Laws & Policies

Park specific rules & regulations

Superintendent's Compendium

 

Pet Rules

 

Emergencies - If you have an emergency while visiting the national seashore please call 911.

 

Visitors should be familiar with these park rules and regulations. For a comprehensive list, visit the Superintendent's Compendium, a list of rules and regulations specific to Gulf Islands set by the superintendent and park leadership team.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Regulations:

1. All general laws regarding the National Park Service authority are found in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations.

2. Glass containers are not allowed on park beaches or barrier islands this includes holding glass containers in the water close to the shoreline.

3. Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft (drone) from or on the lands and waters of the national seashore is prohibited.

4. Visitors should obey the park and state speed limits, alcohol consumption and seatbelt laws. Violators are subject to fines.

5. Fireworks are prohibited everywhere in the park to include sparklers in the campgrounds.

6. Federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in Gulf Islands National Seashore. It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain facilities in the park. "Federal facilities" are defined as a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present to perform their official duties," this includes but is not limited to administrative buildings, visitor centers, and within walled forts including open grounds within.

7. Pets are NOT ALLOWED on beaches sound and gulf side, in the water, ferries, piers, Mississippi islands, in forts, batteries, pavilions, or inside facilities. In designated areas, owners are responsible for picking up and disposing of feces. For more information on pets in the seashore, visit our pets page.

8. All roadways, off-roadways, beaches, trails, and boardwalks within the boundaries of the National Seashore are closed to the use of golf carts, scooters, and UTV/ATV type vehicles. The only exception is olf carts are allowed in the campground only for persons with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) mobility impairments for access to campground facilities.

9. Fishing limits are based on state laws, more information can be found on our fishing page. Fishing is prohibited within the designated, lifeguarded swim beaches when lifeguards are present. The designated swim beach is 200 feet east and 200 feet west of the lifeguard towers at Opal Beach, Langdon Beach, Johnson Beach, and Ship Island, which is the weekend before Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

10. Metal detectors are prohibited in all areas of the park.

11. Plants and animals are protected within the national seashore. Please do not pick them, touch them, feed them or take them home.

12. Fires are allowed only in designated areas. A fire may be ignited and maintained only by using fuel sources designed and commonly used for warmth or the preparation of food, such as charcoal briquettes or natural firewood. Lighting or maintaining a fire with other materials including, but not limited to, flammable liquids, garbage, fireworks, plastics, aerosol canisters, batteries, or other manufactured or synthetic materials, is prohibited.
    
    Campfires are prohibited on all Gulf Islands National Seashore beaches. The exception: campfires (firewood or charcoal only) are allowed on Johnson beach from ½ mile east of the turnaround to the Pensacola Pass, Horn, Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, and NPS owned portion of Cat Island, below the mean high tide line, contained, and not in any vegetated area. Campers must bring their own firewood to use and take any unused firewood with them when they leave.

13. All litter must be removed from the national seashore. Visitors should practice Leave No Trace principles.

14. Roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, hoverboards, rip boards, stand-up manual and powered scooters, etc., are prohibited except within the Fort Pickens and Davis Bayou campgrounds by registered campers only.

15. Combustion engines are prohibited in Spanish Cove and the unnamed coves near Langley and Red Fish Points on the north shore of Perdido Key in FLorida and in the lakes, ponds, and lagoons of Petit Bois, Horn Island, West Petit Bois Island, Ship Island, and the NPS-owned portion of Cat Island are closed to use by all motorized vessels, whether combustion or electric powered to help protect seagrass beds. However, vessels are not prohibited if the motor(s) are turned off and tilted up to be out of the water or removed from the transom or gunnels prior to entry into these areas.

16. There are no clothing-optional areas within the national seashore, and rangers will enforce regulations regarding public nudity.