Beaches · Kiawah · Seabrook · Folly · Edisto
The beach rulebook
Dogs, drinks, fires, tents, turtles and parking at Kiawah, Beachwalker Park, Seabrook, Folly Beach and Edisto Beach — each rule from the town’s code or its own page, with the link. And what the sun, the tide and the surf are doing today.
Last verified
Supplied by Mike Olson
Every beach writes its own rules. Folly Beach bans alcohol, smoking and glass on the sand and keeps dogs off it from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through September. Kiawah’s code lets dogs off-leash only from Oct. 16 to Feb. 28, dawn to dusk — except in its Dog Use Area, where it’s all year. Seabrook’s green zone is off-leash from October through March. Edisto Beach leashes dogs May 1–Oct. 31 and has no lifeguards on duty.
Kiawah Beachwalker Park is the only public beach access on Kiawah Island — $5–$25 a car by month, free with the county’s Gold Pass. Seabrook Island’s 3.6 miles of beach are private, behind the SIPOA gate.
Right now
Today on the beach
Worked out on your device when the page loads.
The sun today
Sunrise —
Sunset —
Kiawah's code counts dawn as 30 minutes before sunrise and dusk as 30 minutes after sunset.
The tide
Tide —
NOAA predictions for the Kiawah River gauge (8667062), feet above mean lower low water.
Rip-current risk
Kiawah, Seabrook and Folly
—
Edisto Beach
—
The National Weather Service Charleston surf zone forecast. It names Folly Beach and Kiawah Island in its Charleston zone, where Seabrook sits too, and Edisto Beach in the zone to the south.
What the risk levels mean
The Weather Service’s words: Low — the risk is low, but life-threatening rip currents often occur near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Moderate — life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. High — they are likely.
Can my dog be off-leash right now?
Kiawah, most of the beach
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Off-leash Oct. 16–Feb. 28 from dawn (30 minutes before sunrise) to dusk (30 minutes after sunset), never in the critical habitat at either end. Leashed the rest of the time. Town code Art. 16
Kiawah's Dog Use Area
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Between the East Beach Club and the Ocean Course vehicle access: off-leash all year from dawn to dusk. From Apr. 1 to Jul. 1 at most, leash seaward of any posted shorebird nesting habitat. Town code Art. 16
Kiawah Beachwalker Park
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Leashed and under control at all times inside the park. County park page
Seabrook, the green zone
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Apr. 1–Sep. 30: leashed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., off-leash under effective control the rest of the day. Oct. 1–Mar. 31: off-leash under effective control. The yellow zone is always leashed; the red zone allows no pets. Town code Ch. 32
Folly Beach
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No dogs on the beach 10 a.m.–6 p.m., May 1–Sep. 30. Leashed and under control at all other times. City beach rules
Edisto Beach, the Town
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Leash on the beach May 1–Oct. 31. The code bars a dog running at large all year, so off-season keep yours under direct control. Town code Ch. 6
Edisto Beach State Park
Today’s answer loads on your device
A leash 6 ft or shorter at all times. State park page · State park rules
Five beaches, eighteen questions
The rules at a glance
Each answer links to where it comes from: the town’s code where we could read it, the town’s or park’s own page otherwise. A dash means we found no rule for it on those pages — ask the town before you count on it either way.
