Oak Island beach bonfire permits will open this week

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — The Oak Island Fire Department announced the beach bonfire permit application will open Thursday for the 2025/2026 season.

In the town, beach bonfires are allowed to start on Sunday, but a permit is required.

Free permits are available online and allow the fire department to know where and when fires will be lit on the beach.

Oak Island Fire Chief Lee Price reminds people permits must be submitted within 72 hours of a planned bonfire due to wind forecasting. Peak wind speeds must be at or below 15 mph during the time of the bonfire.

Price reminds those who are looking to have a beach bonfire not to use gasoline or lighter fluid to start the fire.

To keep everyone safe, never leave a fire unattended and always have a way to extinguish the fire. Avoid running or playing near a fire.

When the bonfire is completely extinguished and cool, place all burned wood in the trash at the closest beach access location.

One issue with potential bonfires this year is upcoming beach nourishment work, which a town newsletter says “has been several years in the making.”

Starting on Friday, November 14, the public parking area and Beach Access Locations on SE 49th St. will be closed until further notice, to allow for equipment placement and project staging

Additionally, as of this week, a surveyor from Weeks Marine (the contractor performing the dredging and sand placement) will begin performing the Before Dredging (BD) surveys along the beach. Both the BD and AD (After Dredging) Surveys will be performed regularly throughout the project and will begin at the eastern edge of the work area near SE 46th St. and move towards the West as the work progresses.

To view and share full details and progress updates throughout the entire project, visit the Beach Nourishment Project page.