We hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful island. As you will see, it’s different from most shore points.
Here are some tips to make your visit safe and enjoyable:
- The speed limit is 20 mph. “Village-wide” means ALL streets. Please drive slowly at all times.
- The village streets are narrow and shared with animals, pedestrians, bicycles, skateboarders and golf carts, all of which may suddenly lurch to avoid a puddle.
- If you are walking in the dark, take a flashlight so you can see and be seen.
- If you ride a bicycle at night, use a bright light. Drivers: Be aware. Many bicyclists do not ride with a night light and can, unfortunately, be difficult to see. Being without streetlights, the village is darker than most places at night.
- Walk left; bike right.
- Never, ever pass anyone or anything on the right.
- Learn and heed the traffic laws for golf carts.
- Know your street name and house number if you are staying at a cottage and should need emergency assistance.
- Please pick up after your animals. Hyde County has an animal feces removal ordinance. While there is no leash law, there is an ordinance against “vicious” dogs.
- Please DO NOT FEED THE WILD DUCKS. Ocracoke is trying to control them, and when humans feed them, they will not disperse to forage naturally.
- Ocracoke cares about how the island looks and we recycle. Glass and metal recyclables (separated) can be taken to the Hyde County Convenience Site beside the post office.
- Driving on the beach and dirt roads within the National Seashore requires a permit that can be purchased at the NPS Visitor Center.
- Public restrooms are at the NPS Visitor Center and the lifeguard beach. There also is a porta-potty in Community Square. Some shops have restrooms for customers.
- Please remember to tip your servers. Our restaurant workers have about six months to earn a living.
- Fireworks of any kind are prohibited on Ocracoke.
- Want to see more of the Milky Way? Please turn out unnecessary outside lights at night.
- An official Lost-&-Found Box is now at the Hyde County Sheriff’s Dept. on Hwy. 12.
- If you are staying at a cottage, know your street name and house number should you need emergency assistance.
- Rip currents (not sharks) are the most dangerous thing at the beach. To view a NOAA video about them, click here.
For more information about the village, visit http://www.ocracokevillage.com.
