Coastal Access Toolkit
How can access be enhanced, secured, granted or created? More...
Common Law & Statutes
For information about land ownership and More...
- • FAQs
- • Resources
- • Glossary A-H
- • Glossary I-P
- • Glossary Q-Z
Waterfront Users
As a user of waterfront land, what are my rights and responsibilities?
- Your rights are defined by the Public Trust Doctrine to include, but are not necessarily limited to, recreational uses such as bathing, swimming, sunbathing, walking, and fishing.
- In New Jersey, the public has access to tidal waters seaward of the mean high tide line. This access is further held to include linear/lateral access, perpendicular access and visual access.
How can I/my group gain/secure access to private waterfront land?
- Acquire the land, or partial rights to the land. (See 'Acquiring and Transferring Access' Page)
How can waterfront users increase coastal access and enhance access infrastructure such as parking, piers, moorings, docks and slips?
- Become involved in the planning process. (See 'Planning and Regulating for Access' Page)
Where can I find coastal access points in New Jersey?
General/Beach Access
- Map of coastal access points with information for beach-goers, surfers, fisherman, and other users (NJDEP Coastal Management Program).
- New Jersey Beach Guide with information on beaches and their resources and fees (NJ Department of the Public Advocate).
- OASIS NYC- Open Accessible Information System of community maps that include public access sites to the New York/New Jersey Harbor
Boat Access
- Boater’s Directory (Marine Trades Association of New Jersey)
- Delaware River boat access sites (NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife)
- Kayak launch sites (Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association)
- New Jersey Boater’s Ramp Guide (New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium)
Fishing Access
- Ponds, lakes and reservoirs for fishing (NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife)
- Saltwater fishing piers (NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife)
Other Access
- Beach buggy access, permits and other information (New Jersey Beach Buggy Association)
- Scuba diving sites in New Jersey and Long Island, New York (New Jersey Scuba)
Where can I find more information?
- New Jersey Public Access Standards (NJDEP Coastal Management Program).