§ 601-3. General regulations.

A. 

Acts of a lewd or lascivious nature (including public nudity) are prohibited.

B. 

All rubbish and garbage must be kept in suitable containers and removed from the beach. Burial or burning or dumping of rubbish, garbage or refuse is prohibited.

C. 

Glass beverage containers are prohibited.

D. 

No person shall feed, harass, molest or disturb wildlife on Sandy Neck. No person shall injure or remove any trees, shrubs, plants or other vegetation from Sandy Neck. Exception: edible fruits and legally hunted game.

E. 

No person shall dig, remove, damage or disturb any artifact on Sandy Neck. The discovery of any artifact(s) should be reported to the Natural Resource Officer on duty.

F. 

Removal or disturbance of buoys, storm debris, marine salvage, municipal or private property is prohibited.

G. 

No person shall traffic (or allow any pet to traffic) in any posted area. All persons shall stay on marked trails and keep off all vegetation, dune faces, steeply sloped dunes, foredunes, and primary dunes. People who are hunting, berry collecting, involved in professionally lead educational hikes and/or scientific studies are permitted off the marked trail. All activities require prior approval by the Sandy Neck Gatehouse.

H. 

All dogs must be leashed at all times and in all areas on Sandy Neck Beach. Leash must be a physical restraint no greater than 15 feet in length. Exception: dogs actively engaged in the legal hunting of game. The owner or keeper of any dog shall clean up and properly dispose of all fecal material deposited by the animal. Dogs involved in dog-bite incidents must be removed immediately from the beach until further notice by the Park Manager.

I. 

ORV beach curfew.

(1) 

In season (April 1 to October 31). No vehicles may enter the beach between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Vehicles must exit prior to 11:00 p.m.

(2) 

Off season (November 1 to March 31). No vehicles may enter the beach between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. All vehicles must exit prior to 4:00 p.m.

(3) 

Self-contained vehicles, fishermen, hunting, cottage owners and their guests may enter and remain on the beach past curfew if tidal conditions allow. Fisherman and hunters may engage in such activities, provided that they are in compliance with these regulations as determined by the officer on duty. Curfew may be moved forward as tidal conditions warrant.

J. 

All organized gatherings at Sandy Neck involving 20 or more individuals must obtain a special permit from the Park Manager. A special permit is also required in order to conduct scientific research on Sandy Neck. Fees may apply. Please call the Sandy Neck Gatehouse for further information (508-362-8300).

K. 

Campfires.

(1) 

A Sandy Neck campfire permit is required.

(2) 

This campfire permit is included with an ORV permit.

(3) 

All other patrons wishing to have a campfire may purchase a permit at the Sandy Neck Gatehouse after 5:00 p.m. on the day they wish to have the campfire. Permits may be limited.

(4) 

Weather permitting, open campfires on the front beach are allowed in season (April 1 to October 31) after sunset or 7:00 p.m. only, whichever is earlier. Campfires are prohibited at all other times of the year.

(5) 

A campfire permit holder (which includes all ORV permit holders) is responsible for adhering to the Sandy Neck Beach Park Regulations.

(6) 

Campfires located on the ORV Beach must be at least 10 feet from the Cape Cod Bay side of the established ORV corridor and must not impinge on vehicular travel.

(7) 

All fires shall be doused with water before being buried.

(8) 

The burning of wood pallets or garbage is prohibited at Sandy Neck.

(9) 

The Park Manager or Natural Resource Officers have final discretion on all fires.

L. 

All people sleeping overnight at Sandy Neck shall remain inside self-contained vehicles. No tenting lean-tos, camping trailers, or temporary shelters are allowed. Registered owners will be responsible for anyone sleeping outside of said vehicles, i.e., in sleeping bags, tents, chase vehicles, or any other manner. Tenting in designated areas is allowed at the discretion of the Park Manager (permit required).

M. 

The discharge of gray water or wastewater from holding tanks, portable toilets, sinks, or any other source is prohibited.

N. 

If high tide forces passage within 15 feet of the toe of the dune or any vegetation, the beach shall be considered closed, with no traffic being allowed to travel either off or on, until the Park Manager or the Natural Resource Officer on duty has determined the tide has receded to an appropriate level.

O. 

When vehicle limits reach capacity, there will be no waiting lines (no one-off-one-on policy) or spot saving. Access will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Cottage owners and their guests, and chase vehicles returning from emergency work (with a valid hangtag), will be allowed access over the beach if tidal conditions permit.

P. 

The Park Manager reserves the right to close or limit use of Barnstable's land at Sandy Neck to all ORVs, horses, dogs, bikes and/or pedestrian and recreational traffic when public safety, wildlife habitat, tidal or extreme weather conditions warrant. This includes access for fishing, shellfishing, and hunting.

Q. 

No refunds will be granted for any reason, including foul weather, evacuations, personal emergencies, or limitations on access.

R. 

All-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, electric and electric assist bikes, and snowmobiles are prohibited at Sandy Neck.

S. 

Motorized personal watercraft (jet skis) are prohibited on Sandy Neck in all areas except Beach Point and the Great Marsh. Transporting a personal watercraft via the ORV corridor is prohibited.

T. 

Permit holders are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicle and compliance with all Sandy Neck Regulations by all operators and passengers of their vehicle. The penalty for violations by permit holders as well as nonowners and/or guests may include suspension and/or revocation of the ORV permit.

U. 

Vehicle operation on those areas of Sandy Neck owned by the Town of Barnstable, by election to exercise the privilege of driving on this Town property, which is not a public way, are subject to being stopped by Natural Resource Officers or the Park Manager (or any other employee designated by the Town Manager to enforce the regulations at Sandy Neck) in order to ascertain the identification of the occupants, and to determine if there are violations of the Sandy Neck Beach Park Regulations and/or the Barnstable General Ordinances.

V. 

The use of generators is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

W. 

The use of fireworks (including sky lanterns) is prohibited.

X. 

Using, launching, landing or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on land or waters associated with Sandy Neck Beach Park is prohibited except as authorized by a special permit issued by the Park Manager. Special permits may be issued for the purposes of research or education or in conjunction with an event authorized by a Town of Barnstable event or film permit. This permit requirement may be waived for law enforcement activities conducted by law enforcement agencies. All permits shall require compliance with applicable local, state and federal law.