Where and when do you have to wear masks in SC? It gets tricky — but here’s a rundown
Many states now require people to wear face masks in public, but South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has left the question of mandatory masks to local elected leaders.
That’s left a patchwork of rules and emergency orders in cities and towns around the state.
A number of local governments have passed local ordinances in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Here are the rules we are tracking around South Carolina:
Beaufort
The City of Beaufort requires masks when inside any building open to the public, including grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants, starting July 1. Employees at all businesses are required to wear masks in public areas and around other employees, even when outdoors.
“A civil infraction and $50 fine would be the penalty after a warning for not wearing a mask. Businesses found to repeatedly violate the rule could be subject to a court injunction or a suspended or revoked business license,” The Island Packet reports.
People do not have to wear a mask when eating or drinking.
There are other exceptions for children, people with underlying health conditions and people who would not be able to remove a face mask without assistance.
The rules are in effect for 30 days.
Beaufort County
People in unincorporated Beaufort County are required to wear masks “in any commercial or public building, except for child care facilities, schools, churches and gyms following social distancing; on public/commercial transportation, including tours,” according to The Island Packet.
The order includes exceptions for children under 2 or other children at their parents’ discretion and for underlying health conditions. People will not be required to wear masks while eating or drinking, getting medical care, driving a personal vehicle or swimming in indoor pools.
The order does not include penalties for people who refuse to wear masks but businesses could face civil action from the county. The order expires Aug. 31.
Bluffton
Residents and visitors in Bluffton city limits are required to wear face masks when inside stores and other buildings open to the public as of noon on July 1. People will also have to wear masks when riding public or commercial transportation.
Workers are required to wear masks anytime they are interacting with the public, even if they’re outside making deliveries, doing curbside pickup or offering other services, according to The Island Packet.
Children under 8 years old are exempt from the mask ordnance, along with people who cannot safely wear masks because of underlying health conditions or age. People are not required to wear masks when traveling in personal vehicles or while eating or drinking.
Violators could face a $50 civil fine. The mask rule expires Aug. 31, but city leaders could end the ordinance early or extend it depending on the course of the virus.
Charleston
People in Charleston will be required to wear face coverings in public, including open spaces, when they cannot safely stay six feet from one another.
Under the rule, which begins July 1, people do not have to wear masks in outdoor areas of retail stores and restaurants if they can stay six feet apart.
Children under 10 do not have to wear masks, but the city says adults should try to make children over 2 wear them in restaurants and stores. Face masks are not needed while driving personal vehicles, or while actively eating, drinking or smoking.
People could end up with a $50 ticket for violating the mask order. But, according to the city, the mask rules “will be enforced primarily via educational efforts by civilian officers with the city’s Livability Department.”
The order lasts 60 days.
Charleston County
Starting July 3, people in unincorporated Charleston County will be required to wear face masks when in stores, restaurants or other buildings open to the public.
Children under 5 years old are exempt from the mask order. People are not required to wear face coverings while they are eating or drinking, or if they can stay 6 feet away from others. The order also includes exemptions for medical reasons.
There is no fine for violating the Charleston County order, but people can be charged by police for refusing to leave a business if they are told to leave.
Chester
Masks are required in most buildings open to the public and in public spaces when people cannot stay at least six feet apart in the City of Chester.
All business employees who deal with the public are required to wear masks, and everyone who goes in retail or grocery stores, salons, pharmacies and other businesses will have to wear a face covering.
Religious services are exempt from the mask requirement, but the city encourages people to wear masks while in religious establishments.
People could face a $25 fine for violating the mask ordinance, according to The Rock Hill Herald.
The mask requirement began Monday and will stay in effect for 61 days.
Clemson
Masks are required in the City of Clemson while in any buildings open to the public, and while gathering outdoors where social distancing is not possible. The city’s emergency order also requires people to wear masks on public transportation and when waiting for a bus. People also have to wear masks while doing curbside pickup or going through drive-thrus.
Employees have to wear masks when working with the public, unless there is a barrier between workers and customers.
The order has exemptions for children under 12 and those with medical conditions. People can be fined $25 for not wearing masks and businesses can face fines of $100 a day for not complying.
The order went into effect June 25 and will expire after 60 days.
Columbia
Everyone in Columbia age 11 and older is required to wear a mask in any public setting, including restaurants, stores and open spaces. People could face a civil fine of $25 for not wearing a mask in the city.
Employees at restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, salons and pharmacies are required to wear masks, and business owners or supervisors could be fined $100 for not following the rules.
The order began June 26 and will run for 60 days.
Conway
Masks are required in the City of Conway as of July 6 while in public and in any buildings except religious establishments. The order includes exemptions for children under 8, people with medical conditions, and when people can stay at least 6 feet from one another.
The order also exempts people who are eating, drinking or smoking. People who violate the order could be subject to a $25 civil penalty and businesses could be fined $100.
The rule expires Aug. 4.
Florence
In Florence, customers and staff members of retail stores and restaurants must wear face masks.
The mandate went into effect July 6. Anyone who violates the rule could face a $100 fine.
Greenville
The City of Greenville’s emergency ordinance began June 23 to require face masks when people are shopping at grocery stores and pharmacies. Employees at restaurants, stores, salons and barber shops are also required to wear masks.
Individuals could face civil fines of $25 and businesses could be fined $100 for violating the mask ordinance. The rules will remain for 60 days.
Georgetown (city)
Face masks are required within restaurants and retail stores in the City of Georgetown.
The rule went into effect July 3. Those who violate the order could face a $50 fine.
