Oversand Vehicle Operation

Motorized off-road vehicle (ORV) use is only designated in limited National Park Service areas. Where permitted, ORVs may be allowed only in locations where there will be no adverse impacts on the area's natural, cultural, scenic, and esthetic values, and in consideration of other existing or proposed recreational uses.

The National Park Service recognizes that motorized equipment operated in a national park "could adversely affect the park's natural soundscape and the flow of natural chemical information and odors that are important to many living organisms." (2006 National Park Service Management Policies, 8.2.3) The rhythmic sound of the breaking waves, the smell of the salt air, the sight of relatively unspoiled sandy beaches-these are some of the values for which Fire Island National Seashore was established.

Because there are 17 residential communities within the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore, limited driving is permitted by contractors, utilities and a small number of residents to support the maintenance of these communities. Such permits are tightly restricted and regulated. (See Off-Road Driving Regulations.)

Recreational ORV driving is permitted by the Seashore seasonally from the Wilderness Visitor Center to Long Cove, with a current valid Fire Island National Seashore Sportsman's Vehicle Permit.

 

As directed by Congress, the National Park Service collects a fee to recover the cost of administering permits. Recoverable fees are charged for permits as described in 16 U.S.C. 3a, 31 U.S.C. 9701, and National Park Service Guidelines for Special Park Uses. The following charges are established for vehicle permits and applications for Fire Island National Seashore:

• An Application Charge must accompany the application for a permit. This charge covers the costs involved in analyzing and processing the request for an application including secretarial, printing, and mailing costs. This is a non-refundable fee that must be remitted with the completed application. This fee is $50.00 This is a non-refundable fee that will not be returned even if your permit is not approved.
  
• An Administrative Charge reflects the actual costs incurred by the National Park Service in processing the permit, from its inception to final approval. It also includes all our costs associated with Natural and/or Cultural compliance. This cost is reflected in the permit cost noted below.
  
• Management Costs cover the actual costs incurred by the park accomplishing the required monitoring or management of the permit. This cost is reflected in the permit cost noted below.
  
  

  Permit	Current (2012) Permit Fee	Application Fee
  Recreational Driving	$50	Included in permit cost
  Resident Year-round or Part-time	$95 (+ application fee)	$50 Initial * $10 Renewal
  Contractor / Business	$750/year $300/month (possible 1-month extension) $75/week (+ application fee)	$50
  Essential Service	$750/vehicle (+ application fee)	$50 per company
  Public Utility	$750/vehicle (+ application fee)	$50 per company
  Municipal Employees	$95 (+ application fee)	$50 Initial $10 Renewal

* Please Note: For the first-time approval of a resident permit, you will also be charged a one-time $100 charge for gate key, stickers, computer set-up, etc.)

• A limited number of permits are issued in each category, and driving times are restricted by category.
• Definitions and the number of permits authorized in each category are specified in the park's current driving regulation (36 CFR Ch. 1, Section 7.20).

 

Respect the 20-foot "rhizome rule" to help protect the fragile beach grass that stabilizes the primary dune.

Permit Conditions
No alternate/substitute vehicles may be used in place of your primary vehicle. The West Checkpoint or Park Headquarters must verify any changes.

Failure to comply with the conditions of any permit issued may result in a fine and the loss of your permit.

For More Information

If you need more information regarding eligibility or application for an Oversand Vehicle Permit, please contact the park's Special Park Uses Coordinator:

• Special Park Uses Office
  via e-mail
  phone: [phone]