Banned you can’tLimits you can, within the ruleYes it’s there or it’s allowedNote what the rules say
| Topic | KiawahThe Town's beach, behind the gate | Beachwalker ParkKiawah's public access, a county park | SeabrookPrivate, behind the SIPOA gate | Folly BeachThe City's beach and the county park | Edisto BeachThe Town's beach and the state park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Off-leash Oct. 16–Feb. 28, dawn to dusk Leashed the rest of the year. The Dog Use Area, between the East Beach Club and the Ocean Course vehicle access, is off-leash all year from dawn to dusk. Never in the critical habitat at either end or on the dunes. No electronic leashes. Pick up after your dog. Fines up to $500 plus assessments. | Leashed in the park Leashed and under control at all times inside the park; don't leave a pet in the car. The Town's rules apply on the beach beyond it. | Off-leash Oct. 1–Mar. 31; zones Green zone: Apr. 1–Sep. 30 leashed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., off-leash under effective control otherwise; Oct. 1–Mar. 31 off-leash under control. Yellow zone always leashed. Red zone (Boardwalk #1 to Captain Sams Inlet): no pets. Leash 16 ft or shorter, held; an e-collar counts as off-leash. Pick up waste. | None 10 a.m.–6 p.m., May–Sep. No dogs on the beach 10 a.m.–6 p.m., May 1–Sep. 30. Leashed and under control at all other times. Pick up waste. Never on the pier. City fines run up to $1,092. | Leashed May 1–Oct. 31 Town beach: leash May 1–Oct. 31; the code bars a dog running at large all year, so keep yours under direct control off-season. Pick up waste. State park: leash 6 ft or shorter at all times, no pets in the cabins. |
| Alcohol | Not banned in the beach code The Town's beach code doesn't ban drinking, but it bans being grossly intoxicated or disorderly on the beach (§16-909), and glass. | Banned No alcohol except in designated areas with an approved application, the park rules say; the county's 2026 beach-parks guide says alcohol is prohibited at its beach parks. | Not banned in the Town code The Town's beach chapter doesn't ban it; glass is the limit (see Glass). | Banned No possession or consumption of alcohol on the beach — and none at Folly Beach County Park. City fines run up to $1,092. | Town: no ban · State park: banned The Town's beach chapter doesn't ban it, but glass is banned. In Edisto Beach State Park, drinking or showing alcohol in public is prohibited unless the parks department authorizes it. |
| Glass | Banned No glass containers on the beach and dunes unless the Town permits it for an organized event (§16-903). | Banned The county's rules page lists the Town's glass ban. | Banned (see note) The Town's rules page bans any glass container. Its code (§32-53) lets glass stay in a cooler, out only long enough to pour into a paper or plastic cup. | Banned No glass on the beach. | Banned No glass bottles, jars or containers on the sand beach (§10-36). |
| Smoking and vaping | No ban in the beach code Leaving cigarette or cigar butts on the beach is banned (§16-901). | Banned Smoking, vaping and tobacco are prohibited at county parks. | No rule found | Banned No smoking on the beach or the beach accesses, including both sides of East Ashley Avenue at the Washout. The county park bans smoking, vaping and tobacco. | No ban in the beach rules The Town's etiquette tips ask you not to smoke near other beachgoers. |
| Fires, grills and fireworks | Town permit only No fire, open flame, propane grill or fireworks on the beach and dunes without a Town permit (§§16-907, 16-908). Fireworks can be confiscated. | Park grills only Fires only in the park's cooking grills. Fireworks are banned. | Banned No fire or open flame (SIPOA may allow one above the high-water mark), no grill or cooker heated by fire, no fireworks without the Town's written OK (§§32-51, 32-52). | Banned No open fires or fireworks at any time. | Banned No fire or propane grill on the beach, the accesses or the street ends; a propane grill only by Town permit for an organized event (§10-39). Fireworks need the fire department's written OK (§58-33). |
| Tents, canopies and umbrellas | Daytime only Tents, frames, chairs and umbrellas can't stay overnight (§16-905). The beach code sets no size limit. | No rule found | Down by sunset Tents, chairs, umbrellas and coolers left unattended after sunset count as abandoned, and the Town can take them (§32-50). | Down by sunset Tents, canopies, coolers, volleyball nets and umbrellas left on the beach after sunset count as abandoned, and the City can take them. | Down by sunset No tent, awning or umbrella up from sunset to sunrise, none on a beach access, and nothing within 25 ft of an access or a turtle nest (§10-37). |
