Volusia County Restores North Jetty Access While Pursuing Permanent, Federally Approved Improvements

Posted On: December 19, 2025

Volusia County has restored public access to the North Jetty in Ponce Inlet with the installation of temporary wooden stairs, allowing residents and visitors to once again reach one of the most popular locations along the County's coastline.

The temporary access will remain in place until construction can begin on a full rebuild of the wooden jetty connector, which is planned for spring 2026, when the risk of severe tidal impacts from winter nor'easters is reduced. The previous wooden connector was destroyed during the morning high tide on Oct. 11 after weeks of heightened tidal activity tied to multiple storms in the Atlantic Ocean. The currently installed temporary access consists of stairs only. Ramp access is expected to be restored when the full wooden connector is rebuilt.

The North Jetty is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and federal restrictions prohibit Volusia County from constructing permanent features, such as concrete, that would alter or repair the jetty without their authorization. Those limitations govern how the County can maintain public access to the jetty deck area currently authorized by the Army Corps.

Since Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the wooden jetty connector has required several rebuilds, each completed in compliance with permitting limitations. Similar to dune walkovers, state regulations require structures built on the sand to be breakaway timber structures that are designed to give way during severe tidal and storm conditions. While wooden structures are more susceptible to damage during severe tidal and storm events, they remain the only permitted option for maintaining public access to the jetty deck at this time.

To provide a more resilient, long-term solution, Volusia County is in the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend the existing concrete deck approximately 400 feet west toward the pavilions. When approved, the project would significantly improve storm resilience while enhancing and expanding safe, reliable access to the jetty for years to come.