Georgetown County
A face mask requirement for Georgetown County also went into effect July 3.
The rule applies to restaurants and retail establishments. Those who violate the ordinance could be charged a $25 fine.
Hilton Head
Hilton Head’s mask requirement that begins July 1 says everyone, including customers and employees in restaurants, pharmacies, hotel lobbies and bars, is required to wear a face mask.
People on beaches and public parks are excluded from the ordinance, and there are exemptions for age and underlying health conditions. Exemptions are also in place for when people are eating and drinking or receiving medical care.
Hilton Head has some of the strictest penalties, with violators facing a misdemeanor that includes up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail, according to The Island Packet. The order will expire after 60 days.
Horry County
Face masks are required in public places in Horry County such as retail stores, restaurants, hair and nail salons, barber shops and tattoo parlors.
The Horry County Council voted in favor of the requirement July 3. The ordinance went into effect immediately.
Lexington
The Town of Lexington approved a mask ordinance July 2 and it went into effect immediately. It requires people to wear a face mask when inside any stores, pharmacies or other businesses open to the public, The State reports. Employees working with the public or near other workers are also required to wear masks.
The order has exemptions for children under 10, people with underlying medical conditions and for religious reasons. The emergency ordinance does not include a fine for people who do not wear a face covering. The mask requirement will expire after 60 days.
Mount Pleasant
The mask order for the Town of Mount Pleasant goes into effect July 1. The rule requires anybody going in a grocery store, pharmacy or town-run building to wear a face mask, with the usual exemptions for age and underlying medical conditions.
Employees at retail and grocery stores, salons, barber shops, restaurants, pharmacies and town facilities are required to wear masks. Individuals could face a civil fine of $25 for violating the ordinance, and businesses could be fined $100.
The ordinance will expire after 61 days.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach city council members approved a mask ordinance effective July 3. Face masks will be required in all retail stores, restaurants, bars, hotel common areas and attractions where people cannot stay 6 feet from each other. People will also have to wear masks in office buildings, such as real estate or law offices.
The city’s beaches are not included in the order.
Businesses are required to make workers wear masks, but they are not “allowed to force any customers, visitors or other members of the public to wear coverings,” The Sun News reports.
People are not required to wear masks while driving personal vehicles or while dining at a restaurant. Children under 10 do not need to wear a mask, but the order says children 4 to 9 years old should wear masks when in retail stores and other enclosed spaces.
People who violate the order could face a $100 fine and businesses could lose their licenses.
The order is in effect for 67 days until Sept. 9, after the busy Labor Day weekend.
North Myrtle Beach
Customers will be required starting July 2 to wear masks at all retail, food and service businesses in North Myrtle Beach. Employees who work with the public at any businesses in the city will also be required to wear masks.
Individuals could face a $25 fine for not wearing masks, and businesses could be fined $100 for violating the ordinance.
The order will expire after 60 days, according to The Sun News.
Port Royal
People are required to wear masks in the Town of Port Royal when they are “in all commercial establishments open to the public, except when engaged in an activity that makes masks not feasible,” according to The Island Packet.
Children under 8 and people with underlying medical issues are exempt from the order. People are not required to wear face coverings “while exercising, singing or playing an instrument (and other indoor activities where masks aren’t feasible).“
People are subject to a $50 fine for not wearing a mas. The emergency order expires July 31.
Richland County
People inside businesses open to the public in unincorporated Richland County will be required to wear face masks starting July 6.
Employees at retail and grocery stores, restaurants, salons and pharmacies will have to wear a mask when dealing with the public, The State reports. The order does not include religious establishments. It also has exemptions for children under 10 and people with underlying medical conditions.
The order will be in effect for 60 days. People can face a $25 fine for violating the order and businesses could be fined up to $100 a day.
Rock Hill
Face masks will be required in Rock Hill starting June 10 at restaurants and retail stores, including grocery stores and pharmacies.
The rule will be in effect for 60 days, and violators could face a “civil infraction,” The Herald reports.
Spartanburg
Customers and employees in Spartanburg are required to wear a mask in any restaurants, stores, salons, barber shops, and pharmacies. People also have to wear a mask in any city facilities.
Individuals could be fined $25 and businesses $100 for violating the ordinance.
The rules began Monday and will expire after 61 days.
Sullivan’s Island
An emergency order for the Town of Sullivan’s Island means anyone in public spaces where they cannot stay at least 6 feet away from others and people in restaurants and stores will be required to wear masks.
Staff at all retail and restaurant locations are required to wear masks.
There are exemptions for children under 2, but parents of kids ages 2 to 10 are expected to try to get kids to wear masks when inside stores and restaurants.
People can face a $100 civil fine for not wearing masks, and employers can be fined $50 for each worker who doesn’t have a mask. Businesses could also lose their occupancy permit or business license if they violate the order repeatedly.
The mask rule starts July 1 and will expire after 61 days.
Sumter
The City of Sumter passed an emergency mask ordinance July 1 and it will go into effect July 3 for the next 30 days, WLTX reports.
The order says everyone will have to wear masks when inside restaurants and stores in the city.
The order includes exemptions for people who are actively eating or drinking, children under 8, and people with underlying medical conditions. The ordinance also says people do not have to wear masks in stores and restaurants when they can stay at least 6 feet apart.
People could face a $50 fine for violating the order.
Did we miss any towns or cities in South Carolina with mask requirements? Please contact the reporter by email below.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Where and when do you have to wear masks in SC? It gets tricky — but here’s a rundown."
