In most states some portion of beaches are public land and all members of the public have a right to use that portion of the beach. The ability to walk along the beach is known as lateral beach access.

But the land between where people can park or walk to the beach and where they can enjoy the beach is often private property, making it difficult to provide access to the public while protecting personal property rights. The ability to reach the beach is known as vertical beach access.

Laws regarding public access to beaches vary from state to state but many states recognize the public trust doctrine, a legal doctrine that certain natural resources such as beaches are owned or held by the government in trust for the public’s use and enjoyment and that the government has an obligation to protect and maintain these resources for the public.

In Georgia, the regulation of public access to beaches is governed by the state's Shore Protection Act, which recognizes the importance of public access to its coastal resources. The Act generally allows for lateral beach access, meaning the public has the right to walk along the beach. However, vertical access, which is the ability to reach the beach from inland areas, can be more complicated due to private property rights. Georgia's beaches are largely managed by the Department of Natural Resources, which works to balance public access with environmental protection and private property rights. The state does not have as extensive public beach access laws as some other coastal states, but it does follow the public trust doctrine to some extent, ensuring that certain areas of the coast are available for public use and enjoyment. Specific regulations and access points can vary by locality, and in some cases, local governments or state agencies may provide public access ways to beaches that are otherwise bordered by private property.