Beaches

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Call 911 to report an emergency. Lifeguards are not on duty.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

New York City beaches are currently closed for sports, barbecues or large gatherings. New York City beaches are open for swimming.

You should:

  • Only swim when lifeguards are on duty between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Swimming is prohibited at all other times. 
  • Visit the beach only with members of your immediate household
  • Keep 6 feet of distance of others while swimming and on beaches and boardwalks
  • Keep beach blankets and chairs at least 10 feet apart from others
  • Wear a mask when unable to maintain social distance and in bathrooms
  • Refrain from group activities
  • Obey all posted signs
  • Not leave children unattended near water

Bathroom facilities are open, staffed, and cleaned multiple times a day.

The City will add fencing to control entry points. Access will be further restricted if social distancing or no-swim rules are not observed.

New York City beaches are open for the season.

You can get information about New York City beaches including locations, rules, seasons, and status.

During beach season, lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. You are allowed to swim only when lifeguards are on duty. Never swim in closed sections of the beach. Closed sections are marked with signs or red flags.

During the off-season, you can sit, stroll, or jog on beaches, but you cannot swim or wade in the water.

You can get the status of all public and private beaches in New York City.

Status includes information about water quality, beach safety, whether the beach is open or closed, and whether a swimming and wading advisory is in effect.

Online

Get beach status and information about swimming at New York City beaches.

Mobile Phone

Sign up for beach status text alerts by texting "BEACH" to 877-877.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on public beaches.

Barbecuing on a public beach is never allowed.

The following authorized barbecue areas are near or next to beaches.

Brooklyn - Manhattan Beach and Coney Island

  • Leon S. Kaiser Playground - at West 33rd Street
  • Manhattan Beach - Oriental Boulevard and Hastings Street
  • Manhattan Beach - Northeast of the promenade, median adjacent to parking lot

Queens - Rockaway Beach

  • Michaelis-Bayswater Park - Beach Channel Drive and Beach 32nd Street
  • O'Donohue Park - Boardwalk between Beach 20th and Beach 17th Street

Staten Island - Wolfe's Pond and South/Midland Beaches

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach - Midland and Lincoln Avenues
  • Wolfe's Pond Park - Cornelia and Luten Avenues

During beach season, dogs are not allowed on public beaches unless they are identified as a service animal.

Dogs are not allowed on the sand at any New York City public beach.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the boardwalks or promenades at the following beaches:

  • Orchard Beach
  • Coney Island
  • Brighton Beach
  • Midland Beach
  • South Beach
  • Manhattan Beach

From May 1 to October 1, dogs are not allowed to enter any bathing facility, including New York City beaches.

A service animal is partnered with a person who has a disability and has been trained, or is being trained, by a qualified person to aid or guide a person with a disability.

A person with a disability can be asked to remove their service animal from the premises if:

  • The Service Animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.
  • The Service Animal is not housebroken.

A permit is required to operate a canoe or kayak at Orchard Beach Lagoon. To get permit information for the Orchard Beach Lagoon canoe and kayak launch, contact the Department of Parks.

Online

Download a Kayak and Canoe Permit Application.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

Marinas, boatyards, and boat launches are open for personal use of vessels only. Vessel charters, rentals, and group activities or social gatherings are prohibited.

You must practice social distancing at all times and wear a face covering where social distancing is not possible.

Rockaway Beach between 87th and 91st Streets is New York City's first-ever surfing-only beach. It is open year-round and does not have a lifeguard on duty.

You can get information about beaches within New York City and the greater Long Island area that are run by New York State and federal governments.

You can contact these beaches about maintenance problems and other issues.

Popular beaches in parklands operated by the State include:

  • Jones Beach
  • Robert Moses Beach

Popular beaches in parklands operated by the Federal Government include:

  • Jacob Riis
  • Fort Tilden
  • Gateway National Recreation Area

Learn more about State parks and beaches in the New York City area.

Learn more about Federal parks and beaches in the New York City area.

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