Ready to pay? What to know about new Hilton Head Island beach parking fees starting March 1
The days of parking in Hilton Head Island beach lots for free are nearly over. Visitors to the island will now be required to pay for parking at all public beaches except at the town’s most popular beach at Coligny.
Starting March 1, drivers of vehicles without a residency permit will have to spend $3 per hour, with a cap of $15 each day to park their cars at five of the island’s other six public beach lots during the weekdays. On the weekends, visitors will have to pay a flat rate of $20 regardless of how long they visit.
The only continued exception is that Island residents can still receive free parking permits for up to two vehicles per household.
This is a part of the island’s broader goal of enhancing parking management. According to the Community Services and Public Services Committee the parking fees at the available paid spaces could generate over $1.5 million during a peak summer season.
Coligny Beach parking, which will be exempt from these fees, has 397 free spots for vehicles. The other seven lots total 605 parking spots and they will be included in the weekday and weekend pricing.
In September, Hilton Head Mayor Alan Perry said that parking fees will not only serve as an additional revenue stream, but it will give the town the ability to create their own municipal court. At this time, he said, the town has no ability to enforce things like trash, bottles, and fireworks on the beaches. The newly proposed system gives the town the ability to enforce parking violations as opposed to law enforcement.
Which lots are affected?
Parking fees will be enforced at Alder Lane, Driessen, Fish Haul, Folly Field and Islanders beach parks during the peak beach season of March 1 through September 7 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mandatory fees at Chaplin Community Park at Burkes Beach will only be enforced later, starting May 19, following the end of the youth sports season.
Coligny Beach Park is currently exempt from the fees. The former Wild Wing Cafe and Aunt Chiladas on Pope Avenue will be transitioning to additional parking lots, which would also likely be exempt from parking fees.
Failure to pay or any other parking violations will result in fines ranging from $50 to $500, according to the town.
- A first violation will lead to a written warning and/or a fine of $50.
- The second violation will lead to a $100 fine and possible towing.
- The third violation will lead to $250 in fines and mandatory towing.
- From there, the fine grows as high as $500.
- A late fee of $25 will apply to any original fine not paid within 30 days.
Cash will no longer be accepted as a form of payment, according to the town. Instead, a digital parking app will be used to collect fees.
A quick look at the numbers
The Island Packet looked at the daily and weekend capped rates contained in the town’s parking resolution and the town’s summary of available spots from their website and performed the following analysis.
- Our equation to determine total potential revenue is based on $15 per day max for each of the island’s 605 paid spots on weekdays and $20 per day for each of the spots on the weekends running from March 1 through September 7. This would change if more than one vehicle parked in the same spot in a single day and paid the maximum fee.
- Chaplain would have 80 days of weekday parking and 32 summer days of weekend parking. The other five lots total 135 days of weekday rates and 56 days of weekend rates.
- The total for the summer months would be $1.02 million. The weekend revenue using the same model would be $556k for a total of a little over $1.58 million.
- The Island Packet’s analysis did not include any revenue from fines or penalties.
There are a number of variables that could go into this equation including inclement weather, a temporary reduction in the number of spots for special events and other factors. More will be known about the accuracy of these projections once the fees are instituted.
A decision long in the works
The decision was solidified after the Hilton Head Town Council voted 5-2 on a resolution in mid-September, and voted unanimously on the ordinance for the first time in September and the second time on Oct. 1. It came after years-worth of debate about the pros and cons of implementing the fees.
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
