any taxable property in those areas, with a registration in the owner’s name. The Clerk reviews each application and may ask for other proof.
The code does not mention lease length. It tests the registration address. A year-round tenant with a registration at the rental address qualifies. Online applications need a photo of the complete registration, not a windshield sticker, and take at least two business days.
Lodging permits are a separate matter. The code says renting a single-family or multifamily home does not entitle the owner or tenant to a commercial lodging permit.
Daily parking
Only two Town beaches sell day parking.
- Atlantic Avenue Beach, Amagansett: $50 a day, weekdays only. None is issued on holidays, and none on Saturdays or Sundays from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend.
- Kirk Park Beach, Montauk: $35 for an 8-hour session, every day. Scan the posted QR code, text to pay or call the number on the sign. Town permit holders park free.
South Edison Beach in Montauk also sells paid sessions on nearby streets, $35 for 8 hours or $25 for 4 hours. Indian Wells Beach and Ditch Plains Beach list parking for Town residents only. Read the daily parking guide for the full comparison with other towns.
Driving on the beach
Parking permits and drive-on permits are different. A Town drive-on permit is required to drive on designated beach areas, including at beaches inside the Village. Vehicles are not allowed on the sand between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from the Thursday before Memorial Day through September 15. The 4x4 guide covers both towns.
Town beaches by hamlet
The Town’s own list is long. The ones with lifeguards and the heaviest permit enforcement are Indian Wells, Atlantic Avenue, Ditch Plains, Kirk Park, South Edison, East Lake (Gin Beach) and Maidstone Park. Most smaller bay landings, such as Lazy Point and the Albert’s Landing beaches, are unguarded and prohibit swimming. They still require a Town parking permit.
Check the Town versus Village guide before buying: the two sets of beaches take different stickers, and wrong purchases are not refunded.
Common questions
Can a summer renter get a free East Hampton Town permit?
Only if the car is registered in New York at an address inside the Town. Code section 240-35 tests the registration address, so a summer tenant whose car is registered elsewhere buys a non-resident permit. See the renter guide.
Does a Town permit cover Main Beach in East Hampton Village?
No. Main, Georgica, Egypt, Wiborg and Two Mile Hollow beaches require a Village permit. The Village says a mistaken purchase of the wrong permit is not refunded.
Can I drive on the beach with a parking permit?
No. Driving on the sand needs a separate Town drive-on permit from the Town Clerk, including at beaches inside the Village.
Sources
Checked October 2026; page updated . Rules and prices on this page describe the 2026 season unless a line says otherwise.