Carolina Beach announces 2025 parking changes
CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A decision has been made regarding parking in Carolina Beach for the 2025 season.
“We have to make sure that as best we can that what we choose meets that revenue projection,” said Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee, referring to the federal funding many beach towns receive from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which helps ensure fair beach access for both residents and non-residents.
In 2025, resident parking will be more limited. Barbee explained, “For the resident passes obviously last year they had access to all of those spaces and they do not in 2025. So we lowered the resident rate from $40 to $30 just to compensate for that more limited use.”
Non-residents won’t see significant changes but will benefit from more available beachfront parking spaces, as some areas once reserved for residents will now be open for them.
“If anything it will open up more beachfront parking spaces for non-residents… they obviously have to pay for those spaces but there should be more parking available since the residents have been pushed back a bit,” Barbee added.
A significant change for 2025 is the introduction of golf cart passes, which will be sold for $100. “That’s the bulk of the change,” said Barbee, noting that the most significant adjustment for residents is the limitations on where they can park.
Concerns about the new policies have arisen from local businesses. Tyler McDowell, manager at Majik Beanz, questioned whether residents would be paying for a pass they can’t fully use. “Are you expecting residents to pay for a parking pass and then just not be able to use it in the first place other than the free entry pass?” McDowell said.
He also expressed concerns about the impact on businesses that rely on easy access, pointing out that the new parking policies could make it difficult for customers to park quickly. “Especially for a coffee business like us because who is going to come and pay $5 for a $5 coffee… for five minutes?”
Barbee emphasized that parking will remain an ongoing conversation, especially since some parking lots are leased by different companies.
