Beach Access & Regulations

Parking

You may pay Pivot Parking Tickets at https://surfsidebeach.citationportal.com

2024 Parking Registration Information - Pivot Parking Office Phone Number is 843-945-0747

The 150 Non-Resident, Non-Property owner parking passes went on sale on February 28th and have sold out.  

Paid parking in the Town of Surfside Beach public parking lots resumed on March 1, 2024, and continues through October 31, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parking is free before or after these hours. 
Premium Parking Lots will now be $3 per hour or $15 per day:
Seaside Drive
Yaupon Lot
3rd Avenue North
6th Avenue North
3rd Avenue South
4th Avenue South
5th Avenue South
6th Avenue South
13th South Beach Side
Melody Lane
> Non-premium lots are $2 per hour or $10 per day. 
>The Pier Lot will be $4 per hour with no Daily Max. NOTE: Resident parking decals/registrations are NOT valid in this lot.  

Rules & Laws of Beach Use

Fires on the Beach

Section 12-73. - Fires prohibited on the beach.

It shall be unlawful for any person to start, ignite, or maintain an open wood campfire on any public beach, public beach access, street end adjacent to the beach, or any town-owned land immediately adjacent to the beach at any time, unless the fire is part of a town-sponsored event or by special permit for a sanctioned special event approved in advance by the administrator. Exception: Propane fired grills or other cookers heated by fire may be used for the purpose of food preparation.

Smoking on the Beach

Smoking is prohibited on the beaches and public beach accesses. See the full smoking ordinance.

Holes on the Beach

It's a lot of fun to dig a hole on the beach, but you really can't dig to China! Remember:

A cubic yard of sand (3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet) can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds - this is why people who are buried in sand cave-ins suffocate.
Two feet, don't dig over two feet deep. A hole no deeper than two feet can cause serious injury if someone accidentally steps in it, and if it contains water, it poses a drowning hazard for small children and a trap for sea turtles.
Sea Turtles, which are an endangered species, get trapped in holes and cannot get out to return to the sea. Baby turtles would die overnight.
Town equipment used to clean the beach will be damaged in large holes.

So, please, fill in the holes you dig on the beach! It's a safety thing.

Beach Sweeps

Our volunteer beach sweeps are held monthly on Saturday mornings, 9-10am.  2024 dates are May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21 and October 19.  Volunteers spend an hour on the beach, collecting and removing trash from our most valuable possession, our beach. Please check the calendar for the current Beach Sweep event.

Boating & Fishing

Operation of any watercraft recklessly or negligently is strictly prohibited.
Operation of any watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is unlawful.
Launching of watercraft is limited to the 4th Avenue South beach access only. No motorized vehicle may be used for providing access across the ramp and on the beach. 
Boats are not permitted to operate any closer than 50 yards from the shoreline.
Jet skis are not permitted to operate any closer than 150 yards from the shoreline between May 15 and September 15.
Shark fishing within the Town's limits is prohibited.
Commercial fishing on the public beach is not permitted.
Surf Fishing is not permitted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from May 15th to September 15th.

Lifeguard Stations can be found at the following locations: