Jamaica Bay Unit Permits

Jamaica Bay Unit

Permits and Reservations

Jamaica Bay issues permits for activities listed below. Additional permits from other agencies may be required for some actions. Permits are required for group campgrounds, community garden plots, archery, fishing area parking and picnicking. Call [phone] for further information.

• Filming and Photography
• Special Uses
• Sports Fields

• 2021 Parking/After Hours Access permits for Fishing will go on sale February 1 online only through pay.gov. 4x4 permits are not on sale at this time. Walk-in permit requests will not be accepted at this time. Please allow minimum of 30 days to process. 2020 permits will be honored through March 31. Applicants will not be required to provide proof of fishing poles prior to receiving permit.

• Fishing/parking permits are required at the following Jamaica Bay Unit sites:
  • A permit is required for parking at Bay 3 Lot (Riis Park East) from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. A permit is required dawn to dusk other times.
  • A permit is required for parking at Shore Road Fisherman's Lot and Yacht Club Lot from dawn to dusk. A permit is required at all times from May 15 thorough Sept. 15.
  • A permit is required for parking at Shore Road East (formerly known as Adaptive Aquatics Parking Lot) from dusk to dawn year round. From May 15 through Sept. 15 permit is required from 4 pm to 9 am. No vehicle access at other times.
  • A permit is required for parking at 222nd Street Fisherman's Lot from dusk to dawn Sept. 16 through March 14. A permit is required at all times from March 15 through Sept. 15.
  • A permit is required for parking at Floyd Bennett Field from dusk to dawn year round, except to visit concessions in designated areas.

Breezy Point Tip Off Road Permits

Breezy Point Tip Off Road Permits are a specialized fishing/parking permits necessary to access the sand road, sand lot and Breezy Point Tip in the Jamaica Bay Unit. These are available in limited numbers, and only at the Ryan Visitor Center. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is required. All-wheel drive vehicles are not recommended. The Off Road Permit is valid anywhere in the park where the fishing/parking permit is honored. Off Road Permits are $50.

Off-Road Vehicle permits will not be issued in person at the Ryan Visitor Center on February 1.Existing 2020 Off Road Vehicle permits will be honored in the interim. Please check back on March 1 for further information.

The operator must present the following equipment at the time of purchase and carry each item at all times when driving off road at the Breezy Point Tip:

• 7-foot (minimum) fishing pole
• reel and tackle
• shovel
• tow chain or rope
• jack
• jack support board
• tire pressure gauge
• appropriate spare tire
• trash container
• portable toilet

Please note that between March 15 and September 15 there is no vehicle access to Breezy Point Tip. All vehicles must park at the sand lot during this time, which is piping plover season.

Sports League Permits (Fort Tilden, Frank Charles Park, Miller Field)

We anticipate issuing Spring Season sports leagues permits soon.Permits will only be available through phone call, email, or appointment. Please contact the Jamaica Bay Unit, Permit Office [phone] or the Staten Island Permit Office [phone] for updated information. Spring Sports League permits valid for Spring Season only.

Archery permits
Archery permits are for use at the Floyd Bennett Field Archery Range. To obtain a permit you will be required to complete an application and provide valid identification in person at the Ryan Visitor Center. Archery permits are $75. The Archery Range is open Feb. 1 through Nov. 30. We anticipate that the Floyd Bennett Field Archery field will be open later in the Spring Season. Permits will only be available through phone call, email, or appointment.

Please contact the Jamaica Bay Unit, Permit Office [phone] for updated information.