Folly Beach is laid-back, but the city does enforce its beach rules, and fines for ordinance violations can reach $1,092. Here is every rule visitors ask about, from alcohol and dogs to parking, surfing and sea turtle season, with quick answers first and the details below.
Updated September 2026 from the City of Folly Beach rules and regulations and city ordinances. Rules can change, so check with the city if something is critical to your plans.
Folly Beach rules at a glance
| Can I…? | The rule |
|---|---|
| Alcohol on the beach | No. Possessing or drinking alcohol on the beach is not allowed. |
| Glass containers | No. |
| Smoking & vaping | No on the sand, beach accesses, walkovers or paid beach-access parking lots. |
| Dogs | Not 10 a.m.–6 p.m., May 1–Sept. 30. Leashed at all other times. Never on the pier. |
| Open fires & fireworks | No, at any time. |
| Balloons, plastic bags & styrofoam | No. |
| Tents, canopies & umbrellas | Yes, but anything left after sunset is treated as abandoned and removed. |
| Digging holes | No deeper than 1 foot, no metal shovels, and fill every hole before you leave. |
| Walking on the dunes | No. Use the public walkovers. |
| Surfing | Leash required. Not 10 a.m.–6 p.m., May 15–Sept. 15, between 2nd St. East and 3rd St. West, and never within 200 feet of the pier. |
| Lights on the beach at night | None from 10 p.m. to dawn, May 1–Oct. 31 (sea turtle season). |
| Parties & group events | A city permit is required for more than 25 people on the beach. |
| Maximum fine | $1,092 |
Can you drink alcohol on Folly Beach?
No. The city bans both possessing and drinking alcohol on the beach, and that includes drinks in cups or cans. Enjoy a drink at one of the island’s restaurants and bars or at your vacation rental instead.
Is smoking or vaping allowed on the beach?
No. Since 2021, lit or activated smoking products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and e-cigarettes, are banned on the sand, beach accesses, walkovers and paid beach-access parking lots. First offenses start at a $25 fine.
Glass, plastic bags, balloons & styrofoam
None of these are allowed on the beach. Bring drinks in cans or reusable bottles, pack out your trash or use the containers at the beach accesses, and bring a garbage bag for the day. Here is why plastic and styrofoam are banned.
Can you have a fire or fireworks on Folly Beach?
Open fires, including bonfires, and fireworks are not allowed on the beach at any time, including the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.
Tents, canopies & leaving things overnight
Tents, canopies, umbrellas and chairs are fine during the day, but take everything with you. Tents, canopies, coolers, umbrellas, volleyball nets and other items left on the beach after sunset are considered abandoned, and the city may remove and dispose of them.
Digging holes & the dunes
Holes can be no deeper than 1 foot, metal shovels are not allowed, and all holes must be filled in before you leave. Deep holes are dangerous to beachgoers and trap nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.
Stay off the dunes and dune grass. They protect the island from storms and are protected by law, so use the public walkovers at the end of each street. Learn more about why the dunes matter.
Are dogs allowed on Folly Beach?
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 1 through September 30.
- At all other times, including all day from October through April, dogs must be on a leash and under control. The only exception is for tagged dogs in the city’s FIDO Club off-leash program.
- Dogs are never allowed on the Folly Beach Pier.
- Owners must pick up after their dogs.
- Service animals are allowed at any time. Emotional support animals follow the regular dog rules.
See the full Folly Beach dog rules and our list of dog-friendly places on Folly.
Swimming, lifeguards & surfing rules
Lifeguards are on duty from May through Labor Day at Folly Beach County Park on the west end and between 2nd Street East and 3rd Street West. Rip currents are common, so learn how to spot and escape a rip current and check today’s rip current risk before you swim.
- Surfboards must have a leash.
- Surfing is not allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 15 through September 15, between 2nd Street East and 3rd Street West (the main swimming area).
- Surfing is never allowed within 200 feet of the Folly Beach Pier.
Find the best breaks in our Folly Beach surf spots guide and time your session with the Folly Beach tide chart.
Sea turtle season rules
Loggerhead sea turtles nest on Folly Beach every summer, and they are protected by federal and state law. From May 1 through October 31, no lights may shine on the beach between 10 p.m. and dawn. That includes flashlights, phone lights and beachfront house lights. Never touch or disturb a turtle, nest or hatchling, and fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before you leave. Report sightings to Folly Beach Public Safety at 843-588-2433. More on sea turtles on Folly Beach.
Boats, kayaks & paddleboards on the beach
Small watercraft can be left on the beach for up to 12 hours without a permit, but not in the dunes or against sand fences, and they must be moved if high winds or high tides are expected. Permits for longer storage come from Folly Beach Public Safety at 843-588-2433. See what to know when bringing your boat to Folly.
Folly Beach parking rules
Most parking tickets on Folly come from a few rules:
- All four tires must be off the road, and outside the white line where one is painted.
- Park parallel to the road and with the flow of traffic. No diagonal parking unless posted.
- No parking in crosswalks, on sidewalks, on dunes or revetments, or on yellow or red curbs or lines.
- Stay at least 20 feet from intersections, 30 feet from stop signs and traffic signals, and 15 feet from fire hydrants.
- Do not block driveways, and do not park in ADA spaces without a valid tag or permit.
Paid city lots are enforced from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and rates vary by lot and season. Check current rates at ParkFollyBeach.org (843-591-7785). For 24-hour parking help, call 843-580-0423. Our Folly Beach parking guide covers where to park, and here is how to avoid a parking ticket.
Golf cart rules
- Golf carts must display both SC Department of Motor Vehicles and City of Folly Beach decals. Permits are issued by Folly Beach Public Safety with proof of SCDMV registration and insurance.
- Drivers must be at least 16 with a valid driver’s license, and must carry the registration and proof of liability insurance.
- Golf carts can cross Center Street and Folly Road but cannot drive on them.
- Daylight only. No driving at night, in the rain or in poor visibility.
- Carts may not be driven more than 4 miles from the address they are registered to.
Bikes, skateboards & driving on the island
Bicycles, skateboards and similar devices are not allowed on sidewalks anywhere in the city, and skateboards are not allowed on Center Street. Wheelchairs and mobility devices are exempt.
Drive slowly on the island, where there are plenty of walkers, cyclists and kids, and watch the speed limits coming on and off Folly Road. See our tips for avoiding Folly Beach traffic.
Weddings, parties & events on the beach
- Events on the beach or other public property with more than 25 people need a city permit. Events with 26 to 75 people are permitted by the Department of Public Safety, and larger events need City Council approval.
- Weddings with fewer than 25 people do not need a permit, but you must notify the city with the time, location and a contact cell number.
- Weddings with more than 25 people need Special Events Committee approval and a city permit.
Start with the city’s events on the beach page or call City Hall at 843-588-2447. For planning ideas, see tips for getting married on Folly Beach.
Fines & who to call
- Maximum fine for a city ordinance violation: $1,092
- Emergency: 911
- Folly Beach Public Safety (sea turtles, watercraft and golf cart permits): 843-588-2433
- City Hall: 843-588-2447
- Parking help, 24 hours: 843-580-0423
Folly Beach County Park on the west end is run by Charleston County Parks and has its own park rules and a parking fee.
