Welcome to the section of the Town website that will address the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the implementation of the Beach Parking Plan and Paid Parking.  We encourage you to visit this link periodically for updates.  If you have questions to submit regarding either paid parking or the Island Parking Plan, please email your questions to our Governing Body directly.

I have noticed that the parking space placements on Main Street are sometimes close to property lines, vacuum pits, and power / cable boxes.  Will these placements cause potential safety issues that could arise in the future?  (10/6/2025)

The goal of designated parking on island streets is to:  prohibit parked vehicles from blocking driveways, prohibit vehicles from blocking mailboxes, give sight lines, making oncoming cars, bicycles, golf carts and pedestrians visible to property owners exiting driveways and make parking on the island safer for all. Clearly designated parking places make it illegal to block driveways, block mailboxes, park within driveway site lines, block vacuum pits, and park on private property. There will be a few vacuum pits, cable / power boxes, and even private landscaping / structures close to parking places on the passenger side of vehicles. However, with a 9’ wide parking place for cars / trucks in addition to a 2.5’ clearance between the parking place and the road, it certainly will be much more difficult for any driver to cause damage like had occurred in the past. As always, in North Carolina, the driver of the vehicle is always responsible for damage caused to any cable / power box as well as any damage to private property. In conclusion, the Town will continue to monitor designated parking on all Island streets to ensure problems that previously existed are alleviated.

What are the large manhole covers found in the right of ways on Island streets?  Does designated parking interfere with these manhole covers?  (9/6/2025)

The manhole covers along the island streets cover what are called vacuum pits.  These vacuum pits are the responsibility of Brunswick County Public Utilities and play a critical role in the proper functioning of the sewer system. 

In fact, on North Shore Drive East there is a substation of Brunswick County Public Utilities.  The main function of the substation is to perform annual maintenance in the vacuum pits as well as repair any vacuum leaks.

During the planning stages for parking on Canal Drive, North Shore Drive and Main Street, Brunswick County Public Utilities requested that the Town not have any vehicles park on top of the vacuum pits.  Whenever there is a sewer problem, workers must take the manhole cover off the vacuum pit to seek access to rectify the problem. Cars parked over the vacuum pits would cause a delay in solving needed maintenance problems.

The Town agreed that no vacuum pit would be located within a designated parking space on the Island.

We have made sure that as parking places were created and plans were made for parking, that we have adhered to that promise.

What is the plan for Mail Delivery on Main Street and do I need to have a mailbox in order to receive packages that I have ordered?  (8/27/25) 

The questions above have been asked of staff since the plan for the update of Mail Delivery on Main Street was first discussed.

By working with our local Post Office, we have put together a plan that we believe will make mail delivery much simpler and better organized for the Post Office, the mail carrier, and Main Street property owners. 

Key Components of this Plan: 

1.       Mail will be delivered to both sides of Main Street.
2.       All mailboxes will be placed adjacent to driveways following US Postal Service guidelines for installing mailboxes.
3.       No designated parking space will interfere with the delivery of mail to any mailbox. 

As far as package delivery, the rules are as follows: 

1.       When receiving deliveries from service providers such as UPS, Fed EX, or DHL, the property owner only needs a street number on the property or on a mailbox.  These services typically deliver packages to your doorstep rather than a mailbox.
2.       When receiving package delivery from the United States Post Office (USPS) or if there is a chance that a package may be delivered by USPS, you must have a mailbox with the property number on it or on the post.  The package will not be delivered without having a mailbox. 

We hope that these answers are clear regarding mail and package delivery.  If you have further questions, please email us at publiccomments@sunsetbeachnc.gov.

Main Street Parking Update #4 (8/25/25)

One of the three dominant complaints of citizens living on Main Street was the inability to receive mail on a regular basis, especially during the summer months when parked cars interfered with mail delivery.  A major goal of the Parking Committee was to ensure that all citizens living on Main Street would be assured of mail delivery every day.   In order to meet this goal, Town Staff met with our local Post Office Officials to collaborate on the implementation of a simplified and dependable strategy for mail delivery on both sides of Main Street. 

Communication is directed at those citizens on Main Street who currently have a mailbox in front of their property and those who may want a mailbox in the future.

In order to carry out our promise to ensure regular mail delivery, as the new designated parking places are installed along Main Street, the current placement of your mailbox may need to be adjusted. 

