Town of Ocean Isle Beach

What Town of Ocean Isle Beach does

The Town of Ocean Isle Beach is a chartered municipal corporation operating as the local government for a seven-mile east-west barrier island in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It provides core public services — water and sewer utilities, fire and police protection (the fire department holds an ISO Class 3 rating), planning and building inspections under North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act, recreation programming, and emergency management — to approximately 640 year-round residents, ~3,200 homes and condos, and a seasonal population that peaks above 30,000 during summer weeks. The technology footprint is a layered set of municipal SaaS integrations rather than a proprietary platform: MyGovHub handles online water/sewer and tax billing, iWorq processes planning and inspection permits, CodeRED delivers mass emergency notifications, Tip411 ingests anonymous crime tips via SMS and mobile apps, Perry Weather streams live cameras at Town Center Park and the Ocean Isle Bridge, Vimeo live-streams Board of Commissioners meetings, and Otto Connect / SurfCAST (selected September 10, 2024; live since April 1, 2025) manages license-plate-based paid parking with a real-time OttoView availability feature. Operational assets include Town Hall, the combination Fire Station (105 Causeway Drive), the Community Center (44 East First Street), Town Center Park, Odell Williamson Municipal Airport (60J), and Ferry Landing Park.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across five streams typical of small U.S. coastal municipalities: property taxes on the ~3,200 housing units, bi-monthly water and sewer service charges ($70 minimum plus consumption), the new transactional Paid Parking Program ($5/hour to $175/season plus $250/year business registrations), accommodation taxes on short-term rentals, and permit and inspection fees. The primary customer segments are Year-Round Residents, Property Owners (including seasonal/absentee), Tourists and Vacationers, Local Businesses, and Contractors. Distribution is direct: in-person service at Town Hall, self-serve online portals, 24/7 911 emergency dispatch, and an after-hours non-emergency line. Coastal-infrastructure revenue and spend are dominated by federal and state grant partnerships: the $8.7M USACE beach renourishment (65% federal), the completed Terminal Groin (April 2022), the $3.04M concrete canal dredging (66.67% state), and the $821K East End Dune Construction Project (50% state grant), all of which shape the Town's multi-year capital cadence without equivalent recurring revenue offset.

Name

Town of Ocean Isle Beach

Legal name

Town of Ocean Isle Beach

Website

https://oibgov.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Town of Ocean Isle Beach is a North Carolina barrier island municipality providing water/sewer utilities, public safety, recreation, beach access management, and coastal infrastructure to approximately 640 year-round residents, 3,200 property owners, and up to 30,000 peak summer visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Water sewer utilities
• Public safety services
• Beach access management
• Recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocean Isle Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Water and Sewer Service: Bi-monthly billing for water and sewer services with minimum charges of $30 water and $40 sewer ($70 total), plus consumption-based charges. Meter deposits of $100 per meter required for owners.
2. Property Taxes: Property tax revenue collected from residential and commercial property owners within town limits.
3. Paid Parking Program: Revenue from paid parking permits: $5/hour up to 3 hours, $20/day, $80/week, $175/season. Managed by Otto Connect/SurfCAST.
4. Accommodation Taxes: Taxes collected from short-term rental accommodations and hotels/inns within the town.
5. Permit and Inspection Fees: Fees for building permits, planning permits, zoning permits, and various inspection services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Town of Ocean Isle Beach is a municipal government that provides essential public services to approximately 640 year-round residents and up to 30,000 seasonal visitors on a seven-mile barrier island. Core offerings include water and sewer utilities, police and fire protection, paid beach parking management, planning and building inspections, recreation programming, hurricane preparedness, and coastal infrastructure management (beach renourishment, terminal groin, canal dredging).