| Digging holes | 12 in. deep at most No hole deeper than 12 inches and no metal shovels (plastic up to 14 in.). Fill it before you leave, and no later than 30 minutes before sunset (§16-306). | Fill them in Fill holes before you leave — the county says large holes endanger sea turtles and people. | Fill them in Restore the sand to its natural condition before you leave (§32-54). | 1 ft deep at most A hole deeper than 1 ft is illegal. Fill every hole before you leave; no metal shovels. | Fill them in A hole deeper than 12 inches needs an adult watching it, and you fill it level before you leave (§10-37). |
| Gear left overnight | Banned Nothing left overnight on the beach, the dunes or under a walkover without a Town permit (§16-905). | Banned No overnight parking or camping. | Banned Gear left after sunset counts as abandoned (§32-50). | Banned Anything left after sunset counts as abandoned. | Banned No camping on the beach; property left after sunset becomes the Town's (§10-37). |
| Sea turtle season Dead, sick or injured sea turtle anywhere in South Carolina: SCDNR's 24-hour hotline, 1-800-922-5431. If it's alive, stay with it until help arrives. SCDNR | Lights out May 1–Oct. 31 No unfiltered (non-red) light on the beach 9 p.m. to dawn — flashlights and phones included (§16-704). Turtle sightings: the Town, (843) 768-9166. Light violations: (843) 259-2137. | Kiawah's season The county's rules page points to the Town of Kiawah's ordinances for the beach (lights out May 1–Oct. 31, 9 p.m. to dawn). Fill holes before you leave. | Hands off Harming, harassing or disturbing loggerheads, their eggs or nests is banned. Parts of the beach are federal critical habitat for loggerheads and piping plovers. | Lights out May 1–Oct. 31 No light shining on the beach May 1–Oct. 31 — from 10 p.m. on one City page, from sunset on another. Turtle sightings: (843) 588-2433. | Lights out May 1–Oct. 31 No unfiltered (non-red) light on the beach from dusk to dawn (§10-66A). Strandings or problems: Colleton County non-emergency, (843) 549-2211. |
| Drones | Banned No drone flights in the Town without an exemption or a Town permit (§7-301); the beach rules list drones as prohibited. | Banned Drones and other dangerous projectiles are prohibited. | Licensed pilots only No drone launch or landing in the Town — out to a mile offshore — unless the operator holds an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate or flies under one (§18-24). | No rule found | No rule found |
| Bikes and golf carts | Bikes yes, e-bikes no Bikes are allowed; walk them across the boardwalks. E-bikes, golf carts and anything else with a motor are banned on the beach, beyond authorized vehicles and mobility devices for a person with a disability (§16-305). | Walk bikes on boardwalks Walk bikes and skateboards on the boardwalks and ramps; motor vehicles stay on the park roads. | No motor vehicles No motor vehicles on the beach, beyond authorized ones and mobility devices for a person with a disability. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes with a SIPOA decal are allowed (§32-42). | No rule found | No motor vehicles No motor vehicles on the beach; a person with a state-recognized disability may use a small open vehicle at up to 10 mph (§10-33). In the state park, only a driver with a disability placard may take a golf cart on the beach. |
| Surfing and swimming | Not in the inlet No wading or swimming in Captain Sams Inlet at the west end (§15-314). Hand-launched surfboards, kayaks and paddleboards are allowed (§16-904). Rip currents are common. | Swim area only Swim only in the designated area — not in the river or the inlet — and stay away from the pier, groin and other structures. No surfboards, boats or fishing in the swimming area. | Inlet limits No swimming in Captain Sams Inlet from 2 hours before to 2 hours after low tide, or any time dolphins are in it. | Surf zones Surfboards need a leash. May 15–Sep. 15, no surfing 10 a.m.–6 p.m. between 2nd St. East and 3rd St. West (the swimming zone). Never within 200 ft of the pier. | No rule found |
| Lifeguards | Beach Patrol Beach Patrol: (843) 518-2880. In an emergency, call 911. | Weekends through Sep. At the designated swimming area: weekends through the end of September, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., plus Labor Day (Barrier Island Ocean Rescue). | Beach Patrol Beach Patrol (Barrier Island Ocean Rescue), Apr. 1–Sep. 30: call or text (843) 718-6083. Otherwise Town Hall, (843) 768-9121. | County lifeguards The City says county lifeguards work the county park and the beach from 2nd St. East to 3rd St. West, May through Labor Day. The county park's current schedule: weekends through the end of September, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | None on duty The Town says there are no lifeguards on duty. |