Town Staff will evaluate the best place to re-locate your mailbox as close to the current position as possible.  The general rule will be that mailboxes will be located adjacent to driveways following the U.S. Postal Service Guidelines for installation.  Town Staff will take care of any necessary re-location, at no cost to you.

If you have a mailbox already installed in front of your property and do not plan to use it in the future, please let us know at publiccomments@sunsetbeachnc.gov.  We will dispose of your mailbox if you wish, or put it in the carport under your house.

Mailboxes with no house number do not meet Post Office guidelines.  Any such mailboxes and all newspaper boxes on Main Street will be removed. 

If you need to install a new mailbox on your property in the future, please contact the email above and a member of Town Staff will work with you on the proper location.

As usual, if you have any questions, please email us at the address above.

What Is the Impact of The Parking Plan on Island Property Owners?  (8/5/25)

Are We Increasing the Number of Parking Spaces on the Island?  (8/5/25)

A key goal of the Parking Plan for island property owners is to correct the previous negative parking situation where driveways were blocked or partially blocked, where residents had no clear site lines for pulling out of their driveway, and often mail was not delivered due to parked cars blocking mailboxes.  These were the key complaints from island residents that the Parking Committee faced when it was first established.  Overall, these concerns created an unsafe, unsatisfactory environment on the island.

Remember, too, that mainland residents of Sunset Beach were also frustrated with the parking situation on the island.  Their concern was NOT “give me more spaces”, but “tell me where I can legally park.” With Random parking, you parked anywhere you could.  To mainlanders, this was an extremely confusing parking system.

The Parking Committee in addressing these issues focused on the concerns of both island and mainland property owners — and the Council continues to do so. 

 As such, a main goal of the Parking Plan is to safely and effectively manage parking on the island. Designated and delineated parking does this by showing people where they can park, not where they cannot park. Designated and delineated parking solves each of the issues that were just mentioned.

At this time, most parking on the island is now clearly designated and delineated except for Main Street which is a work in progress.   Island residents have been positive about the initial impact of designating parking spaces.

Another major concern of the Island Property Owners is overcrowding that comes with too many (parking) spaces. The Committee and Town, by designating parking, has reduced the so-called “available” spaces from over 700 to under 600 with a combination of designated parking and identifying possible future parking lots. The Committee also worked to spread out parking and not overwhelm specific areas of the island.

The work on Main Street does not put additional parking on the Island.  After working with NCDOT, the plan for Main Street includes about 220 spaces for cars and LSV’s (golf carts).  This is about 50 fewer than the 270 cars that previously could park on Main Street.

Finally, the Town and Council recognizes our parking system must be flexible…adjustments will be made as problems arise. We appreciate the continued input from island and mainland residents as shown by the tweaking we have made to the Parking Plan already.  The 40^th Street parking area is one example where adjustments have been made based upon resident input. 

Meanwhile, the Council continues to focus on the original goals to have a well-managed / safer parking system with a finite number of vehicles accommodated. 

And to clarify once again, proceeds from paid parking are paying for the construction associated with designated parking, so this does not directly impact the taxes of property owners of Sunset Beach.

Main Street Parking Update #3 (8/1/2025)
In the past two Main Street updates, we have centered on the construction of the parking spaces on Main Street.  At the same time as the planning for construction was proceeding, Town Staff have been working on clearing infringements from the right of ways on Main Street.  What makes this task challenging is the fact that the Town has not addressed right of way infringements in 40 years.  With this initiative, the Town has set a goal to clear right of ways throughout the Town over the next several years.  This project will take time and patience from all of our property owners.

The right of way for each property is located within a line usually between power boxes and the edge of the road.  This is the area where the infrastructure (water, sewer, electric, etc.) for each property passes.  It is important that the State, Town and County are able to access these services in an emergency.  This area is also important for designating future parking spaces along Main Street.

Town Ordinance 97.03 states “shrubs, trees, landscape timbers, brick, stone, wood, or other substances obstructing the free passage of persons and vehicles shall not be placed in any of the right of ways”. State Law 19A NCAC 02E. 0404 only allows mailboxes to be installed in the right of ways of roads maintained by the State of North Carolina.

Town Staff have sent out mailings to all of our property owners along Main Street who, upon inspection, have infringements in the right of ways.  We have been pleased with the positive responses from property owners even though we are trying to accomplish this task during the busiest months of the year.  Our goal is to finish this project before construction begins on designated parking.