Product overview

The Town of Ocean Isle Beach operates as a barrier island municipality providing comprehensive public services to approximately 640 year-round residents and up to 30,000 seasonal visitors. The town's service portfolio spans core public safety functions (fire, police, emergency management), utilities (water/sewer), recreation (parks, events, programs), planning/development, and coastal infrastructure management. Key facilities include Town Center Park (concert venue), Community Center, Odell Williamson Municipal Airport, and Ferry Landing Park. Major ongoing projects include paid parking management via Otto Connect, beach renourishment partnerships with USACE, canal dredging programs, and the Jinks Creek navigation improvement project. The town provides permit services for beach access, property owner vehicle decals, building/zoning, and special event coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beach Access and Paid Parking Services Municipal beach access management covering a 7-mile beach strand, designated beach accesses, handicap-accessible beach wheelchairs, and paid parking program managed through Otto Connect with real-time availability tracking for residents and visitors.
• Fire Department Services Combination fire department providing firefighting, emergency response, ISO-rated 3 fire protection, community risk reduction programs, beach/canal safety, and mutual aid to neighboring communities.
• Police Department Services Full-service police department serving residents and tourists with community policing, crime prevention, Tip411 anonymous tip reporting, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.
• Recreation Department Programs Year-round recreational programming including summer fitness classes, kids' activities, Moonlight Movies, Summer Concert Series at Town Center Park, and facility reservations.
• Water and Sewer Utilities Public water and sewer service covering the island, Causeway Drive, and select mainland areas, including billing, meter management, quality reporting, and leak adjustments.
• Planning and Building Inspections Development services including zoning permits, CAMA compliance, building/electrical/mechanical/plumbing/fire inspections, and flood plain management.
• Town Center Park Public park facility with amphitheater, picnic shelters (reservable), summer concert series, Moonlight Movies, and water features. Hours vary seasonally (summer 7:30AM-10PM, off-season 7:30AM-9PM).
• Community Center Rental facility at 44 East First Street featuring 1,100 sq ft covered deck (capacity 85), restrooms, and kitchen. Available for private events including birthday parties and weddings.
• Odell Williamson Municipal Airport (60J) Public airport with 15 based aircraft, 20,500 annual operations, fuel (100 LL self-service), tie-downs, courtesy car, and FBO services. Supports 65 jobs and $6.59M in economic output.
• Property Owner Vehicle Decals Island re-entry permits for property owners after storm/bridge closure. Available January 2 - June 1 annually, maximum 5 decals per owner. Includes contractor decals for post-storm access.
• Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Comprehensive hurricane preparedness program including evacuation procedures, CodeRED alerts, bridge closure protocols, four-stage re-entry system, and disaster supply kit guidance.
• Sea Turtle Protection Program Wildlife conservation initiative including nest monitoring, public hotline (910-880-8715), nesting guidelines, and coordination with Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization.
• Recycling and Waste Collection Municipal solid waste and recycling services including polycart trash collection, yard debris pickup (first and third Mondays), and hazardous waste disposal guidance.
• Ferry Landing Park Fishing pier and park facility offering free parking and public access to waterfront recreation. Reopened December 2024 after storm damage repairs.
• Erosion Management and Beach Renourishment Comprehensive beach management including terminal groin project (completed April 2022), USACE beach renourishment (450,000 cubic yards), 30-year Beach Management Plan, and dune construction projects.
• Canal Maintenance Dredging Maintenance dredging program for concrete and natural canal systems, including bulkhead repair standards and special tax district funding. Concrete canals dredged 2022-2023; Natural canals scheduled FY2026-27.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fire department ISO rating of 3 achieved and maintained, exceeding typical rural/suburban department ratings of 5-10
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Otto Connect / SurfCASTcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 September 2024Otto Connect/SurfCAST was selected as the town's Paid Parking Management Firm on September 10, 2024, after unanimous Board approval. The company provides license plate-based parking permits via OttoView real-time availability feature, mobile app, QR code, and website. They manage enforcement, appeals, and business registrations ($250/year). Parking program launched April 1, 2025.
• US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for Coastal Storm Risk Management beach nourishment project. USACE provides 65% of project funding ($8.7M total) for beach renourishment with 450,000 cubic yards of sand from Shallotte Inlet. Also involved in terminal groin project coordination and annual AIWW dredging with sand placement on east end of island.
• Norfolk Dredging CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for $8.7M Coastal Storm Risk Management beach renourishment project. Mobilized February 2022 and began sand placement approximately 300 feet west of Terminal Groin structure. Project completed April 2022.
• APTIM Coastal Planning and EngineeringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm contracted by town to prepare annual Beach Monitoring Report and Analysis based on beach surveys performed since 2012. Provides assessment of shoreline conditions and erosion/accretion trends.
• NC Division of Coastal Management (DCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency overseeing Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permitting, Inlet Hazard Area boundaries, and beach management plan compliance. Works with town on beach management, terminal groin permits, and shoreline protection projects.
• Coastal Design and Construction (CDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Terminal Groin Project completed April 2022. Phase 1 constructed lower portion of terminal groin with marine mattress foundation and armor stone. Phase 2 installed sheet pile wall and concrete cap. Project completed on schedule.
• King DredgingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor awarded 2022/2023 Concrete Canal Maintenance Dredging project at cost of $3,038,212. Project completed April 2023 with town receiving state grant covering 66.67% of costs.
• Brunswick CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partnership for emergency services coordination, ETJ representation on Planning Board and Board of Adjustment, and regional utility services. County provides some areas with public utilities (not served by town water/sewer).
• Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization operating Sea Turtle Hotline (910-880-8715) to monitor nesting, report sightings, and educate public about sea turtle conservation. Partners with town on beach rules enforcement near turtle nests.
• JP Russ & Son, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor awarded East End Dune Construction Project for $821,319.75. Project involved 3,500 linear feet of vegetated dune construction using truck and haul sand source. Completed May 2025 with sand fencing and vegetation installed.
• Vision InfrastructurecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Ferry Landing Park repairs. Town entered contract November 2024 to finalize repairs with FEMA funding covering total project cost. Park reopened December 2024.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Town of Hilton Head Island: Larger South Carolina barrier island municipality with a much more developed municipal services portfolio, beach management program, and paid parking infrastructure. Comparable in core service mix but operates at a meaningfully larger scale than Ocean Isle Beach.

