Town guide · Ocean County
Living in Surf City, NJ
Surf City is a small oceanfront borough on Long Beach Island, the first town north of the Route 72 bridge. It runs from the Atlantic on one side to the bay on the other, and almost half of its area is water.
- County
- Ocean
- Population
- About 1,240 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.3 square miles, about 0.75 of it land
- Setting
- Oceanfront and bayfront on Long Beach Island
- Main roads
- Long Beach Boulevard (County Route 607); Route 72 reaches the island next door in Ship Bottom; Garden State Parkway Exit 63 in Stafford
First things first
One of six towns on Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island is not one town. It is split among six municipalities: Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Surf City, Ship Bottom and Beach Haven. Each has its own government, beach rules and property tax rate.
Surf City sits just north of the Route 72 bridge. Ship Bottom, where the bridge lands, is its neighbor to the south, and Long Beach Township continues to the north. Surf City addresses use the 08008 ZIP code, which carries a Beach Haven postal name, so confirm the municipality on any listing.
Neighborhoods
Ocean to bay, block by block
Surf City stretches across the island from the ocean to the bay, with streets numbered north and south and Long Beach Boulevard running the length of town. It borders Ship Bottom, Long Beach Township and, across the bay, Stafford Township.
- The oceanfront: Homes along and near the beach, behind the dunes, on the east side of Long Beach Boulevard.
- The bay side: Streets west of the Boulevard running toward the bay, including the 16th Street bay beach and Mansion Cove at the foot of South First Street.
- Along Long Beach Boulevard: The main road through town, home to Borough Hall at 813 Long Beach Boulevard.
Homes
What you will find
- Oceanfront homes: Homes facing the Atlantic, behind the beach and dunes.
- Bayfront homes: Homes on the bay side with water views to the west.
- Homes in between: Houses on the numbered streets between the ocean and the bay.
- Second homes and summer rentals: Most homes here are not primary residences.
Worth knowing: Surf City was one of the few stretches of the island where the planned dune line was already built before Superstorm Sandy, and later replenishment filled in a section that had been left out. Dunes guard the ocean side, but almost half of the borough's area is water, and bay side homes face flooding too. Ask for the flood zone, the elevation certificate and the flood history, since these drive insurance cost and renovation rules. New Jersey sellers must disclose the flood zone and flood history.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Surf City
- 0.650%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,8042025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,750 a year at Surf City'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
Long Beach Boulevard, County Route 607, is the main road through Surf City and runs the length of the island. There are no state or U.S. highways in the borough. To reach the mainland, drive south into Ship Bottom and take Route 72 over the Manahawkin Bay Bridge, the only road onto the island. Route 72 meets the Garden State Parkway at Exit 63 in Stafford Township. Ocean Ride runs a local Long Beach Island route, and the free LBI Shuttle runs along Long Beach Boulevard. There is no train service. For larger shopping trips, most people cross the bridge to Route 72 and Route 9 in Stafford.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Surf City ocean beaches: Borough beaches with seasonal badges and lifeguards, an accessible entrance with a ramp and beach mat at North 12th Street, and free beach wheelchairs at the badge booth.
- 16th Street Bay Beach: A bay beach on the west side of town, guarded daily during the season.
- Municipal boat ramp: The borough's boat ramp on the bay, with passes for property owners and daily passes.
- Mansion Cove: The bay side cove at the foot of South First Street, named for the Mansion of Health, an early hotel that burned in 1874.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Surf City
What are property taxes in Surf City, NJ?
Surf City Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 0.650 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,804, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Surf City on Long Beach Island?
Yes. Surf City is one of six municipalities on Long Beach Island. It is the first town north of the Route 72 bridge, between Ship Bottom to the south and Long Beach Township to the north.
How do you get to Surf City?
Surf City is the first town north of the Route 72 bridge. From Garden State Parkway Exit 63, follow Route 72 east through Manahawkin and over the Manahawkin Bay Bridge into Ship Bottom. Turn north on Long Beach Boulevard, and Surf City is just ahead.
Do you need a beach badge in Surf City?
Yes, in season. The borough requires badges for beachgoers ages 12 to 64 while lifeguards and badge checkers are on duty, generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Active duty military members and their families, and veterans, have free access with ID. Fees and dates change each year, so check the borough's current beach page.
Why is it called Surf City?
The borough was incorporated in 1894 as Long Beach City, formed from part of Stafford Township. The name was changed to Surf City in 1899, in part to avoid confusion with other places with similar names.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Surf City
Buying or selling in Surf City?
Ocean side, bay side or the blocks between
Surf City is almost half water, so the flood zone and elevation come into every price conversation we have here. We look at those first for your address, then at what similar homes nearby have sold for.
Call or text either of us directly.