The final project, which will finish the preparation for parking space construction, is working with our Post Office to assure all property owners on Main Street who wish to receive mail, will receive mail in a mailbox that follows Federally approve guidelines and is located adjacent to driveways.

More on this in the next Update…

As usual, send comments / questions to publiccomments@sunsetbeachnc.gov

Thank You  

Main Street Parking Update #2 (7/16/25)

As announced at the Town Council Meeting on 7/14/25, we now have the Bid Documents, Property Surveys, and the Engineered Parking Plans for the parking spaces on Main Street on the Town Website.

We encourage you to review these drawings. 

To bring everyone up to date:  After collaborating with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regarding the proposed parking plan for Main Street, the Town was issued an Encroachment Agreement for bidding purposes by NCDOT.  This agreement allows the Town to use the right of ways on Main Street for parking.  The project went out to Bid on July 1, 2025. The Pre-Bid Meeting was held on July 10, 2025.  We had four “solid” companies come to the meeting to speak to and ask questions of Town Staff and our engineering firm, McGill and Associates.  The next step will be the opening of Bids on July 22, 2025.

To review the Bid Documents, Property Surveys, and the Engineered parking Plan for Main Street, chose the “Projects” icon on the home page, which will take you to a link to view the documents.  Or, click here to be taken to the “Projects” page of the website. 

We thank all of our Main Street property owners who responded to the letter that the Town sent out earlier this year outlining our initial thoughts on designated parking on Main Street. 

Your responses and questions in the form of emails, phone calls, and individual meetings allowed us to hear your thoughts, both positive and negative regarding the initial plan.  We thank you for your patience as we worked through this process.  

Based on your input, we made major adjustments to the initial Parking Plan that was previously on our website.  The documents mentioned above strongly reflect the input from property owners all along Main Street. 

As usual, send comments / questions to publiccomments@sunsetbeachnc.gov. 

Thank You.

Main Street Parking Update: (7/8/25)

Over the past several months, the Town of Sunset Beach has continued to work closely with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to finalize plans for designated parking on Main Street.  This process entails designing the concrete ribbon / stone parking spaces, completing preliminary drawings of proposed parking spaces, and working with property owners to clear right of way infringement issues. 

The Town has received the approved Encroachment Agreement (for bid purposes only) for the Main Street Parking Project from NCDOT.  The project went out to bid on July 1^st.  The Council will consider a contract award in August with a potential Notice to Proceed date of September 8^th.  Once the contract is awarded, the contractor is required to submit an Issued for Construction (IFC) Encroachment Agreement with drawings and a certified construction traffic control plan to NCDOT for review and approval.  Below is the proposed project schedule:

• Out to Bid – 7/1/25
• Pre-Bid meeting – 7/10/25 at 11AM at Town Hall
• Bids Due – 7/22/25 at 11AM at Town Hall
• Contractor Approval by Town Council – 8/4/25
• Notice to Proceed – 9/8/2025
• Substantial Completion – 11/27/25
•  Final Completion – 12/12/25

Once the Parking Plans for Main Street are finalized, they will be displayed on the Town Website.

More updates on this project will be forthcoming.

What are the expenses related to the implementation of the Island Parking Plan? (06/24/25)

The following chart shows the monthly Net Revenues and Expenditures paid by the Town to implement the Island Parking Plan. We will update this chart monthly in order to keep our citizens up to date on future revenues and expenditures. 

Expenses Spreadsheet

What are the Streets / Lots open for parking on the Island of Sunset Beach at this time? (06/24/25)

As of May 9, 2025, the following is a list of all streets and parking lots that are open for parking.

Gazebo Lot

Street Scape Lot

Streets 7-11

Main Street and 40^th Street Parking Area

Canal Drive

North Shore Drive East and West
 

The Pier Lots are privately owned and consist of the Pier Lot that is located directly behind the Sunset Beach Pier and the two smaller lots across Main Street. Main Street is currently closed and the Town is in the early stages of creating surveyed drawings of designated parking spaces. The proposed parking lot along the West side of Sunset Boulevard has been surveyed and plans have been completed.  The next step is final negotiations on a proposal to lease the identified properties.  Council will make the final decision on this parking lot when all of the facts are available.

