While a flat rate of $20 for parking throughout the day has been implemented, a late amendment to Scarborough’s new beach fee policies allows beachgoers to utilize the beach for free if they are to arrive and then leave before 7 a.m. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald

The Scarborough Town Council passed new beach fee policies last week after passing five amendments to the ordinance ahead of the final vote.

The new policies apply to the town-operated beaches of Ferry Beach, Higgins Beach and Pine Point Beach. Parking will now be a flat rate of $20 throughout the day rather than the former rates of $15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and $5 outside those hours. It also does away with the $30 price tag for parking on summer weekends which beachgoers have said is too expensive.

However, those looking to go for an early-morning walk or surf can do so for free. At a workshop last month, town staff had said they are only able to start collecting parking fees at 7 a.m. and rely on an honor system for those who arrive at the beaches before then.

“I was struck when staff talked about those difficulties collecting early fees,” said Councilor Jon Anderson at the March 5 meeting before putting forward the amendment to only start collecting fees at 7 a.m.

Due to that amendment, those who arrive at the beach and proceed to leave before 7 a.m. won’t have to pay a fee.

Scarborough issued 278 non-resident beach passes in 2021, 267 in 2022, 318 in 2023 and 435 in 2024. While the council was originally considering setting a limit on non-resident beach passes between 400 and 425, priced at $180 per pass, Councilor Karin Shupe came forward with an amendment to limit the non-resident passes issued to 350 annually at a price of $200. Previously, there was no limit on the number of non-resident passes that could be issued and they cost $150 each.

“When you look at those numbers, we were basing a non-resident cap on a really high year, but I don’t think it’s really representative of what we’ve entailed,” Shupe said.

Shupe also noted that upping the price to $200 for non-resident passes still puts them on the low end price-wise compared to nearby towns.

“It’s not like people are being told they can’t go to the beach, can’t go to those parking lots,” said Councilor Bill Donovan in support of Shupe’s amendment. “It’s just that they can’t do it through the parking pass once those passes are gone.”

Council Chair April Sither noted that the non-resident passes don’t apply to part-time residents. Instead, they can receive a $40 resident sticker.

“If someone comes to Town Hall with proof that they paid property taxes, even if it’s not their primary residence, they can obtain a resident beach sticker,” she said. “This non-resident beach sticker does not apply to people who use their home in Scarborough as their second home.”

Donovan came forward with an amendment to up the price tag of the parking meters along Higgins Beach from $1 per hour to $5 per hour.

“That will be quite fair given the circumstances that your other choice, since there’s no side street parking anywhere else at Higgins Beach, is to get in the lot and pay $20,” Donovan said.

Other amendments at the March 5 meeting included giving active duty military personnel free passes as the town already does for veterans and the creation of an income-restricted pass where households in Scarborough making less than $60,000 annually get a beach pass for free.

The new policies and fees took effect Monday, March 10.