NJ Beachgoers Split Over Extra Fees for Big Tents and Canopies

The summer of 2025 is very quickly passing us by and, I'm sad to say, we only have about a month or so of good beach weather ahead of us.

If you're like me, you try to make summer go by as slowly as possible and one of the ways that I do that is to spend time on the beaches and boardwalks here in New Jersey.

Let's face it -- there's nothing better than soaking up the sun, grabbing a slice of boardwalk pizza, and listening to the waves roll in.

That is, until someone decides to build the equivalent of a two-story house in front of you with tents, canopies, and whatever other portable structures they can find.

The Tent Takeover Problem on NJ Beaches

We've all been there... you get to your favorite beach pretty early to claim your territory, you have a perfect view of the ocean, you're sitting back and relaxing...

And then you see the family of 4 or 6 (or 8... or 10.... or 12.....) wheeling a U-Haul-sized wagon down your way that's overflowing with every item sold at a boardwalk beach store.

That parade, which looks a lot like a scene out of a black-and-white movie that shows people heading out west with horses and stagecoaches in the 1800s, ends right in front of you and before you know it, there's a giant tent or canopy (or both) right in front of you.

Real-life Example in Ocean City

I saw that scene play out just a few weeks ago in Ocean City and it led me to ask this question on Facebook: Some have suggested those putting big tents or canopies up on the beaches should have to pay a fee or more for a beach badge. What say you?

Possible Fee Ideas

For example, if it's just you and your beach chair, you would pay just a standard beach tag fee. If you want to put up a tent, you'd need to pay a little more. If you're thinking of putting up a giant 10'-by-10' canopy, the fee would be higher.

Out of the dozens of responses that I got, there really wasn't a clear-cut answer, which kinda surprised me.

Many folks said beach tags are already too expensive and people should be allowed to do whatever they want, others suggested big tents should only be permitted behind where people are sitting, and others said just to charge people more.

And yes, I know renting a house at the shore is expensive. Parking at the shore is expensive. Simply relaxing in this state isn't cheap -- I get it. But should what you pay to sit on a beach be determined by how much space you use?

Here's a snapshot of what people had to say...