As we manned the Town Booth at a recent Thursday Market, questions arose about the background / reasons for the Island Parking Plan.  We felt others may have similar need to know the background of the Parking Plan. (06/24/25)

Please understand that this parking effort began almost four years ago.  It is an effort by Council to implement a parking plan that would better organize parking and at the same time address safety for citizens and visitors alike. In addition to working on this plan for almost four years, one key part of this effort was a parking committee made up of an equal number of citizens from both the island and mainland, along with two Island business owners, and Council members, Charlie Nern and Mike Hargreaves.  This committee worked for a year before issuing their final Island Parking report.  The report was presented to Council in February of 2024.  Town Council passed the Parking Plan in July of 2024.

The major problem that has caused worry on behalf of Island and Mainland residents is the growing number of visitors we have coming to the Island during the Beach Season.  Some say it is due to development in and around Sunset Beach, others say our beach is simply attracting more visitors in recent years. Whatever the case, we have been getting more visitors and more traffic, especially in the summer months. Our system of random parking has brought complaints from island residents who have had their driveways blocked or partially blocked by parked vehicles, mailboxes blocked so mail is not being delivered, and the dangers inherent in just pulling out of their driveways, unable to see pedestrians, bicyclists, golf carts or other vehicles.  People from the mainland were having problems finding a parking space and then wondering if they would receive a ticket when they returned to their car. 

Through the Parking Plan, the Town is instituting a parking system that is based on where you can park, replacing the past practice of indicating where you cannot park.  Parking spaces will be clearly marked (designated) so there will be no question of where a vehicle is allowed to park.  

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) owns Main Street and oversees parking on that street.  We were notified by NCDOT that they approved our parking plan except for the planned method of designating parking on Main Street.  Since that notification, we have partnered with NCDOT and now have a mutually agreed upon plan moving forward, but it will take time to implement.  Thus, the delay in opening of Main Street. 

Phase I of the Parking Plan is complete and paid for through our initial earnings from paid parking.  We have now begun Phase II of the plan and have opened Canal Drive and North Shore Drive to parking. The final piece of Phase II is Main Street.  Please refer to the Frequently Asked Question regarding Main Street contained in this section. 

This summer is going to be more challenging to find parking on the Island.  However, as we finish and open Main Street as well as work on the other parts of the plan, we will get our parking numbers back to approximately 580 spaces that was set by the Parking Committee as being adequate parking for our Island. By the time we finish the Parking Plan, we will have a well-organized system of designated parking which will emphasize safety for all those visiting our Island.

In a previous question, you discussed the parking plan for Main Street. I understand the State of North Carolina owns Main Street. Why doesn’t the Town own Main Street? (05/07/25)

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) owns Main Street and Sunset Boulevard (the street that comes over to the Island). Ever since the Island was initially developed, this has been the case.

The Town takes responsibility for maintenance of these roads, but NCDOT is responsible for the upkeep of the roads. On a number of occasions, NCDOT has asked if the Town would like to take ownership of these two roads. On all such inquires, the Town has said “no”. If a major storm wiped out all or parts of Main Street or Sunset Boulevard, the State is responsible for repairs. The cost of major repairs to these state-owned streets in the case of a major storm would be more than the Town could afford. Thus, it is to our advantage that the State continue to own Main Street and Sunset Boulevard.

However, due to the state’s ownership, the Town must work with NCDOT regarding any changes to past practice on Main Street and Sunset Boulevard. As owners of Main Street, NCDOT has the final say regarding the Town’s Parking Plan for their street. The Town has worked with NCDOT to devise a mutually agreed upon plan for designating parking on Main Street. Please refer to an earlier question which contains more detailed information on the plans for Main Street.

The Parking Plan for the Island of Sunset Beach obviously has a cost attached to the project. How is the Town going to pay for the cost of the Parking Plan? Will our taxes pay for the cost? Will this expense cause an increase in Taxes for property owners? (05/07/25)

Once Town Council approved paid parking for the 2025 Beach Season, it was announced that all expenses incurred in order to carry out the Parking Plan would be paid for through the revenue gained from paid parking. The initial expenses to implement the parking plan were to come from the Town Budget’s General Fund. Profits from paid parking are to be used to reimburse the General Fund for all parking plan related expenses. Thus, the goal of paying for the Parking Plan through paid parking revenue will not increase taxes for Sunset Beach property owners.

