VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Driving onto the beach at one of the county’s tollbooths will be free for Volusia County residents starting Tuesday, but for non-residents, the daily and annual pass rates will be increasing.
The price for non-residents will bump from $20 to $30 a day or for an annual pass, from $100 to $150.
“Starting October, if you have a current valid beach pass, nothing is going to change. You will still be able to access your favorite beach ramps. We are hiring all of the beach toll attendants from the prior contract to a new contract, so you’ll see your favorite toll attendant as well,” said the county’s coastal director Jessica Fentress.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Fentress told News 6 that anyone with a current annual pass won’t see any changes either. Your pass will still be valid through expiration but the process of validating your pass will be a bit different now.
“They are not going to be scanning the sticker on your window anymore. They will be taking a picture of your license plate, your license plate is already connected to your sticker so that’s how we know your pass is valid,” she said.
You can access the county’s new portal to get both free resident and paid non-resident passes by clicking here.
The county has other changes coming that will cost you a bit more if you don’t live in Volusia.
In three months, on Jan. 1, non-residents will also have to pay to park in county-owned off-beach parking lots and parks. The rates will be $20 a day or $100 for an annual pass.
The county decided to make parking free all around for residents stating the residents already pay for the beach in property taxes.
“Their taxes are going to offset the maintenance of our beaches which is why it is so important for our residents to get a little bit of a reduction in cost in a time when inflation is so high,” said Fentress.
The county said those with disabled veteran license plates and approved handicapped plates will still get free access.
There will also be several events over the next month for Volusia residents to go in person to register for free access.
Here is the schedule:
| Date | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway | 5 - 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 3 | New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S. Dixie Freeway | 5 - 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 6 | Daytona Beach Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave. | 2 - 4 p.m. |
| Oct. 7 | Deland Regional Library, 130 E. Howry Ave. | 5 - 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 10 | Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave. | 5 - 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 14 | Ormond Beach Library, 30 S. Beach St. | 5 - 6:30 p.m. |