| Beach wheelchairs and mats | No rule found | Free beach wheelchairs Beach wheelchairs free, first come, first served (call ahead to check); an accessible ramp over the dunes; free parking with a disability placard or plate. | No rule found | Beach wheelchairs The county park lends beach wheelchairs free, first come, first served, and parks you free with a disability placard. The City of Folly Beach also offers beach wheelchairs. | Mats at four accesses Beach mats at accesses 1, 9, 20 and 28. For accessibility the Town points you to the Lybrand, Mitchell, Baynard and Edings accesses. |
| Restrooms and showers | No rule found | Restrooms and showers Restrooms and a dressing area all year; outdoor showers in season. | No rule found | At the county park Restrooms at Folly Beach County Park. | At the state park Restrooms in the state park's picnic area. |
| Parking | Beachwalker only Beachwalker Park is the only public beach access. Behind the gate, private accesses serve owners, their guests and renters. | $5–$25 a car By month and day; 150 spaces, usually full by mid-morning in summer. Walk-ins, bikes and Gold Pass holders get in free. | Behind the gate Owners with a bar code and guests with a visitor pass; anyone else calls SIPOA. | Paid 8 a.m.–10 p.m. City lots $10–$25 a day by season, hourly lots $2.50–$3 an hour, paid every day 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Free resident permits work in the beach-access lots only. The county park is $5–$25. City parking rates · City parking rules · City parking permits · County park page | 6 a.m.–10 p.m. at accesses 37 public accesses along Palmetto Boulevard; parking at them 6 a.m.–10 p.m., never overnight. The state park charges $8 an adult. |
| Noise and sleeping | No sleeping 10 p.m.–8 a.m. No sleeping on the beach overnight: 10 p.m.–7 a.m. in the code (§16-913), until 8 a.m. on the Town's rules page. | Keep music low Amplified sound and music kept at low volume and free of explicit lyrics. | No rule found | No rule found | Town noise law Town-wide, no loud or disturbing gatherings, particularly 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (§58-161). |
| Feeding wildlife | Banned (2026) Feeding wildlife, or leaving food out for it, is banned on public and private property (§15-505, adopted Feb. 3, 2026); clean bird feeders are the exception. Stay 75 ft from strand-feeding dolphins. | Banned Don't feed, harass, destroy or remove plants or animals. | Dolphins and chumming Watch strand-feeding dolphins from at least 45 ft back from the water line. No chumming on or within 600 ft of the beach. | No rule found | No feeding deer Feeding deer is banned town-wide: a $50 civil fine per infraction, each day a separate one (§§6-50, 6-52). The Town's etiquette tips add: don't feed birds or wildlife. |
Read both
Where the sources disagree
A town’s own pages don’t always match its code, or each other. Here is each one, side by side, and what this page goes by.
Kiawah: Dog seasons
- The Town code (§16-501, Ord. 2025-09): off-leash Oct. 16–Feb. 28 from dawn to dusk; the Dog Use Area off-leash all year, dawn to dusk. Dawn is 30 minutes before sunrise and dusk 30 minutes after sunset (§16-201). Town code Art. 16
- The Town's leash page agrees: leashed Mar. 1–Oct. 15, off-leash Oct. 16–Feb. 28, dawn to dusk. Town leash page
- The Town's sea-turtle page says leashed Mar. 16–Oct. 31, off-leash Nov. 1–Mar. 15 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Dog Use Area 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Town turtle page
What we go by: The code. The answer above uses it.
Beachwalker Park: Dogs in the park
- The park's page: leashed and under control at all times within the park. County park page
- The county's rules page lists the Town's season: leashed Mar. 1–Oct. 15, off-leash Oct. 16–Feb. 28 with the owner present and the dog under control. County park rules
What we go by: Leash inside the park, and call the park at (843) 762-9964 before you let a dog off on the beach beyond it.
Beachwalker Park: Alcohol
- The park rules: no alcohol except in designated areas with an approved application. County park rules
- The county's April 2026 beach-parks guide: alcohol is prohibited at its beach parks. County beach-parks guide
What we go by: Leave it at home unless the county has approved your application.
Kiawah: Sleeping on the beach
- The code (§16-913): no sleeping on the beach 10 p.m.–7 a.m. Town code Art. 16
- The Town's rules page: no sleeping 10 p.m.–8 a.m. Town beach rules
What we go by: The longer window, until 8 a.m.
