Bali Moves to Ban Private Beaches to Ensure Public Access

Why Bali is moving to protect public beach access

Bali is moving to close a long running gap between the law and daily life on the sand. On Nov 17, Governor I Wayan Koster submitted a draft provincial regulation that would ban private beaches and secure public access along the island’s shoreline. The proposal responds to years of complaints from residents who say hotels, villas, and beach clubs discourage or block beach access, including during sacred ceremonies. For an island where the sea is a place of worship, a workplace, and a shared social space, the line between private hospitality business and public coastline has become a flashpoint.

The shore carries deep religious meaning for Balinese Hindus. Ceremonies like Segara Kerthi honor and spiritually purify the sea, while Pakelem involves offerings to ask for harmony, safety, and blessings for the wider community. Residents also gather for Melasti, a large ritual ahead of Nyepi (the Day of Silence), when processions walk to the water to cleanse temple heirlooms. Fishermen, surfers, vendors, and families rely on the same beaches for their livelihoods and daily routines. When gates, security posts, or event schedules block paths to the sea, it affects far more than a day at the beach.

Indonesian law already says the coast is a public good. A 2016 national regulation on shoreline boundaries defines beaches as land along the coastline extending at least 100 meters inland from the highest tide line. That zone is public, belongs to the state, and cannot be privatized. The gap has been enforcement. Over the past decade, some properties have claimed stretches of sand as exclusive, posted private signs, or turned away non paying visitors. Residents describe a pattern of friction that worsens during peak visitor seasons and at times of major religious observance.

A number of incidents fed public anger. In 2023, a local tourist at Geger Beach in Nusa Dua was asked to leave by a hotel guard who claimed he needed to maintain the view for guests. In 2021, a Balinese resident was turned away on a Sanur beach behind a hotel while sitting with her child. In 2019, travelers renting a villa in Temukus tried to stop locals from swimming, prompting a heated dispute. These cases drew wide attention online and in community forums, and they are far from isolated, according to local leaders.

What the draft regulation would change

The draft provincial regulation aims to align Bali’s daily beach management with national law and island traditions. Officials intend to restore the shoreline’s status as a public space, set clear access rules, and prevent tourism operators from acting as if they own the sand or the sea. Governor Koster has argued that investors may own land near the water, yet they do not own the beach or the ocean. The new rules are designed to close loopholes that have allowed confusing signs, informal fees, or security practices to discourage locals and visitors from entering public coastal areas.

Key provisions under discussion

Lawmakers and the provincial administration have outlined a framework that includes practical access and enforcement measures. While the final text will be negotiated, discussions focus on these areas:

• Formal recognition that beaches are public space and cannot be claimed as private by hotels, villas, or beach clubs.
• Mandatory public access paths to the shoreline in areas where private plots meet the coast, with clear signage.
• A ban on signs or security practices that misrepresent a public beach as exclusive to certain guests.
• Penalties for blocking access or staging events on public sand that prevent ceremonies or community use.
• Coordination between provincial and district offices, local village councils (desa adat), and law enforcement for rapid response to complaints.

The administration has said it will work with the Bali Regional Legislative Council to pass the regulation before the end of 2025. The province has also flagged wider tourism management rules that target recurring issues linked to visitor growth. Those include a plan to restrict private vehicle use by foreign nationals, which officials argue could reduce congestion and accidents while shifting more visitors to licensed transport.

Culture and ceremonies at the shore

To understand why the beach access debate cuts so deeply in Bali, it helps to picture a ceremony at the water’s edge. For Segara Kerthi or Pakelem, villagers carry offerings and sacred items to the sea. Community leaders guide the prayers, musicians play, and families gather along the sand. The ritual is visible and audible, but never rowdy. A crowd on beanbags, a live DJ set, or a noise heavy fireworks show at the wrong moment can jar the scene and leave residents feeling disrespected in their own home.

North Kuta residents experienced that clash in October 2024 at Berawa Beach. While villagers performed a ceremony, a beach club held a fireworks display on the public beach outside its property. Residents had asked for a brief delay to avoid overlap. The request was not granted. The episode became a symbol for many of how the balance had tilted toward commercial entertainment and away from local traditions. It also sharpened calls for rules to ensure event planners coordinate with desa adat calendars and respect ceremonial time windows.

Stronger provincial rules could back local authorities with clear penalties. That would help village officers and pecalang (customary security) insist on respectful conduct. Many businesses already consult local leaders before major events. A regulation that sets common standards would help those good faith efforts become the norm, rather than exceptions.

A legal gray zone at the waterline

Across the island, some beachside properties have long marketed a private beach experience. The term is popular in brochures, even when the sand lies inside the 100 meter public zone. Signs that imply exclusivity, gates placed close to the waterline, and security staff who ask for room numbers can create a sense that the shoreline belongs to a business. Visitors who do not know the law may turn back, while locals may avoid confrontation, even when they have every right to be there.

