On Wednesday afternoon, June 18, at the eastern end of Barrington Beach, just past the edge of the parking lot, a small sign warned people “No Trespassing, this beach is private property.”

Beyond the posted sign rested a few hundred yards of empty sand. 

There was nothing — other than the sign — separating the alleged private beach from the otherwise public property. No line of barrels. No rock jetty. No rope fence. 

The mysterious sign left some residents wondering who posted it and was it accurate. 

By Friday morning, June 20, the sign was gone and Barrington’s assistant solicitor said officials were planning to notify Coastal Resources Management Council about the situation. 

According to CRMC, Rhode Island law recognizes an individual’s rights to fish from the shore; leave the shore to swim in the sea; gather seaweed; and pass along the shore. 

“Trespassing across private property to access the shore, however, is illegal,” stated a public access document from CRMC. “…by law in Rhode Island, the public has the right to access the shore to the ‘recognizable high tide line’ or wrack line — the maximum height reached by a rising tide — plus 10 feet. If there are multiple wrack lines, the boundary is defined by the most seaward line…”

In the case of the new sign at the edge of the town beach, people could easily access public coastline via its connection to Barrington Beach. The sign, said some residents, left people questioning if that was allowed. 

Herb Durfee, the director of planning, building and resilience for Barrington, stated that CRMC regulates signs on the beach. In an email to the Barrington Times, Durfee wrote that installing signs and fences on the beach requires permits from the Coastal Resources Management Council. 

“This is because restrictions on lateral access are regulated,” Durfee added. 

Durfee also pointed to CRMC regulations regarding misleading signs: 

“Signs that suggest the public cannot walk the beach, fish, swim, or collect seaweed are not legal if they are within the public access zone.”

When asked about whether residents were allowed to place furniture in beach dune grass, Karlo Berger, the town’s resilience planner, wrote: “I do not think that leaving beach chairs on dune grass on private property is illegal although it is against the spirit of CRMC regulations for sure…”