Seabrook: Glass
- The Town's rules page bans using any type of glass container on the beach. Town beach rules
- The code (§32-53) allows glass kept in a cooler, taken out only to pour into a paper or plastic cup. Town code Ch. 32
What we go by: Pour it at home.
Folly Beach: Turtle-season lights
- The City's beach rules: no lights that shine on the front beach from 10 p.m. to dawn, May 1–Oct. 31. City beach rules
- The City's beach-access page: from sunset to dawn, May 1–Oct. 31. City access page
What we go by: Sunset — the stricter of the two.
Edisto Beach: Dog season
- The Town code (§6-36) and its beach-rules pages: leash on the beach May 1–Oct. 31. The same section bars a dog running at large, off its owner's direct control, all year. Town code Ch. 6
- The Town's turtle page: keep dogs on a leash from May to November. Town turtle page
What we go by: May 1–Oct. 31 for the leash, and direct control the rest of the year.
Brown pelicans over the dunes at Kiawah Beachwalker Park
Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
Kiawah’s public beach
Kiawah Beachwalker Park
8 Beachwalker Dr, Kiawah Island, SC 29455, run by Charleston County Parks. Open 9 a.m. to sunset, except May through Labor Day, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. The gate closes to incoming cars 30 minutes before the park does.
| When | Parking, per car |
|---|---|
| January & February | $5 |
| March | $10 |
| April | $15 |
| May through Labor Day — weekdays | $15 |
| May through Labor Day — weekends & holidays | $25 |
| September, after Labor Day | $15 |
| October | $10 |
| November & December | $5 |
Walk-ins and bicyclists get in free. Gold Pass members park free all year. RVs and campers $40 a day; buses and other large vehicles $75 — parking for either is never guaranteed.
150 spaces, usually full by mid-morning in summer. If it's full, staff can put you in a virtual line and text you as you near the front. The Town of Kiawah bans idling or parking outside the entrance.
Boardwalks and an accessible ramp over the dunes, a designated swimming area, picnic areas with grills, dressing rooms, restrooms and a seasonal snack bar.
Rentals
| Beach chair | $15 a day |
| Beach umbrella | $25 a day |
| Two chairs + one umbrella | $45 a day |
| Boogie board | $15 a day (+$25 deposit) |
Snack bar and rental hours vary — call the park office.
Lifeguards, dogs and the rules
- Lifeguards: Weekends only through the end of September, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (Barrier Island Ocean Rescue).
- Dogs: the park’s own page says “leashed and under control at all times inside the park.” The county’s park-rules page says: Leashed Mar 1–Oct 15; off-leash Oct 16–Feb 28 only with the owner present and the dog under control. The two disagree — call the park at (843) 762-9964 before you bring a dog off-leash.
- Fireworks and drones are prohibited; swim only in the designated area.
Source: Charleston County Parks, Kiawah Beachwalker Park, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Charleston County Parks, Kiawah Beachwalker Park rules, checked 2026-10-13.
The county park pass
The Gold Pass
$99 + tax · $84 + tax for Charleston County residents · $69 + tax at age 60 and over.
At the $25 summer-weekend rate, four weekend days at Beachwalker or Folly Beach County Park cost $100; the pass is $99 + tax. Admission covers up to 15 people per vehicle; the card or the app is scanned at the gate (a receipt won't get you in).
Near the islands it gets you into Kiawah Beachwalker Park, Johns Island County Park, Folly Beach County Park, Stono River County Park, Meggett County Park — and every other county park on its list. Also free entry to county festivals and events, including the Holiday Festival of Lights (one visit).
Source: Charleston County Parks, passes, checked 2026-10-13.
Private beach
Seabrook Island’s beach
3.6 miles of private beach behind the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA) gate. Owners with a bar code and guests with a visitor pass go straight through; anyone else calls SIPOA at (843) 768-0061.