The national standard is clear on paper. The beach is public land measured inland from the highest tide line, not from the current wet sand. That line can shift by season and storm. Coastal setbacks that restrict buildings are separate from access rules. A property may have a legitimate fence around a garden or a pool deck, yet it cannot extend control onto public sand. For many years, the temptation to blur that boundary has been strong in busy resort zones.

Recent cases show the government’s willingness to act. In the Kura Kura Serangan Special Economic Zone, floating barriers were installed in waters used by local fishermen. After intervention by authorities, the barriers were removed and access was restored. The message was that investors can manage onshore facilities on their plots, but not the public coastline or adjacent waters.

Access management is not only about private restrictions. It also involves safe and orderly flow to crowded beaches. Pandawa Beach, a popular site cut through limestone cliffs, introduced a shuttle from a central parking area and stopped private vehicles from driving through the narrow cliff gap. The steps reduced congestion and made the area safer for pedestrians, while keeping the beach itself open to everyone.

How this could affect hotels, villas and beach clubs

Hospitality operators would need to adjust day to day practices. Security teams can continue to protect private facilities, yet they will need to stop deterring non guests on the public sand. Signage may change from exclusive language to clear guidance that separates business facilities from the public beach. Ropes and decorative borders that suggest a private zone on the sand may have to come down. Paths from the road to the shore should be clearly marked so people do not feel forced to cut through lobbies or gardens.

Event planners will need to consult local calendars and leaders early, especially for fireworks, amplified music, or large gatherings near the water. Many operators already build these relationships and thrive by aligning with community schedules. A regulation with defined penalties would level the playing field so businesses that respect the rules are not undercut by others that push boundaries.

The experience in other destinations suggests a workable balance. Mexico strengthened its national guarantee of free beach access and backed it with fines for anyone who blocks entry. That approach preserved public rights while allowing businesses to profit from amenities and service, rather than control of the coastline. Bali’s proposed rule would similarily refocus value on hospitality, design, safety, and cultural sensitivity, while making the sand itself a shared space.

Public access, environmental protection and safety

Keeping beaches open to all does not conflict with protecting nature and safety. It depends on smart management. Beach zones can be mapped for mixed uses, such as swimming, surfing, boat launches, family recreation, and ceremonies. Waste collection, public toilets, and lifeguards help keep the shoreline safe and clean when more people can reach it. Districts can coordinate maintenance with village organizations, so busy days do not overwhelm local crews.

Other tourist hotspots wrestle with similar trade offs. In parts of Australia, a surge in beach cabanas prompted debate about safety and visual clutter. Rescue teams asked for clearer access corridors free of obstacles. Along the Queensland coast, conservation scientists point to vehicle traffic on the sand as a threat to dunes, birds, and turtle hatchlings. Some regions have removed cars from certain beaches, set seasonal night bans, or tightened permits. Those examples show that public access can co exist with strict environmental safeguards. Bali could pair an access guarantee with zoning and seasonal protections for turtle nesting beaches, rules on lighting and fireworks, and limits on vehicles or heavy equipment near dunes.

What travelers and residents should do now

If the regulation passes, the practical experience on the sand should become simpler. Expect more clear signs to public paths, fewer gates or ropes on the shoreline, and better separation between private facilities and the beach. Enter the sand via marked routes, especially in resort areas, to avoid walking through private gardens. There is no fee to step onto a public beach, although businesses can charge for amenities like umbrellas, daybeds, or club access behind their property lines.

If someone blocks your access to public sand, stay calm and ask to speak with a manager or local village officers. Desa adat leaders and pecalang can assist if a ceremony is affected or a path is obstructed. Provincial and district hotlines may also be set up to log complaints once the rule takes effect. Documentation helps, yet confrontations rarely improve a day out, so try local mediation first.

Respect for ceremonies is central to the balance. If a ritual is in progress, keep music low, step back from processions, and follow directions from community leaders. Many visitors find these moments moving and educational. The simplest guideline is to treat the seafront as a shared sacred and social space, not as an extension of any single venue.

What to Know

• Bali’s governor submitted a draft provincial regulation that would ban private beaches and guarantee public access along the shoreline.
• The move responds to years of reports that hotels, villas, and beach clubs have blocked or discouraged access for locals and tourists.
• Religious ceremonies such as Segara Kerthi, Pakelem, and Melasti depend on open routes to the sea.
• A 2016 national regulation defines beaches as public land at least 100 meters inland from the highest tide line.
• Incidents at Geger Beach, Sanur, and Temukus highlighted tensions between private properties and beach users.
• In October 2024, a fireworks event at Berawa Beach coincided with a ceremony, intensifying calls for clear rules.
• Authorities removed floating barriers near Serangan after fishermen reported blocked access.
• Pandawa Beach introduced a shuttle system to manage safe access without restricting the public shoreline.
• The province aims to pass the beach access regulation before the end of 2025 and is considering other tourism management rules.
• Comparative cases in Mexico and Australia show public access can be protected while strengthening safety and environmental safeguards.