"Beginning January 1, 2027, hurricane re-entry decals will still be issued but will not serve as parking permits."
That line comes from the City of Gulf Shores announcement posted September 28, 2026, after the City Council approved a new resident beach parking ordinance. For years, the sticker on your windshield did two jobs. It got you back over the bridge after a storm, and it let you park free at the beach. After December 31, it only does the first job.
On its own, that is a paperwork change. The timing is what makes it matter. In June, the City Council also changed when paid parking runs. Until this year, paid beach parking ran from March 1 through November 30. Starting July 1, 2026, Gulf Coast Media reported, the new rates apply year-round. So two rules used to decide who parked free at Gulf Place: a sticker and the calendar. By January 1, neither applies. A license plate in a city database will decide it, every month of the year.
Why the decal is being retired
The city says the new ordinance responds to residents' complaints about unauthorized use of parking decals and misuse of resident-only spaces. A sticker can move from one car to another. A registered plate can't. Gulf Shores is switching to what it calls a secure, plate-based verification system. Police Chief Dan Netemeyer said the system gives officers better tools for managing high-demand beach parking.
The approved version also differs from the first draft. At an earlier meeting, part-time property owners objected that the original proposal would leave them out of the exemption entirely. Council members took up those concerns and suggested a change, and Chief Netemeyer presented the amendment that brought part-time owners back in. Part-time owners did get back in, but with limits that full-time residents don't have.
Who parks free under the new rules, and where
Full-time property owners have no vehicle limit and may park free anywhere in the city. Part-time residential property owners may register up to two vehicles. Those vehicles must be registered in the owner's name, and they may park free at any beach access except the East Gulf Place lot. East Gulf Place has been the resident-only lot for a while. Under the new rules, "resident-only" there means full-time residents.
| Driver | How you qualify | Vehicle limit | East Gulf Place lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time resident | Driver's license or vehicle registration showing a Gulf Shores address, or a link to a qualifying fleet vehicle | No limit | Yes |
| Part-time property owner | Own residential property in Gulf Shores and present a property tax form or deed | Up to two, registered in your name | No |
| Guests, visitors, anyone unregistered | Pay at the meter | Not applicable | No |
An approved plate exemption lasts two years from the date you register. If you're still waiting on verification or need parking right away, you can get a 24-hour temporary placard at the Justice Center. Once you're approved, your plate goes into the parking system automatically. Nothing goes on the windshield.
What your guests will pay this winter
This is the half of the change most likely to come up at the dinner table. December, January, and February used to fall outside the paid season. This winter, they don't. If your family visits for the holidays, or a friend stays through February, they pay to park at the beach unless their car is registered to a qualifying owner.
Since July 1, non-resident rates are as follows.
- $2 an hour north of Beach Boulevard, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- $3 an hour south of Beach Boulevard, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- $4 an hour from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in designated areas
- No overnight parking after 2 a.m. in beachfront lots and at Lagoon Pass Park
Before the change, Gulf Coast Media reported that parking at Gulf Place and West 5th Street cost $5 for five hours or $15 for the whole day. The city's July rate notice gives hourly rates only and lists no daily rate. At $3 an hour, a six-hour afternoon south of Beach Boulevard now costs $18. The city built the new structure with beach-area businesses to deal with long-term parking and slow turnover. Mayor Robert Craft said improving turnover in the highest-demand areas helps residents and visitors reach the beach and nearby shops and restaurants. Hourly pricing does what it was designed to do. Short visits stay cheap, and long beach days cost more.
The paid areas are Gulf Place, West Gulf Place, all public parking north of Alabama Highway 182 between East 3rd Street and West 2nd Street, and designated areas along West 5th, West 6th, West 10th, and West 13th Streets. Gulf Shores Communications Manager Cory Pippin told Gulf Coast Media that "any public parking outside of the beach area as defined remains free." Guests can pay through the ParkMobile app, at on-site pay stations, or with the posted QR codes. ParkMobile also sends expiration reminders and lets you extend time remotely. That's handy when lunch on West Beach Boulevard runs long.
Mistakes cost more than the meter. A violation carries a $75 fine, plus another $75 for every 24 hours the vehicle stays in violation, and illegally parked vehicles can be towed or booted. The new ordinance also sets a $50 fee to remove a boot.
Getting registered before December 31
As of early October, the city says registration should open in October 2026, once its vendor agreement is approved. The announcement doesn't name the vendor or give a portal address yet, so watch the city's Beach Parking page for the link. You'll have four ways to register.
- The online registration portal, once it goes live
- In person at the Justice Center
- At City of Gulf Shores special events
- During neighborhood visits by the Gulf Shores Police Department
What to bring depends on which group you're in. Full-time residents need a valid driver's license with a Gulf Shores address, a vehicle registration showing a Gulf Shores address, or proof of affiliation with a qualifying fleet vehicle tied to a Gulf Shores resident. Part-time owners need a property tax form or deed, and each vehicle must be registered in the owner's name. That last requirement is easy to miss. If a part-time owner usually drives a car titled to a spouse, an adult child, or a business, it's worth checking how that vehicle is registered before applying.
Your decal still works for parking through December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, the city stops recognizing it, and the 2023 beach access map with its flat day rates no longer reflects what anyone pays. Keep the decal on the car anyway. The city will keep issuing it for hurricane re-entry, and that job hasn't changed.
The rules that stay the same
Some rules apply whether or not your plate is exempt. You must park front-end in throughout beach parking areas, except in designated parallel spaces. Exempt vehicles are still subject to the overnight restriction from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. south of Highway 182. A registered plate covers the parking fee. It doesn't cover overnight parking.
Parking decisions on the canal side, too
The beach ordinance isn't the only parking question the council has settled lately. On August 24, the City Council renewed the lease for the Canal Park public boat launch beneath the State Route 59 bridge. That keeps the launch open rather than turning the space into parking for Waterway Village. Waterway Village is still being built around it. As of the city's September 25 update, the pedestrian bridge was on track to open in spring 2027, with the new pedestrian plazas targeted for around the same time. If you trailer a boat out of Canal Park, the launch you use today will still be there in spring.
If you followed how event weekends reshuffle resident parking in our post on the Shrimp Festival closures, this is the year-round version. The Gulf Shores neighborhood page has more about everyday life here, and for this winter's beach-day plans, what's new at Gulf State Park is worth a look.
If you own a Gulf Shores home part-time and manage it from out of state, the deed and vehicle requirements in this ordinance are the kind of detail Stacy Burgos is glad to help you sort out ahead of the January deadline. If you're thinking about how a property's ownership setup affects day-to-day life here, let's connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
