At St. Augustine Beach, bring non-alcoholic beach drinks, keep your dog physically controlled and park off the sand if your vehicle cannot enter. City rules govern the central public beach, while St. Johns County rules govern county-managed beaches and vehicle access. The St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier park offers an off-sand alternative, with a temporary change to its beach entrance during repairs.
Drinks, smoking and dogs
- Pack non-alcoholic drinks for the sand.
- Bring a handheld dog lead and waste bags.
- Keep your dog controlled and clean up promptly.
The city public beach runs from Pope Road to Sandpiper Village/Sand Piper Plaza, including the dunes and extending east to the Atlantic. County jurisdiction resumes beyond the city boundary.
On the city beach, alcohol consumption is prohibited year-round, including in the ocean within 50 feet of the shoreline. Beer and wine are permitted on the county ocean pier, not on the surrounding sand.
On county-managed beaches, smoking and vaping are prohibited year-round within 600 feet of the Atlantic shoreline, including in the water. Unfiltered cigars are exempt from the smoking restriction. Carrying a vaping device is not active vaping unless it produces vapour or aerosol.
On county beaches, dogs must remain leashed, including in the water, with immediate, continuous physical control. The lead must be no longer than 12 feet overall. This applies year-round, with an exception for dog parks, not a swim at the beach.
For a pet-focused beach day, dog leads and beach access help you choose a lead and understand the additional city and county conditions.
Sun shades, grills and overnight gear
On the city beach, tents must fit within 10 × 10 feet, including their anchors. Larger tents require an approved special-event permit for temporary use in a designated area. Choose day-use shade you can remove when you leave.
On county-managed beaches, use a self-contained fire pit or grill with a lid instead of an open fire. Bonfires and campfires are prohibited. Keep the fire and debris contained, and take cooking waste and charcoal coals away. Never put coals, embers or other heated objects on the sand or in beach rubbish bins.
City rules prohibit possessing or using fireworks. The exception is a display with city approval, required permits, an approved competent operator and compliance with display-safety conditions.
Dunes, turtle nests and night lighting
Turtle nesting protection season runs from 1 May to 31 October on St. Johns County beaches, including St. Augustine Beach. Beachfront owners and businesses must reduce or eliminate artificial light visible from the beach.
The Conservation Zone follows the dunes and is marked with posts or signs. Emergency and public-safety vehicles are exempt, not visitors’ cars.
Do
- Use designated dune walkovers, including those at 2nd through 10th Streets.
- Leave the beach dark during nesting season.
- Fill sand holes before leaving.
Don’t
- Cross directly over dunes and their vegetation.
- Use torches or lanterns on county beaches at night during nesting season.
- Drive or park inside the marked dune-side Conservation Zone.
Vehicle ramps, gate hours and passes
| Criterion | A Street | Ocean Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Gate management | City | County |
| Vehicle gate window | Closes 5pm nightly, year-round | 1 May–31 October: 8am–7:30pm. 1 November–30 April: open overnight unless weather or emergency closes itBest |
| Vehicle eligibility | Four-wheel drive required | Depends on posted sand restrictions |
A Street and Ocean Trace are authorised vehicle entrances, but tide, weather and sand conditions can restrict or close either ramp. A pass does not override a closure.
- County pass season
- 1 March–30 September
- Daily pass
- $15 per day, residents and non-residents
- ADA-accessible daily pass
- $5 with valid documentation
- Active-duty military daily pass
- $5 with valid military ID
Stop at the toll booth for the attendant to scan your pass barcode before entering. Keep your valid daily or annual pass displayed during the pass season.
Driving lanes, parking and beach equipment
Once you enter at A Street, travel southbound only to Crescent Beach Ramp on Cubbedge Road. A Street is enter-only, so do not plan to return through it.
Keep within the cone-marked driving lanes, drive no faster than 10 mph and yield to all pedestrians. Stop at every beach ramp. Maintain at least 15 feet of unobstructed clearance for traffic.
Park west of the driving lane, towards the dunes, but outside the marked Conservation Zone. Place chairs and sun shades east of the cones, towards the ocean, never in the travel lane or parking area. This separates your beach set-up from moving vehicles without using the protected dune-side strip.
Parking off the sand
If the ramp refuses your vehicle, park free at the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier park, at 350 A1A Beach Boulevard. You can walk onto the beach without paying pier admission. Sightseeing or fishing on the pier is a separate choice from parking beside the beach.
- Name
- St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier
- Location
- Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine Beach, Florida Maps
- Hours
- 7am–7pm
- Essential fact
- A public ocean pier on Beach Boulevard in St. Augustine Beach.
Cstickel(byu) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
If you are stopped or cited
A ramp refusal is not the same as an issued citation. St. Johns County sets beach-driving rules and manages county access. St. Augustine Beach Police enforce beach traffic rules, while the City’s Code Enforcement division handles city-code violations.
If stopped, cooperate and follow directions. If you receive a notice, keep it and identify the issuing authority and alleged offence. Read its instructions and deadlines before deciding your next step, rather than treating a gate attendant’s refusal as a fine.
Sources & fact-checking
Checks against the sources below cover: fares and charges, as well as services.
- St. Johns County; St. Augustine Beach Police Department — service
- Chapter 13 – Miscellaneous Provisions and Offenses, § 13-20
- St. Johns County; A Street gate is managed by the City of St. Augustine Beach — service
- Beach Driving Pass Information
- 2026 Beach Toll Season Begins on March 2
- Beaches – St. Johns County
- Jurisdictions and Municipalities
- Ordinance 10-09
- St. Johns County Bans Smoking and Vaping in Parks and Beaches Under Amended Ordinances
- St. Johns County Ordinance 2025-46
- City of St. Augustine — service
- City of St. Augustine Beach beach event contract
- St. Augustine South Beaches: Rules & Regulations / Beach Driving Map
- Beach Code Ordinance 2007-19
- St. Johns County; City of St. Augustine Beach publishes the beach-driving rules — service
- CoSAB General Information and Updates
- St. Johns County 2024 Annual Compliance Report, Section 8: Conservation Zone
- Florida Legislature — service
- City Commission Meeting — proposed/amended beach ordinance text, Sec. 95-4
- City of St. Augustine Beach July Newsletter
- St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Park
