The closest we got in New Jersey to camping ON the beach in Wildwood two years ago. The town government sent out a crew in the off season to set up "sites" on the beach immediately east of the boardwalk. They were essentially just 4x4 posts driven into the beach with numbers on them. I believe approximately 40 of them. No water or electric.
Before it even opened, the town caved to pressure from the many hotel owners who felt the view from their oceanfront rooms would be ruined by Campers on the beach. A couple of council meetings later, and the numbered posts were removed.