Direct peers

• Bald Head Island: Small Brunswick County barrier island village with similar CAMA compliance, limited access (in this case ferry only), beach management focus, and small year-round population with significant seasonal surge.
• City of Isle of Palms: South Carolina barrier island municipality with comparable year-round resident vs. summer peak population dynamics, beach access management, paid parking programs, and similar dependence on accommodation taxes and short-term rentals.
• Town of Pawleys Island: Small South Carolina barrier island town with comparable seasonal population swings, beach renourishment/CAMA-equivalent challenges, and a similar lean municipal service structure centered on tourism and beach preservation.
• Town of Caswell Beach: Small Brunswick County barrier island municipality with similar governance model, beach access management, and dependence on vacation rental accommodation taxes. Operates at a similarly small scale with comparable service portfolio.
• Town of Sunset Beach: Adjacent Brunswick County barrier island town with similar CAMA-regulated coastal management, beach renourishment considerations, and small-year-round-large-summer population pattern. Closest geographic and demographic peer.
• Town of Holden Beach: Another small Brunswick County, NC barrier island municipality with similar year-round/seasonal population dynamics, beach access management, and reliance on short-term rental tourism. Comparable in scale, services, and coastal infrastructure challenges.
• Town of Wrightsville Beach: New Hanover County, NC barrier island municipality operating a similar full-service municipal portfolio (police, fire, water/sewer, parking, recreation, planning) with comparable tourism-driven seasonality and beach access management.
• Town of Carolina Beach: New Hanover County, NC coastal town with a similar municipal service portfolio (paid parking, beach access, pier, recreation programs, water/sewer) and similar reliance on summer tourism revenue. Comparable in operational structure and beach management approach.
• Town of Kure Beach: New Hanover County, NC barrier island town with comparable beach management, paid parking programs, Kure Beach pier, and similar engagement with state/federal coastal agencies on erosion and nourishment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TownofOceanIsleBeachRecreationDepartment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/town-of-ocean-isle-beach

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Town of Ocean Isle Beach