At the 2/11/25 Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board approved Parking Ordinance 2025-5 and Updated Fee Schedule.
Paid Parking Permits sales began on Monday 2/17/25 through Otto Connect. Click HERE to learn how to get yours!
Please carefully read facts below to find the answer to many of your questions:
Parking passes are NOT purchased through the Town. ONLY through Otto Connect Parking Management (see flyer above)
Fines/Violations/Complaints are NOT handled through the Town. ONLY through Otto Connect Parking Management
Answers to many parking questions can be found on the Town website or on the Otto Connect website.
You may also call the phone number for Otto Connect – (910) 200-1497
Businesses will be able to register with Otto Connect ($250 fee per year) to allow their employees to park in the “Employee Only” lot located at 3 W. Third Street (under construction)
Town Employees will also have to pay to park (regular rate) to go to the beach
Parking may be free in certain areas during Town sponsored events or Community festivals. This will be determined on a case by case basis.
Parking rates are the same for EVERYONE…and this also includes golfcarts/LSVs.
Paid Parking is in effect April 1st – October 31st from 9am – 5pm
Parking at Town Center Park is free (up to 2 hours)
If you have rented the Picnic Shelter, you will receive a printable 4-hour parking permit from Town Hall to place on your dashboard for use during the rental period
Parking at Ferry Landing Park is free (no time limit)
Handicapped parking is free in designated Handicapped Parking places ONLY
Each vehicle requires a separate registration and is attached to the license plate. For example, if you have a car AND a golf cart…you will need to purchase 2 season passes
If you buy a new car, you can transfer the permit one (1) time per 90 days with proper documentation
No one is required to buy a season pass. Anyone is welcome to “pay as they go”. Once any individual vehicle reaches the $175 for the year, it will automatically convert into a season permit. Therefore, no one ever has to pay more that $175 per year per vehicle
Parking in designated parking spots ONLY
Parking Permits and Vehicle Decals are (2) completely different things.
Parking Permits:
What? Allows a person to park in a designated parking space for an allotted time frame
When? Available for purchase beginning 2/17/25 (Valid April 1st – October 31st 9am-5pm)
Where? Any designated parking spot on the island. Signage will be installed to designate available parking areas.
Who? Everyone/Anyone
How? Purchase permits through Otto Connect via their app, QR Code, website or by phone
Vehicle Decals:
What? Provides island re-entry to Property Owners ONLY after a bridge closure (storm related or emergency event)
When? Available for pickup at Town Hall from Jan 1st – June 1st each year with proper identification
Where? Town Hall or via certified mail
Who? Island Property Owners/Businesses only
How? Fill out an application at Town Hall or download the form from the website. Mail-in options are available
If you have any additional questions, please contact [email protected]
PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
General Parking Proposal:
•Parking in designated spaces only (identified by a parking bumpers/curb stop)
•Paid Parking by Permit only (Residents and Visitors)
•No Right-of-Way parking unless designated
Dates and Times of Paid Parking
•April 1st to October 31st
•9:00AM to 5:00PM
•Designated parking areas are free to park 5:00PM to midnight and 6:00AM to 9:00AM
•No parking midnight to 6:00AM
2025 Parking Rates per vehicle proposed
•$5 per hour for up to 3 hours
•$20 per day and durations longer than 3 hours (with buy-up to Max $20)
•$80 per week as seven consecutive days from the time of purchase
•$175 per calendar season per vehicle (with buy-up to Max $175)
“SurfCAST by Otto” uses License Plate details for parking permits and enforcement of parking violations.
Town Center Park and Ferry Landing Park: Free parking for park use only
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Town Clerk at [email protected].
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Board of Commissioners held a Parking Workshop on Tuesday, 7/16/24 to discuss modifying the existing parking ordinance regarding parking in the right-of-way and to consider implementation of a paid parking program.
At the 8/13/24, Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board directed staff to advertise Requests For Proposals for paid parking management companies. Six proposals were received and reviewed.
At the 9/10/24 Board of Commissioners Meeting OTTO Connect/Surfcast was unanimously selected as the Town’s Paid Parking Management Firm.
At the 10/8/24 Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board approved Consulting Agreement with OTTO Connect/Surfcast to assess potential parking locations on the island and to “fine tune” the existing ordinance for presentation to the public for review.
The Board conducted a Public Input Forum to receive comments on Thursday, 11/7/24 at 6:00pm. During the Public Input Forum, Jim Varner from OTTO Connect/Surfcast presented the parking program proposal to the public and the Board received comments. Informational documents from the forum are available below:
Video from Public Forum (*note, there is a technical glitch around minutes 29:00-33:00 and then video resumes)
Public Input Forum #2 was held (12/3/24) at 6:00 pm. The purpose of the forum was to allow public comment in regards to new information regarding the Paid Parking Program. (see below) View Video from Public Forum Here
At the 1/14/25 Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board approved the following actions:
Approval of a SaaS (Software as a Service) Agreement with Otto Connect for the implementation of an on-island Paid Parking Program for the Town of Ocean Isle Beach. The program will go into effect on April 1, 2025. Please scroll down to the “Plan Highlights” section below for more information. The Board is working to update the Town’s parking ordinance which will “fine tune” the specifics of the program. This ordinance is scheduled to be on the February 11, 2025 Board of Commissioners Agenda for consideration.
Approval of Resolution 2025-2 Requesting a Local Act from the North Carolina General Assembly to Allow the Town of Ocean Isle Beach to use Paid Parking Revenue for Any Public Purpose.
Approval of a Budget Amendment in the amount of $50,000 to cover the cost of signs (purchase/installation) and the construction of a designated parking lot (20 spaces) located on the NE corner of 3 W. Third Street (Old Town Hall Site) for employees of businesses located in the Commercial District. Employees parking in the designated lot must be registered with the Parking Management firm by their employer.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING PARKING FEES
In the January 2001 Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Town of Ocean Isle, NC for the Federal Beach Nourishment Project states, “The Non-Federal Sponsor shall provide and maintain public ownership, during the economic life of the Project, of an adequate width of beach for public use; with acceptable beach access, parking areas and other facilities necessary for realization of the benefits upon which Government participation is based.”
USACE Engineering Regulations require that parking should be “free or reasonable terms” for the “general public to include nonresident users”. A fee CAN be charged, to include parking, but “fees for such services must be applied uniformly to all concerned and not as a prerequisite to beach use.”
***Any proposed paid parking program would require residents and non-residents to be charged the same rate for public beach access parking.***
