CAROLINA BEACH—Digging a hole in the sand at the beach seems innocent enough, but what happens at the end of the day when beachgoers head home? Often times holes on the beach can turn into a sprained ankle, or worse, for an unsuspecting visitor.
It is all too common and is something the Town of Carolina Beach, as well as other beach towns have to deal with on a yearly basis. Digging of holes might not be illegal in Carolina Beach, there are laws requiring visitors to fill in any holes dug.
“The town does have an ordinance requiring that holes be filled in. We do not have an ordinance that prohibits digging holes. This is an annual issue for the Town. As more tourists visit the beach we see more holes dug in the beach,” Town Manager Michael Cramer said.
Its not just people that have to worry about holes on the beach, sea turtles can also get stuck in the holes.
“Some of the concerns relate to public health and safety. People can walk into the holes and injure themselves or can be trapped in a hole when the sand moves,” Cramer said. “Holes could be an obstruction to sea turtles when they move onto the beach.
“Town staff look for holes when they are on the beach and when found and if the hole is significant we will fill them in. It is very difficult to catch someone in the act of leaving the beach and not filling in holes. We try to educate people about the rule when there is time,” Cramer said.
Carolina Beach is not unique with ordinances regarding digging holes on the beach. In neighboring Kure Beach, failing to fill in a beach hole could result in a misdemeanor.
According to Kure Beach ordinances, “No excavation (sand holes, etc.) permitted on the beach which is not filled in immediately upon completion and sand returned to the condition that existed prior to excavation.”
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