Where dogs can go
| Zone | Rule |
|---|---|
| Red — Boardwalk #1 (Community Center) northeast to Captain Sams Inlet | No pets at any time. |
| Yellow — about 300 yds northwest of Boardwalk #9 (Pelican Watch) to Privateer Creek | Leashed at all times. |
| Green — the rest | Apr 1–Sep 30 leashed 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Oct 1–Mar 31 off-leash if under effective control. |
Leash 16 ft or shorter, held by a person; an e-collar counts as off-leash; pick up after your dog.
- Captain Sams Inlet: no swimming from 2 hours before to 2 hours after low tide, or any time dolphins are present.
- Watch strand-feeding dolphins from at least 45 ft (15 yds) from the water line; boats stay 50 yds off. Town penalty: $500 and/or up to 30 days.
- No motor vehicles, fires (unless SIPOA approves), grills, fireworks, glass, overnight gear or commercial activity on the beach; stay off the primary dune except at the accesses.
- Fines: Up to $1,087.50 per offense, court fees included. Beach Patrol (Apr 1–Sep 30): (843) 718-6083, call or text. Otherwise Town Hall.
Source: Town of Seabrook Island, beach rules, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Seabrook Town Code, Ch. 32 (Waterways and Beaches), checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Seabrook Island, dolphin education program, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Seabrook Island, visitor information, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: SIPOA, about, checked 2026-10-13.
On Kiawah’s sand and roads
Kiawah has 10 miles of beach. Behind the gate, private accesses serve owners, their guests and renters, under the Town’s beach rules and its leash law; Beach Patrol and Town code officers enforce the leash law.
- Strand feeding happens mostly near Captain Sams Inlet, about a mile's walk west of Beachwalker Park, usually within 3 hours of low tide. Keep 75 ft away.
- Alligators live in most of the island's roughly 150 ponds — it's illegal to feed or harass them. Stay 60 ft away.
- Golf carts, low-speed vehicles, mopeds, Segways and motorized scooters aren't allowed on Kiawah's roads or leisure trails.
Source: Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Kiawah Island, dog leash regulations on the beach, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Kiawah Island, marine mammals, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Kiawah Island, American alligators, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: KICA Rules & Regulations (2024), checked 2026-10-13.
The Folly Beach Pier at golden hour
Photo by Johan Taljaard on Unsplash
A public beach
Folly Beach
49 points of public access, many with a paid lot right at the walkover. The City of Folly Beach sets the beach rules and runs the parking; Charleston County Parks runs Folly Beach County Park at the west end. City ordinances carry fines up to $1,092.
City parking, per car
| Where | March–September | October–February |
|---|---|---|
| Lots at 201–501 E. Arctic and 301–501 W. Ashley | $15 weekdays, $25 weekends & holidays | $10 weekdays, $15 weekends & holidays |
| Lots at 601–1201 E. Arctic, 1587 and 1673 E. Ashley, Summer Place and 601–1001 W. Ashley | $3 an hour or $12 all day | $2.50 an hour or $10 all day |
| On the street on E. Arctic and W. Arctic, and the Washout | $3 an hour or $12 all day | Same, year-round |
Paid parking runs every day, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; side-street parking rules are enforced 24 hours a day, all year. All four tires off the road, with traffic, and never on the dunes.
Free resident permits — up to two vehicles for full-time residents, one for part-time — work only in the beach-access lots, not the paid street parking on the Washout or E. and W. Arctic.
Source: Park Folly Beach (the City's parking program), rates by lot, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Park Folly Beach, parking rules and enforcement, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Park Folly Beach, beach parking permits, checked 2026-10-13.
Folly Beach County Park
1100 W Ashley Ave, Folly Beach, SC 29439 · (843) 762-9960. Open 8 a.m. to sunset; the gate closes to incoming cars 30 minutes before the park does.
$5–$25 a car on the same month-by-month schedule as Beachwalker; walk-ins and bicyclists free, Gold Pass holders free. 225 spaces, often full by 10:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Card only — a cash-to-card kiosk is on site.
Lifeguards: Weekends only through the end of September, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Source: Charleston County Parks, Folly Beach County Park, checked 2026-10-13.
Dogs, alcohol, smoking, glass, surfing zones and turtle season are in the rules at a glance.
Source: City of Folly Beach, beach rules, checked 2026-10-13.
