Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Barnegat Light, NJ
Barnegat Light sits at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, with the ocean on one side, Barnegat Bay on the other and Barnegat Inlet at the top. The town takes its name from Barnegat Lighthouse, known locally as Old Barney, which still stands over the inlet.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 640 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.2 square miles, about 0.8 of it land
- Setting
- Oceanfront and bayfront at the north end of Long Beach Island, on Barnegat Inlet
- Main roads
- Central Avenue and Broadway (County Route 607); Route 72 and Parkway Exit 63 to reach the island
First things first
Barnegat Light is not Barnegat
Barnegat Light is a borough on Long Beach Island. Barnegat Township is a separate town on the mainland, across the bay. They have different governments, different tax rates and different ZIP codes. Barnegat Light uses 08006.
The borough was created in 1904 as Barnegat City. Voters renamed it Barnegat Light in 1948, in part to honor the lighthouse and in part to tell it apart from Barnegat Township.
Neighborhoods
The top of the island
Barnegat Light is bounded by Barnegat Inlet to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Barnegat Bay to the west. To the south it meets Loveladies, a section of Long Beach Township.
- The oceanfront: Streets along the beach. The shoreline from East 8th Street north to the lighthouse is set aside as parkland.
- The bay side: Homes facing Barnegat Bay on the west side of town, where the Coast Guard station sits at West 6th Street.
- Around the lighthouse: The north end of town near Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and the inlet jetty.
Homes
What you will find
- Oceanfront homes: Homes facing the beach and dunes on the east side of town.
- Bayfront homes: Homes on Barnegat Bay, facing west toward the mainland.
- Interior streets: Homes on the streets between the beach and the bay, near Central Avenue and Broadway.
Worth knowing: Almost every home in Barnegat Light is close to the water, so we start with flood risk. Get the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history for any home you are considering, and expect many lenders to require flood insurance. The town has a long storm record, from the 1944 hurricane to the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm, and the inlet shoreline needs jetties and yearly dredging to hold its shape. New Jersey sellers must disclose the flood zone and flood history, and we look at both before we price a home.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Barnegat Light
- 0.594%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,3262025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,207 a year at Barnegat Light's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Garden State Parkway Exit 63 leads to Route 72, the only road onto Long Beach Island. Route 72 crosses Manahawkin Bay on the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge and ends in Ship Bottom. From there, Long Beach Boulevard (County Route 607) runs north through Surf City, the North Beach section of Long Beach Township, Harvey Cedars and Loveladies into Barnegat Light, where it becomes Central Avenue and Broadway. No state or U.S. highway enters the borough. Ocean Ride's OC9 LBI North and South bus runs a limited weekly schedule between the island and shopping in Stafford, and a free LBI Shuttle runs along Long Beach Boulevard; check current schedules. There is no passenger rail. For larger shopping trips, most people head south on the island or over the bridge to Stafford.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Barnegat Lighthouse State Park: A state park at the inlet where visitors can climb the 217 steps of Old Barney in season, walk a short maritime forest trail and visit an interpretive center.
- Barnegat Lighthouse: Designed by George Meade and lit in 1859, it replaced an earlier tower that fell into the inlet, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Barnegat Light Historical Society Museum: Housed in a 1903 schoolhouse on Central Avenue, it holds the first order Fresnel lens that once sat atop the lighthouse.
- The inlet jetty: A jetty built in the early 1990s along Barnegat Inlet, at the north end of the island.
- Oceanfront parkland: The shoreline from East 8th Street to the lighthouse is protected as parkland and includes a bird sanctuary added in 2020.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Barnegat Light
What are property taxes in Barnegat Light, NJ?
Barnegat Light Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.594 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,326, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Barnegat Light the same as Barnegat?
No. Barnegat Light is a borough at the north end of Long Beach Island, and Barnegat Township is a separate town on the mainland across the bay. Each has its own government, its own ZIP code and its own property tax rate.
Can you climb Barnegat Lighthouse?
Yes. The lighthouse stands in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, and visitors can climb its 217 steps when it is open, which is seasonal and weather permitting. Check the state park's current hours before you go.
How do you get to Barnegat Light?
Drive to the north end of Long Beach Island. From Garden State Parkway Exit 63, take Route 72 east over the bridge into Ship Bottom, then turn north on Long Beach Boulevard. Stay on it past Surf City, North Beach, Harvey Cedars and Loveladies, and it becomes Central Avenue in Barnegat Light.
Was Barnegat Light once called Barnegat City?
Yes. The borough was formed in 1904 as Barnegat City. Voters chose the name Barnegat Light in 1948, after the lighthouse.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Barnegat Light
Buying or selling in Barnegat Light?
At the top of the island, the side of town matters
Barnegat Light has three waterfronts in about a mile: the ocean, the bay and the inlet. We go over the flood zone and elevation certificate for your address first, then show you what nearby homes have sold for.
Call or text either of us directly.