Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Long Beach Township, NJ
Long Beach Township covers most of Long Beach Island, in four separate pieces between the island's five boroughs. It runs from Loveladies in the north to Holgate at the southern tip, with ocean beaches on one side and Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Bay on the other.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 3,150 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 22 square miles, only about 5.5 of it land
- Setting
- Barrier island oceanfront and bayfront along Long Beach Island
- Main roads
- Long Beach Boulevard (County Route 607); Route 72 to the mainland and Parkway Exit 63
First things first
One township, four pieces of the island
Long Beach Island has six municipalities: Long Beach Township and the boroughs of Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom and Beach Haven. The township is the largest, and it is split into four separate land areas by the boroughs.
Names like Loveladies, Brant Beach, Spray Beach, North Beach Haven and Holgate are sections of Long Beach Township, not towns of their own. Beach Haven, Ship Bottom and Surf City are separate boroughs with their own governments, beach badges and tax rates, so we always confirm which town a home is in.
Neighborhoods
Section by section
The township's sections run the length of the island. Some of the names you will hear:
- Loveladies and High Bar Harbor the northernmost piece, between Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light, with High Bar Harbor on the bay.
- Brant Beach and the middle sections the largest piece, between Ship Bottom and Beach Haven, home to Brant Beach and most of the township's named sections.
- North Beach a smaller, separate piece of the township farther north on the island.
- Holgate the southernmost piece, south of Beach Haven, much of it a wildlife preserve.
Homes
What you will find
- Oceanfront homes homes along the beach, behind the dunes.
- Bayfront and lagoon homes homes on the bay side of the island, some with docks.
- Island cottages and newer homes older shore cottages alongside newer homes built higher off the ground.
- Second homes many homes are used seasonally or as summer rentals.
Worth knowing: Two checks come first on the island. One is flood risk. Sandy left up to four feet of sand on some streets in 2012, and the island was closed to residents for nearly two weeks. The flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history shape insurance, lending and what you may build, so ask for all three. The other is the municipality. A Long Beach Township section can sit right next to Beach Haven, Ship Bottom or Surf City, and each town has its own tax rate and rules.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Long Beach Township
- 0.665%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,9012025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,800,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,970 a year at Long Beach Township'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
Route 72 is the only road onto Long Beach Island. From Garden State Parkway Exit 63 in Stafford Township, it heads east and crosses Manahawkin Bay into Ship Bottom. From there, Long Beach Boulevard, County Route 607, runs north and south through every town on the island, and is the main road through each section of the township. 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. Island shopping is along Long Beach Boulevard, and larger stores are on the mainland along Route 72 in Stafford.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Long Beach Township beaches about 12 miles of ocean beaches with lifeguards in summer. A township badge covers all of them, but not the beaches of the island's boroughs.
- Holgate the southern tip of the island, part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, closed to the public during the nesting season for beach birds.
- Bayview Park a township park on the bay at 6805 Long Beach Boulevard in Brant Beach, known for its sunsets and summer events.
- 68th Street beach, Brant Beach the township beach where badges are sold and summer concerts and fire pit nights are held.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Long Beach Township
What are property taxes in Long Beach Township, NJ?
Long Beach Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.665 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,901, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Brant Beach its own town?
No. Brant Beach is a section of Long Beach Township, along with Loveladies, North Beach, Spray Beach, Holgate and others. The township sets the property taxes and runs the beaches for all of them.
Are Beach Haven and Ship Bottom part of Long Beach Township?
No. Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light are separate boroughs on Long Beach Island. Each has its own government, beach badges and property tax rate.
Does a Long Beach Township beach badge work in other LBI towns?
No. The township badge covers the township's own beaches, from Loveladies to Holgate. The boroughs on the island sell their own badges. Badge prices and rules change each year, so check the current season.
How do you get to Long Beach Island?
Route 72 is the one road onto Long Beach Island. From Garden State Parkway Exit 63, follow it east through Stafford Township and over Manahawkin Bay into Ship Bottom. From there, Long Beach Boulevard runs north toward Loveladies and south toward Holgate, reaching every section of the township.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Long Beach Township
Buying or selling in Long Beach Township?
Loveladies to Holgate, section by section
Loveladies, Brant Beach and Holgate are all Long Beach Township, but they do not sell alike. We price by section and by street, with the flood zone and elevation in hand.
Call or text either of us directly.