NJ S2546

Private beach owners and lessees in New Jersey would have no duty to keep beach premises safe for public recreational use or to post warning signs about dangers from natural conditions when the beach is unguarded.

Complete immunity from liability would apply for injuries or deaths occurring on unguarded beach areas, regardless of whether warning signs are posted.

For guarded beach areas (where on-duty lifeguards are present), owners would be immune from liability except in cases of willful/malicious failure to warn of dangers, negligence when charging fees beyond state payments, or gross negligence for non-public access uses.

An "unguarded beach area" includes any beach section without an on-duty lifeguard physically present, including guarded areas outside of lifeguard duty hours.

The bill applies to private individuals or entities who own or lease beach property that the public can access for recreation, navigation, commerce, or fishing, and aligns their liability protections with those already granted to owners of agricultural and conserved lands.