The town has adopted and ordinance regulating beach  riding activities, and we are committed to ensuring compliance with these regulations.  The Emerald Isle Police Department will strictly enforce the Town's regulations.  The Town's main regulations are summarized as follows:

Definition:
-Beach area means all land landward of the low water mark of the Atlantic Ocean to include the foreshore beach strand, barrier dune system, single sand dunes, dune ridges, dune systems, and any parts thereof, both old and new, including the vegetative cover relating to such dunes.

Horses prohibited except during permitted time periods:
-From and including September 15 until and including the Thursday prior to Easter Sunday.
-From and including the Monday that occurs eight (8) days after Easter Sunday until and including April 30.

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, walk, possess, or have a horse, mule, or donkey or other member of the equidae or equus asinus families on any portion of the beach area within the town at any time other than the permitted daily times.  The permittted daily times for horses on the beach are as follows:
-From 5:00am until 9:00pm daily from and including September 15th until and including October 31st.
-From 5:00am until 7:00pm daily from and including November 1st until and including March 31st.
-From 5:00am until 9:00pm daily from and including April 1st until and including April 30th.

Horses Prohibited on Dunes:
-It shall be unlawful for a horse, mule, donkey, or other members of the equidae or equus asinus families to traverse the barrier dune system, single sand dunes, dune ridges, dune systems, and any parts thereof, both olk and new, including the vegetative cover relating to such dunes, with the exception of the use of designated access locations.

Horse access locations.  Horses, mules, donkeys, or other members of the equidae or equus asinus families shall access the beach areas only at the following locations:
-Vehicle access oint at the South Terminus of Black Skimmer Drive.
-Vehicle access point at the ninety-degree turn in Ocean Drive near the Eastern Ocean Regional Access near NC 58 mile marker 15.
-Emergency vehicle access point near the South Terminus of Doe Drive.

Horses not permitted on town street right-of-ways, except for temporary use.
-Horses, mules, donkeys, or other members of the equidae or equus asinus families are not permitted on town street right-of-ways.  Temporary use of street right-of-ways to travel from the nearest public parking area or a private residence to the nearest authorized access location is permittetd, provided such use is of limited duration and strictly to travel to the access locations.

Mandatory Removal of Feces.
-It shall be unlawful for the rider of a horse, mule, donkey, or other member of the equidae or equus asinus families to allow said animal to deposit feces on the beach areas, town street right-of-ways, or another person's private property without immediately removing all feces deposited by such animal.  Burying feces in the sand or depositing feces in the ocean is prohibited and constitutes a violation of this section.

Responsible Riding Required.
-The rider of a horse, mule, donkey, or toher member of the equidae or equus asinus families shall be of a suitable age and discretion, and shall ride in a manner so as not to cause a danger to other persons or vehicular traffic.  The horse, mule, donkey, or other member of the equidae or equus asinus families shall be thoroughly trained and properly retrained, and ridden with due care, and shall not be allowed t ogo unattended.

Penalty.
-Violation of any of the provisions of this section shall subject the offender to a civil fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).