Town of Southampton beach permits
A Town of Southampton sticker costs $50 to $60 for residents and $500 to $525 for non-residents, and it works only at Town beaches such as Ponquogue, Flying Point and Mecox. It is not valid at Cooper's Beach or any village or county beach.
- Season
- Permits are required May 15 to September 15, at all hours. A 2026 permit stays valid through June 30, 2027.
- Resident
- $50 online. The $60 peak price starts May 23 and, per the Town, does not apply to online sales. Seniors 62 and over pay $40. One free courtesy permit a year for resident veterans, military, fire and EMS volunteers.
- Non-resident
- $500 online, $525 at in-person peak pricing. Excludes W. Scott Cameron Beach.
- Daily parking
- $40 a day through the Passport app. $20 weekday pre-season parking and $20 sunset parking also exist.
- 2027 prices
- Not announced. The Town says 2027 sales details will be posted on its permit page.
Southampton Town runs most of the ocean beaches between Westhampton Dunes and Sagaponack that are not inside a village. If you live in Hampton Bays, East Quogue, Water Mill or Bridgehampton, this is your office. If you rent, read the Southampton renter guide before you apply, because the Town counts only year-round tenants as residents.
Which beaches the Town permit covers
The Town lists nine beaches that take its permit. Eight face the ocean. The ninth, Foster Memorial (Long) Beach in Noyac, is on the bay. The Old Ponquogue Bridge Marine Park, a boat-launch site, needs its own Suffolk County resident permit at $125 to $135.
| Beach | Hamlet | Address | Daily parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Beach | Westhampton Dunes | 769 Dune Rd | 7 days |
| Hot Dog Beach (William Swan) | East Quogue | 35 Dune Rd | 7 days |
| Tiana Beach | Hampton Bays | 90 Dune Rd | 7 days |
| Ponquogue Beach | Hampton Bays | 276 Dune Rd | 7 days |
| Flying Point Beach | Water Mill | 1055 Flying Point Rd | Monday to Friday, not holidays |
| W. Scott Cameron Beach | Bridgehampton | 425 Dune Rd | None listed |
| Mecox Beach | Bridgehampton | 535 Jobs Ln | Monday to Friday, not holidays |
| Sagg Main Beach | Sagaponack | 1200 Sagg-Main St | Monday to Friday, not holidays |
| Foster Memorial (Long) Beach | Noyac | 1000 Long Beach Rd | 7 days |
The Town also posts permit-required parking on a string of Trustee and Town access roads along the dunes. Lifeguards are not provided there and the Town says swimming is not recommended.
2026 permit prices
| Permit | Online or early price (to May 22) | Peak price (from May 23) |
|---|---|---|
| Resident or homeowner, per vehicle | $50 | $60 |
| Year-round resident renter, per vehicle | $50 | $60 |
| Senior resident, 62 and over | $40 | $40 |
| Resident veteran, military, fire or EMS | Free, one courtesy permit a year | Free |
| Non-resident full season (not W. Scott Cameron) | $500 | $525 |
| Foster Memorial (Long) Beach only, for East Hampton Town residents living in Sag Harbor Village | $50 | $60 |
| Town employee, non-resident | $75 | $80 |
The Town says peak pricing does not apply to online sales. Online buyers also pay a $2.25 non-refundable service fee, and every card payment carries a 3 percent processing fee. A reissued permit costs $15 and needs the old permit plus both registrations. Refunds are not given, including for accidental purchases.
Who counts as a resident
The Town defines a resident as someone who has kept a principal home in the Town for at least 12 months immediately before applying. Proof depends on who you are.
- Homeowners: a vehicle registration showing a physical Southampton Town address, or a registration whose name matches the current Town tax bill. Utility bills are not accepted. If an LLC or trust owns the house, the Town wants full documents showing at least a 30 percent ownership share.
- Year-round renters: a registration with a physical Town address. If the registration carries a local PO Box, add two more proofs, such as three cable or electric bills dated now, six months ago and 12 months ago, a driver’s license with a Town address, a voter registration card, or a W-2 or tax return with a Town address.
- Never accepted: leases and insurance cards.
The Town’s own advice is blunt: whatever you own, the easiest route is to register the vehicle at your physical Southampton Town address. More on documents in the proof-of-residency guide.
Daily parking by app
Visitors without a permit can pay $40 a day at the beaches in the table above through the Passport Parking app. Two cheaper options exist. A pre-season daily rate of $20 runs Monday to Friday from May 15 to June 26, excluding holidays. A $20 sunset rate runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. between May 15 and September 15.
Download the app ahead of time, but do not pay until you are at the beach and have a parking space. Daily permits are not transferable between beaches and are never refunded. The daily parking guide compares every beach that sells day parking.
Rules on Town beaches
The Town posts these ordinances for all its beach facilities.
- Alcohol and glass containers are banned.
- Dogs are not permitted at beach recreation facilities from April 1 through October 1.
- Smoking and vaping are prohibited.
- Parks and beaches close at 9 p.m.
- Fires and barbecues need a Special Use Permit, which residents can get for barbecues after 6 p.m.
- Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless posted otherwise. Swimming is allowed only in protected areas.
Beaches open on Memorial Day weekend and run weekends only through June. From July 1 all Town beaches open daily until Labor Day, weather permitting.
Driving on the beach
Four-wheel-drive permits are a separate system run by the Southampton Town Trustees, not Parks and Recreation. They are limited to freeholders, residents and taxpayers. See the beach driving permit guide.
Buying one
Resident and non-resident permits are sold through the Town’s online permit store, linked from its official permit page, and at the Parks & Recreation office in Hampton Bays. Walk-in locations take card, check or cash. Cash and checks are never accepted at a beach. Hamptons Beach Pass does not sell permits or collect applications.
Common questions
Does a Town of Southampton permit work at Cooper's Beach?
No. Cooper's Beach belongs to the Village of Southampton, which issues its own permits. The Town says its permit is not valid at village or Suffolk County beaches.
Can I buy a permit for a car registered outside Southampton?
Yes, as a non-resident full-season permit. It costs $500 online or $525 at peak pricing and needs only a valid vehicle registration. It does not cover W. Scott Cameron Beach.
Do guests staying with me get a resident sticker?
No. The Town says visiting family and friends can use daily parking where offered or buy a non-resident full-season permit.
Sources
Checked October 2026; page updated . Rules and prices on this page describe the 2026 season unless a line says otherwise.