No ifs or butts. Law says don’t let it all hang out during spring break in Myrtle Beach SC
The Grand Strand is readying for a number of visitors who make the annual trek to its miles of sandy beaches for spring break.
Typically more families spend spring break in Myrtle Beach than college students, so the area can expect to see an influx of kids and parents in the weeks toward the end of March and beginning of April.
Because many areas, including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and unincorporated Horry County, have put an emphasis on family, there are several laws in place to protect the beach and the visitors who come here.
Here are some laws to know when visiting one of the many beaches in the Myrtle beach area.
Year-round beach laws
Leave your beer bottles at the hotel as neither glass nor alcohol are allowed at any beaches.
A nap in the sun is A-okay, but spending the night on the beach isn’t. It’s illegal to sleep on the beach between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Myrtle Beach specifically prohibits thong bathing suits in public areas. It’s safe to assume thong bathing suits also are not be allowed in North Myrtle Beach and Horry County as they both prohibit a person from showing their buttocks.
Anything left on the beach from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. is considered abandoned and may be thrown away. Something to consider if you’re planning to save that perfect spot for the next day.
When it comes to avoiding the sun, only an umbrella is allowed and it has to be lined up or behind the lifeguard’s umbrellas. Tents and other structures that impede a lifeguard’s view of the water are prohibited. The only shading devices allowed are small ones for infants and children. Myrtle Beach does allow shading devices of up to 12 feet by 12 feet during the off season, which is Labor Day to Memorial Day.
There is no aquatic activity allowed within 75 yards of a pier. On a beach, you cannot swim out farther than 50 yards or enter water deeper than your chest. It’s also illegal to jump off the pier into the water.
In majority of coastal areas of Horry County pets must be on a leash that is a maximum of 7 feet long. Owners are also legally required to pick up after their pets. During the off-season, pets are allowed on the beach all day but there are different regulations from May to September.
If you or your child wants to dig a hole in the sand, make sure it’s less than 2 feet deep and that you fill it in when you’re done. This will prevent people from falling in and hurting themselves. Metal shovels are also not allowed for recreational digging in Myrtle Beach.
When fishing on the beach, swimmers take priority. Fishers on the beach must stay at least 50 feet away from swimmers. It is illegal to fish for sharks.
Rules to follow during the on-season
In Myrtle Beach and unincorporated Horry County, dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day. In North Myrtle Beach, beginning May 15 and lasting until Labor Day, dogs are not allowed on the beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Starting May 1 and lasting until Labor Day, bicycles and dogs are only allowed on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk from 5 to 10 a.m.
Bicycles are banned on most beaches from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Memorial Day until Labor Day.
This story was originally published March 7, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
