DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Volusia County residents will soon be able to park on the beach for free.

What You Need To Know

  • Volusia County residents can register for free parking on the Park Volusia website starting Oct. 1

  • The new parking system will use license plate readers instead of annual pass stickers, which is why residents will need to register their vehicles

  • Beach parking rates for non-residents will increase to $30 per day or $150 for an annual pass

  • The county will hold several in-person registration events throughout October

In August, the Volusia County Council passed an ordinance that removes beach parking fees for residents. For years, Volusia County residents have paid for annual pass stickers to park on the beach, but now it will be free for residents with the new program. 

“On Oct. 1, beach driving will be no additional charge for Volusia County residents who are registered in our Park Volusia beach program,” said Miranda Tressler, the activity project manager for Volusia County’s Coastal Division.

Instead of annual pass stickers, the new program will use license plate readers. 

In order to receive free beach parking, Volusia County residents will need to register their vehicles with Park Volusia, starting Oct. 1. Registration is available through the Park Volusia website, the Volusia Beaches app and in-person at the county’s new Park Volusia offices that will be opening in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.

The county will also hold several in-person registration events in October.

To qualify as a Volusia County resident, a valid driver’s license with matching vehicle registration is needed.

Non-residents will qualify if the person owns Volusia County property, but will have to present a real property tax notice or a real property tax bill for a property within Volusia County.

Full-time students with parking passes at Bethune-Cookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Stetson University also qualify.

Beach parking rates for non-residents will increase to $30 per day, or $150 for an annual pass. People who currently have a resident or non-resident annual pass will be able to use it until it expires. The county encourages annual passholders to still register their vehicles on Park Volusia. 

“If residents have an existing pass for beach driving and accessing the beach, that pass will still be valid until it expires,” Tressler said. “However, beginning Oct. 1, you’ll see a transition as our company starts to verify license plates, which will be the primary method for verifying our new passes moving forward on the beach.”

For Volusia County resident Isaac Wagner, who said he goes to the beach at least once a week, the new parking program is an exciting change. 

“I’m from Daytona Beach, born and raised on the beach,” Wagner said. “I love surfing. I think it’s, you know, there’s no better place to be when you live on the coast.”

Wagner has been paying for a resident annual pass since he started driving. He said he’s glad Volusia County residents can now park for free.

“It seems like the price of everything has gone up,” Wagner said. “So, it’s nice to have at least one thing that we don’t have to pay for anymore. And as a Volusia resident, I’m happy about it.”

Starting Jan. 1, Volusia County’s off-beach parking lots will become paid lots for non-residents. The price will be $20 per day or $100 per year for off-beach parking for non-residents. Residents who are registered with the Park Volusia program can still access the lots for free.

For more information, visit the Park Volusia website.

Reagan Ryan is a 2023 — 2025 Report for America Corps Member, covering the environment and climate across Central Florida for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.