Sea oats at sunset on Edisto Beach
Photo by Neal Easterling on Unsplash
The Town and the state park
Edisto Beach
37 public beach accesses, one at each intersection on Palmetto Boulevard. Parking at them runs 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; no overnight parking. There are no lifeguards on duty, the Town says. Breaking a Town ordinance can cost up to $500 and/or 30 days, each day a separate offense (§1-6).
Source: Town of Edisto Beach, beach access and parking, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Town of Edisto Beach, beach regulations and etiquette tips, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: Edisto Beach Town Code, §1-6 (general penalty), checked 2026-10-13.
Edisto Beach State Park
8377 State Cabin Rd, Edisto Island, SC 29438 · (843) 869-2156. Open 7 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, to 8 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. Admission: $8 an adult, $5 SC seniors, $4 ages 6–15, free for 5 and under. 1.5 miles of beach. Pets on a leash 6 ft or shorter; no alcohol in public unless the parks department authorizes it.
Source: South Carolina State Parks, Edisto Beach State Park, checked 2026-10-13.
Source: South Carolina State Parks, rules and regulations, checked 2026-10-13.
Checked 2026-10-13
Every source on this page
Town codes are read from each town’s code on Municode; the rest from the town, county, state or federal page itself. Rules change, so the links go to the live versions. Where to rent a bike, a kayak or a beach setup is in the island directory. Buying near the water? Check the flood zone and the true cost first.
- Kiawah Town Code, Art. 16 (Beaches and Waterways, Ord. 2025-09) · checked 2026-10-13
- Kiawah Town Code, Art. 15 (General Offenses) · checked 2026-10-13
- Kiawah Town Code, Art. 7 (Public Safety: drones, §7-301) · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, beach regulations · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, dog leash regulations on the beach · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, Protect Our Sea Turtles · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, Beachwalker public beach access · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, marine mammals · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Kiawah Island, American alligators · checked 2026-10-13
- KICA Rules & Regulations (2024) · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, Kiawah Beachwalker Park · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, Kiawah Beachwalker Park rules · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, passes · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, before you visit the beach parks (Apr. 4, 2026) · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, accessibility (beach wheelchairs, ADA parking) · checked 2026-10-13
- Charleston County Parks, Folly Beach County Park · checked 2026-10-13
- Seabrook Town Code, Ch. 32 (Waterways and Beaches) · checked 2026-10-13
- Seabrook Town Code, Ch. 18 (drones, §18-24) · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Seabrook Island, beach rules · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Seabrook Island, dolphin education program · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Seabrook Island, visitor information · checked 2026-10-13
- SIPOA, about · checked 2026-10-13
- City of Folly Beach, beach rules · checked 2026-10-13
- City of Folly Beach, beach access · checked 2026-10-13
- Park Folly Beach (the City's parking program), rates by lot · checked 2026-10-13
- Park Folly Beach, parking rules and enforcement · checked 2026-10-13
- Park Folly Beach, beach parking permits · checked 2026-10-13
- Edisto Beach Town Code, Ch. 10 (Beaches and Waterways) · checked 2026-10-13
- Edisto Beach Town Code, Ch. 6 (Animals) · checked 2026-10-13
- Edisto Beach Town Code, Ch. 58 (Offenses: fireworks, noise) · checked 2026-10-13
- Edisto Beach Town Code, §1-6 (general penalty) · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Edisto Beach Police, beach rules and regulations · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Edisto Beach, beach regulations and etiquette tips · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Edisto Beach, beach access and parking · checked 2026-10-13
- Town of Edisto Beach, loggerhead sea turtles · checked 2026-10-13
- South Carolina State Parks, Edisto Beach State Park · checked 2026-10-13
- South Carolina State Parks, Edisto Beach FAQ · checked 2026-10-13
- South Carolina State Parks, rules and regulations · checked 2026-10-13
- SCDNR, Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network · checked 2026-10-13
- National Weather Service Charleston, Surf Zone Forecast (SRF) · checked 2026-10-13
- NOAA tide predictions, Kiawah River (station 8667062) · checked 2026-10-13
Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
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