For example, Phase I of the Parking Plan is complete except for landscaping needed at the ends of the numbered streets 7-11. The total cost of Phase I as of March 31, 2025, is approximately $78,000. This includes all materials (curb stops, signage, gravel, Main St. and 40th Street parking area) and payroll for Public Works Staff. 

The first monthly check from Otto Connect covered the cost of Phase I of the Parking Plan and was deposited in the General Fund. This is a good first step in meeting our goal of paying back the General Fund for the total cost of each Phase of the Parking Plan.

What are the Phases of the Parking Plan and where do we currently stand regarding these Phases at this time? (06/24/25)

The original Parking Plan for the Island was conceived and presented to Council for their approval in early February 2024.  The Plan was approved by Council with changes in July of 2024. Once the Parking Plan was approved, it was up to Town Staff to implement the Plan. Town Staff, along with Jim Varner from our paid parking firm Otto Connect, initially broke the total project into phases in order to set goals and deadlines for implementation. Currently, the Phases are as follows:

Phase II – The goal of Phase II was to have Canal Drive, North Shore Drive and Main Street completed by May 2025.  As most of you know, we have a delay on Main Street that is based on adhering to the requirements from NCDOT regarding marking designated parking. 

The Town is currently working to designate parking on Canal Drive and North Shore Drive with a goal to complete this project in the next few weeks.

The Total number of vehicle parking spaces will be approximately 90 which when added to the approximately 212 spaces in Phase I, the new total will be approximately 300 parking spaces.  We will observe parking during Easter week and make a decision whether to open up other streets to temporary parking.

Phase III – The goal of Phase III is for staff to research, negotiate, and if warranted, present a proposal to Town Council to lease the Boulevard Lot as a parking area. At this point, there is no firm deadline for this Phase III.

What is the latest regarding the future of parking on Main Street? (05/07/25)
Working in partnership with NCDOT, Sunset Beach and our Engineering Firm (McGill and Associates) have been developing a timeline for implementation of designated parking on Main Street. In a recent meeting with the Town’s engineer, it was decided the project on Main Street would be divided into two phases in order to open up additional parking sooner than the previous plan. Phase One will focus on West Main Street and Phase Two on East Main Street. By doing the project in this manner, West Main Street parking would be planned, approved by NCDOT, and the construction would commence. Once construction is complete for Phase One, we would be able to open West Main Street for parking. Then the same process would commence on East Main Street. Therefore, Main Street will be closed to parking with a goal to complete West Main Street during September of this year. Phase Two of the plan for East Main Street has a completion goal of Spring 2026.

Our engineering firm will continue to work with NCDOT to move forward with the designated parking plan for Main Street throughout the upcoming months. Plans will be drawn up for both the North and South sides of Main Street. Only minor surveying is needed on the South Side of Main Street since a survey already exists from the construction of the sidewalk. NCDOT has questioned the ability to park cars/trucks on the South side of Main Street in the future due to the narrow right of way between the sidewalk and the bike path. However, the engineering firm has suggested that LSV parking could be accommodated on the South side due to the narrower space requirements for LSVs. This could allow for the removal of LSV parking from the North side of Main Street.  Parking spaces on the North Side of Main Street will be designated using concrete ribbon and stone. Concrete ribbon will outline the total parking place. If approved, designated LSV parking spaces on the South side of Main Street will be the same concrete ribbon and stone as on the North side of Main Street. Concrete ribbon would just outline the ends of the parking spaces and extend from the side walk to the bike lane.

Main Street has been closed to parking since April 1, 2025. There will be no parking on Main Street until the completion of Phase One construction as per the agreement between the Town and NCDOT. In order to make up for the closure of Main Street for parking, the Town will designate additional parking on North Shore Drive East and West, as well as move forward with the plans to designate parking on Canal Drive.

Currently, our engineering firm is working on drawings for Main Street West from 36th through 40th Streets and a similar section of the South Side of Main Street. Those plans will be submitted to NCDOT for their approval. Once approved, our engineering firm will complete drawings on the remainder of West Main Street. These drawings will be submitted to NCDOT for final approval and an Encroachment Agreement, which gives their approval to begin construction.

As plans for each phase of parking on Main Street are complete, the plans will be posted on the Town’s Website and Town officials will meet with property owners, if requested, to review the parking plan for the right of way in front of their property.