Heading to a Hilton Head beach? Here’s your guide to all the rules to follow to avoid fines

Now that summer’s here, you may be planning a trip to one of Hilton Head Island’s beaches.

Before you pack your umbrella and sunscreen, there are some beach rules to learn that can save you from costly fines.

Here’s all you need to know before heading to Hilton Head’s beaches this summer:

Hilton Head beach rules

Although Hilton Head’s beaches are public, the Town of Hilton Head has imposed rules. Violators can be faced with fines up to $1,092.5 per offense for some offenses. Here are the items and actions prohibited across all Hilton Head beaches:

• Alcohol in all forms
• Glass bottles and containers
• Shovels not made of wood or plastic. They must be less than 30 inches long and have a shovel-head width of less than 6 inches.
• Digging holes in the sand deeper than one foot
• Leaving gear on the beach overnight
• Fishing for sharks
• Harming, handling or taking wildlife
• Damaging dunes or plants in the dunes
• Motorized watercraft
• Fires and fireworks
• Sleeping on the beach overnight
• Holes dug on the beach must be filled before you leave.

Some rules only apply in designated swim areas. These areas are monitored by Hilton Head’s lifeguards between April 1 and Sept. 30. Items and actions prohibited in swimming areas are:

• Fishing
• Surfboards and other water boards
• Frisbees
• Ball and horseshoe games
• Stunt kites

Hilton Head’s designated swim areas can be found here. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and Hilton Head code enforcement officers regularly patrol the beach and enforce rules.

Beach access parking

Hilton Head Island has seven public beach access points open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Each beach access has public parking and Coligny Beach Park has free parking. The other six have fees of $3 per hour Monday through Friday and $5 per hour Saturday and Sunday. The six are:

• Alder Lane Beach Access, 2 Woodward Ave.
• Burkes Beach Access, 35 Castnet Drive
• Driessen Beach Park, 64 Bradley Beach Road
• Fish Haul Beach Park, 124 Mitchelville Road
• Folly Field Beach Park, 55 Starfish Drive
• Islanders Beach Park, 94 Folly Field Road

Payments are made online, and instructions can be found on signs posted at the parking lot. They can be made using credit or debit cards, and you receive a text when your parking is soon to expire. For help with payments, call 843-489-8980. Fines for parking violations can range from $50 to $500.