Myrtle Beach is bringing back free city parking. Here’s when and where

Big parking changes are coming to Myrtle Beach.

The city is officially bringing back free parking in a portion of the downtown area for part of the off-season, giving the city manager the power to suspend parking enforcement and allowing city employees who don’t live in Myrtle Beach to park free in city limits.

In a Tuesday meeting, Myrtle Beach City Council passed an ordinance to suspend parking enforcement at city meters from Sixth Avenue South to 21st Avenue North and west to Kings Highway from Oct. 1 through the last day of February.

The ordinance will officially go into effect on Nov. 1, 2025.

The city first instituted year-round paid parking downtown in November 2023. The move was intended to boost traffic in downtown businesses by deterring all-day parking to increase turnover in the area, a city spokesperson said.

However, according to the city, downtown businesses have encouraged the city to reverse course, saying suspending paid parking could boost business.

Beyond the set October through February suspension, the ordinance also gives the city manager the power to suspend paid or metered parking enforcement in part or all of the city for up to 151 days without council approval.

“That would give the city manager the flexibility to do what may be needed and might make this last a little longer without coming back to council,” said Councilman Gregg Smith.

For example, the city manager could use the ordinance to allow free parking on a holiday weekend or promote traffic and sales in Myrtle Beach businesses after a natural disaster, a city spokesperson said.

The ordinance also benefits city employees who live outside Myrtle Beach. Residents with vehicles registered in city limits can get parking decals to exempt them from Myrtle Beach municipal parking meter fees. Under the new ordinance, full-time city employees are eligible for free decals, too.

This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 12:48 PM.