FOLLY PUBLIC BEACH

Folly Beach features six miles of wide beaches great for lounging, surfing, fishing, biking and kayaking. With thousands of fascinating life forms indigenous to our land and water, you will be mesmerized by our “locals”. Several endangered species call Folly home, including the loggerhead sea turtle and Wilson’s plover, so please, adhere to stated rules in respect to these creatures and help us ensure their continued protection.

PS. The sunsets on Folly are legendary, so make sure you have plenty of space on your camera or smart phone … seriously, free up lots of space!

Beach Rules

  • SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE BEACH (SAND), BEACH ACCESSES, WALKOVERS, OR PAID BEACH ACCESS PARKING AREAS.
  • NO POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON BEACH.
  • NO GLASS is allowed on the beach.
  • NO PLASTIC BAGS, BALLOONS, OR STYROFOAM are allowed on the beach. Click here for more information.
  • NO OPEN FIRES or FIREWORKS are allowed at any time.
  • NO LITTERING. IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE BEACH, PLEASE TAKE TRASH TO CONTAINERS FOUND AT THE EACH BEACH ACCESS. Have BEACH PRIDE and help us keep our beach clean so you and others can enjoy it now and in years to come.
  • SURFING without a leash is prohibited. From May 15th to Sept. 15th surfing is prohibited between 10 am to 6 pm from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street West, known as the swimming zone. From September 16th to May 14th, surfing is allowed in any area except surfing is always prohibited 200′ from the fishing pier.
  • SAND DUNES are protected and fragile. Beach Sea Oats and grass help protect the dunes. Stay off the dunes and use public walkovers, located at every block, to access the beach.
  • PERSONAL ITEMS LEFT ON THE BEACH after sunset, such as tents, canopies, coolers, volleyball nets, and umbrellas, shall be considered abandoned and the City has the right to take possession and dispose of said items. Please make sure you have all your personal property when you leave the beach.
  • WATERCRAFT can be stowed on the beachfront for 12 hours without a permit. They must not be pulled into the dunes or sand fences. All watercraft must be removed from the beach if high winds or tides are expected. Permits to stow watercraft can be obtained at Public Safety. 843-588-2433
  • STRONG RIP CURRENTS are common so swim with caution. Charleston County Parks and Recreation provides lifeguards at the West End County Park and from 2nd Street East to 3rd Street West beachfront from May through Labor Day. City of Folly Beach Ordinances Enforced with Fines not to exceed $1,092.00
  • DOGS are not allowed on the beach from 10 am to 6 pm from May 1st to Sept. 30th. At all other times they must be on a leash.
  • DOGS are prohibited on the pier at all times.
  • Service Animals are allowed on the beach, but please have the proper documentation and identification. Emotional Support Animals are not allowed on the beach outside of regular dog hours.
  • CAMPING IS PROHIBITED within The City of Folly Beach’s limits/jurisdiction including on the beach.

  • SEA TURTLES are an endangered species. Do not interfere with them in any way. No lights are allowed that illuminate the front beach between 10 pm and dawn from May 1st to October 31st. Hatchling turtles are disorientated by artificial light. Fill holes dug in sand before you leave the beach. If you see any adult sea turtles or hatchings call 843-588-2433 to report your sighting.

Rip Currents

Rip Current Safety: Know Your Options
Folly Beach is known for its beautiful shoreline, but ocean conditions can change quickly. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow away from shore and can pull swimmers away from the beach. They can occur even on calm, sunny days.

A rip current is a strong, narrow current of water moving away from the shoreline. Rip currents often form near sandbars, jetties, piers, and breaks in the surf.

  • Swim near a lifeguard whenever possible.
  • Check beach conditions before entering the water.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Pay attention to warning flags and posted signs.
  • Stay away from piers and jetties where currents are often stronger.

Know Your Options:

  1. Stay calm. Rip currents do not pull you underwater.
  2. Do not swim directly against the current.
  3. Swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current.
  4. If you cannot escape, float or tread water.
  5. Wave and call for help if needed.

Do not enter the water unless you are trained to perform a rescue. Call 911 or alert a lifeguard immediately. If possible, throw the person a flotation device and encourage them to stay calm and swim parallel to shore.

Know Before You Go

Before heading to the beach, check current surf and weather conditions:

Remember: The safest place to swim is near a lifeguard. The ocean is beautiful, but awareness and preparation can save lives.

Parking Rules

  • No parking on roadway. All 4 tires must be off the road. If white lines are painted, tires must be outside the white line.
  • No parking against traffic. All vehicles must park with the flow of traffic.
  • No parking in a crosswalk.
  • No parking within 20 feet of an intersection.
  • No parking on sidewalks.
  • No blocking public or private driveways.
  • No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
  • No stopping, standing, or parking in a roadway.
  • No diagonal parking unless posted. All parking must be parallel to the roadway.
  • No parking on dunes or revetments.
  • No parking in ADA accessible parking spaces unless visible ADA license tag or visible permit on vehicle.
  • No parking on yellow curbs or within areas marked by yellow or red street lines.
  • No parking behind yellow lines.
view full set of rules
Visit “Park Folly Beach”

Golf Cart Rules

  • Golf carts must display valid SC Department of Motor Vehicles and City of Folly Beach stickers. The City of Folly Beach sticker can be obtained from Folly Beach Public Safety by bringing the form found here: City of Folly Beach Golf Cart Permit to the Public Safety Building at 106 West Cooper Street. You will be required to verify SC Golf Cart Registration (obtained at the SCDMV) and proof of insurance and sign that you have reviewed the golf cart rules, which can be found here: City of Folly Beach Golf Cart Rules.

  • Golf carts can be driven across, but not on, Center St. or Folly Rd.

  • A golf cart cannot be driven more than four miles from the address on the SCDMV registration.

  • The driver of a golf cart must be at least 16 years old and be in possession of a driver’s license, the SCDMV registration certificate, and proof of liability insurance.

  • Golf carts may not be operated at night.

  • Golf carts cannot be driven in the rain or at any other time when visibility is limited.

  • All golf cart drivers must read the Folly Beach laws related to golf carts. The golf cart laws can be found in Chapter 73 of the City of Folly Beach Ordinances, which are on the City of Folly Beach Website.

  • Please call 843-588-2433 for information regarding Folly Beach golf cart permits.

Smoking is prohibited on the beach and beach accesses as of March 2021

Monday, March 15, 2021

Smoking on the Beach and Access Points Prohibited in the City of Folly Beach.

On Tuesday, March 10, 2021, City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking on the beach and at beach access points on Folly Beach. The City will begin implementing the ordinance with a public education campaign ending Monday, May 31, 2021. This will include social media, website updates, new signage at beach walkovers, partnering with non-profits and businesses, and courtesy notifications to beachgoers.

The new rule prohibits smoking, holding, and carrying a lighted or activated smoking product on the sand and at beach-access points only. Cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and electronic smoking devices such as vapes are among the items prohibited under the ban. Disposal of the products is allowed in designated containers.

Applicable areas include the beach, walkovers, and paid beach access parking areas. Due to the configuration of parking and access at The Washout, public parking on both sides of East Ashley Avenue in this area is considered to be part of the beach access. As with all ordinances, Public Safety officers reserve the right to issue tickets in instances involving aggravating and mitigating factors. Fine amounts for violations begin at $25 dollars for the first offense.

For information on City of Folly Beach Government news and services, the public can:

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