CLICK HERE to watch a short How To video on paying to park in Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach has a paid public parking program at several of our public beach accesses between April 1 and September 30. The paid parking program is managed by a third-party vendor.
Purpose: To generate funds for beach services which include: a 7-day-a-week, paid summer lifeguard program, the operation and maintenance of three public beach access bathhouses, daily garbage/refuse pickup and disposal along a five-mile beachfront and various free summer recreation programs activities like the AB Beach Music Festival and July Fourth Fireworks; and the traffic safety enforcement for a summer population that approaches 50,000. With no funding received from Carteret County for beach services, these funds ensure that such tourist-related beach services are not fully subsidized by the local property taxpayers.
Schedule:
- Paid parking runs April 1 – September 30, 2026.
- Enforcement hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.
- Note: Lifeguards on duty May 16 – Aug 16; roaming lifeguards are staffed on weekends through Labor Day when available.
Rates & Payments:
- $5 per hour.
- Pay by text-to-pay, app, or phone (credit/debit only).
- Vehicles unpaid at the start of enforcement hours will be subject to citation.
- No refunds for rainouts, storm closures, or heat advisories.
- Free Parking for valid handicap, Purple Heart, disabled or partially disabled veteran plates/tags.
- Designated free 30-minute spaces are located on Atlantic Dr (Vehicles must move at or before 30 minutes).
- Effective Jan 22, 2024, AB Re-Entry Passes no longer serve as free parking passes
Golf Carts & LSVs:
- Golf cart parking spaces are not free; golf carts and LSVs must be registered with a valid seasonal parking pass or comply with pay-to-park requirements.
- Annual AB golf cart inspection does not include parking.
- LSVs may park in golf cart or regular spaces if registered or pay-to-park.
2026 Property Owner/Resident Passes, Business Owner Passes, Public Seasonal Passes (available Spring 2026 through third-party vendor)
- Atlantic Beach Property Owners: Free Parking with annual parking pass registration, two allowed per parcel per year –CLICK HERE FOR PASSES
- Atlantic Beach Full Time Residents (renters): Free Parking with annual parking pass registration, one allowed per household per year; proof of residency required in the form of a current annual lease or utility bill –CLICK HERE FOR PASSES
- Atlantic Beach Business Owners: Free Parking with annual parking pass registration, one allowed per business per year – register directly through Pivot Parking by phone and/or email
- Seasonal paid parking pass registrations may be purchased for $200 each, allowing free parking at any non-handicapped numbered space. Passes are in the form of license plate registration, no physical sticker will be issued. Seasonal parking pass registration does not override designated “No Parking”, “30 Minute Parking”, “Loading Zone Only”, or “Restricted Parking” areas. Carteret County residents, with Carteret County vehicle registration, may purchase Seasonal paid parking passes for $150 for a specified two-week period prior to April 1st by CLICKING HERE for season pass; afterward the price goes back to $200. The Carteret County designated discount period for 2026 is March 18 – March 31.
Paid Parking Locations
- New Bern Avenue Beach Access, Henderson Blvd Beach Access, West Boardwalk CAMA Lot, Circle Point Grass Lot, Circle Pavilion Paved Lot, Circle Gravel/Dirt Lot East, Circle Gravel/Dirt Lot West, Circle Perimeter: West Drive, Atlantic Blvd, and East Drive; Circle Adjacent: W Bogue, E Terminal, E Bogue.
Parking Citation
Click here to pay parking citations
All Questions and Comments should be directed to:
Elizabeth Ricketts, Operations Manager Pivot Parking
1511 E. Fort Macon Rd. (Triple S Marina)
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
Email: ABNCmanager@pivotparking.com