1. Proposed Amendment to Chapter 28 Sec. 28-60 Applicant: Betty Phelps
Surfing Near the Pier
Proposed Amendment to Chapter 28 Sec Applicant: Betty Phelps

2. Chapter 28 Watercraft, Beaches and Coastal Parks Sec. 28-60. - Surfing
Chapter 28 Watercraft, Beaches and Coastal Parks Sec Surfing. (a) In order to promote the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the town and its tourists from being injured while using the Atlantic Ocean within the jurisdiction and corporate limits of the town, any person while surfing and having in his possession any surfboard, boogie board, ski-board, jet ski, wave runner, skip pan or any other device used to propel such person through the waters excepting surf mats and beach rafts shall be subject to the following regulations: (1) Jet-skis and wave runners shall be prohibited in the surf area beginning at the mean high-water mark and extending 1,500 feet eastward into the Atlantic Ocean within the corporate beach limits of the town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, except that town lifeguards and emergency personnel shall be exempted from this provision. (2) Any person while surfing within the limits as set forth in subsection (a)(1) of this section with any surfboard, boogie board, ski-board or skip pan shall have attached to his ankle a strap or shock cord of sufficient strength attached to the apparatus to prevent it from leaving the person in order to avoid injury to others. (3) No surfer shall be nearer to any fishing pier in the Atlantic Ocean than 500 feet on either side of such pier within the town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Town lifeguards shall designate and mark with appropriate no surfing signs the restricted area on each side of the ocean piers. (4) All surfers shall, when advised by a town lifeguard, move to another location for surfing when it is deemed unsafe because of congestion of bathers in any one area.

3. 1984 the Phelps applied for a Text Amendment to create a “no surfing” buffer of 300’ on either side of Fishing Pier
300’

4. Staff revised the Ordinance in 1990 and adopted a 500’ buffer to be consistent with the motorized watercraft buffer
500’

6. Surfing buffer from fishing piers Buffer Distance Time Restrictions
City/Town
Surfing buffer from fishing piers
Buffer Distance
Time Restrictions
Exception/Special Event
Atlantic Beach, NC Y
200'
ALL TIMES
N/A to body/boogie board surfing
Indian Beach, NC
500'
Kure Beach, NC
300’
Myrtle Beach, SC
75 YARDS (225')
Emergency, maintenance, and other authorized personnel
North Myrtle Beach, SC
300'
Oak Island, NC
350'
Surf City, NC
3/ /1 Annually
Topsail Beach, NC
Virginia Beach, VA
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Can be waved with activity permit granted by Board of Alderman

7. Sec Surfing. (3) No surfer shall be nearer to any fishing pier in the Atlantic Ocean than 500 feet on either side of such pier within the town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Town lifeguards shall designate and mark with appropriate "no surfing" signs the restricted area on each side of the ocean piers. Surfing contests, or other surf group activities, that are part of a special event permit, may be allowed within the 500’ prohibited zone at the discretion of Town Council or the Town Manager’s designee. This request must be made prior to the approval of the special event permit, and listed as a condition of the permit.

8. Recommendations
TRC reviewed the proposed allowance and recommends the adoption of the amendment