County Council Eliminates Beach Driving Fees for Residents
Posted On: August 8, 2024
Volusia County residents will be able to drive on Volusia County beaches without charge beginning Oct. 1. They also will continue to receive free parking in County-owned, off-beach parking lots and coastal parks.
Residents will need to register their vehicles online to have their fees waived for beach driving and off-beach parking. An online registration portal will be available this fall. Watch for updates in this newsletter and on Volusia County’s social media pages.
Under the new rules, nonresident fees will be:
- $30 for a beach driving day pass or $150 for an annual pass beginning Oct. 1; and
- $20 for an off-beach parking day pass and $100 for an annual pass beginning Jan. 1.
The Volusia County Council approved these changes during meetings in July and August. The changes do not affect parking fees at Smyrna Dunes Park and Lighthouse Point Park, which remain at $10 daily or $20 annually for all. The beach driving changes will expire Jan. 31, 2026, and resident fees will return to the current structure unless the County Council extends them.
Eligibility for the Volusia County beach-driving fee exemption includes vehicles registered to:
- Full-time residents with a valid Volusia County driver’s license
- Property owners on the latest tax rolls
- Students from Bethune-Cookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Stetson University who have a valid parking pass
- Disabled persons, regardless of their residence, with a handicap placard or license plate
Unregistered residents and nonresidents can purchase a daily beach driving pass at beach entrances. Annual passes will be available online and at select office locations, ending sales at toll booths and on the beach.
