Beach Closing/Advisory Policies

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is responsible for setting sanitary and safety regulations for public recreational bathing beaches. Those regulations are contained in the Public Recreational Bathing Code (N.J.A.C. 8:26), which is available on the NJDOH Web site at or by clicking on the link below:

Public Recreational Bathing Code

Recreational beaches are subject to the opening and closing procedures of the State Sanitary Code. There are two categories of actions that take place when water quality exceeds the recreational standard; closings and health advisories.

Closings

Beaches may be closed due to exceedance of the State health standard (see the Monitoring Results page for more information). Beach closings remain in effect until subsequent sampling indicates bacteria levels are again below the standard. Closings may also be issued at the discretion of local health agencies as a precaution due to extraordinary rain events.

Health Advisories

Advisories warn the public of potentially unhealthy water conditions. Health advisories may be issued at the discretion of local health or enforcement agencies as precautions due to an exceedance of the water quality standard or extraordinary rain events.

Rain Provisional Beaches

The Monmouth County Health Department has identified six areas where contaminated stormwater runoff may impact water quality at the bathing beach following heavy rainfall.  Precautionary beach closing policies have been implemented at the following sites:

• Brown Avenue beach in Spring Lake – closes for 24 hours after 0.1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours; closes for 48 hours after 2.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours
• York Avenue beach in Spring Lake – closes for 24 hours after 0.1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours; closes for 48 hours after 2.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours
• The Terrace Blvd beach in Sea Girt – closes for 24 hours after 0.1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours; closes for 48 hours after 2.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours
• Beacon Blvd beach in Sea Girt – closes for 24 hours after 0.1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours; closes for 48 hours after 2.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours
• L Street beach in Belmar– closes for 24 hours after 0.1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours; closes for 48 hours after 2.8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours
• Shark River Beach and Yacht Club beach - closes for 24 hours after 1 inch of rainfall in 24 hours

Local health or enforcement officials may issue beach closings or advisories at any time for any reason to protect public health. 

Please email questions or comments regarding any information on this web site to njbeaches@dep.state.nj.us or call Virginia Loftin at 609-984-5599.