Golf Cart and Low Speed Vehicle Use

***REMINDER: Only Edisto Beach property owners will be issued golf cart decals.***

***If your golf cart decal expired on December 31, 2024, you must renew your decal.

Please see instructions below.***

PROOF OF EDISTO BEACH PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OR LONG-TERM LEASE (SIX MONTHS OR LONGER) OF THE PROPERTY MUST BE LISTED ONTHE STATE GOLF CART REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AN EDISTO BEACH GOLF CART DECAL. SC REGISTRATION MUST BE VALID.

Town of Edisto Beach requires compliance with all South Carolina golf cart regulations.

State registration and decal must be current to obtain an Edisto Beach golf cart decal.

1. Golf carts must have a Town of Edisto Beach Decal to operate in Town limits. The decal must be displayed on left side of vehicle where it is clearly visible.
2. Proof of property ownership or long-term rental (6 months or longer) required for issuance of decal. No short-term (weekly) rentals will be granted decals.
3. Golf carts must have a state DMV Golf Cart permit.
   • Registration and Insurance must be present in the golf cart at all times.
   • A permit can be obtained at any state DMV office by showing proof of ownership and insurance.  A valid Edisto Beach address must be included on the DMV registration/permit.
   • An ATV, side by side, or UTV is not a golf cart; if DMV issued a permit for these in error, it is not a valid permit.
   • All certified manufactured golf carts can not exceed 19 MPH.
4. Operator must be 16 years or older with a valid driver's license. Operator must have the driver's license on his person at all times when operating the golf cart. 
5. Children are not to be held on the operator's lap when operating the golf cart.
6. Golf carts are to be operated during daylight hours only (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset).
7. Per South Carolina law, golf carts may be operated only  within four (4) miles of the DMV registered address.
8. Per South Carolina law, golf carts may be operated only on a secondary roadway or street. This includes every road in the Town of Edisto Beach limits,, except Palmetto Boulevard, SC HWY 174.
9. Per South Carolina law, golf carts cannot be operated on a primary highway, but can cross over a primary highway as follows:
   • Must go straight across, cannot be at an angle.
   • Palmetto Boulevard is a Primary Highway, SC HWY 174, and stops at Sunset Street.
10. Open container laws, all motor vehicle laws, and parking laws apply to golf carts.
11. There is a $15 fee for each decal. Please make checks payable to Town of Edisto Beach and place "golf cart decal fee" in the memo line.

All South Carolina motor vehicle laws must be followed.

NOTE: LSVs do not require a Town decal.

Golf Cart Registration Form: Golf Cart Registration Form

Town of Edisto Beach Golf Cart Decal Ordinance: https://library.municode.com/sc/edisto_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH78TRVE_ARTIIIGOCA

LOW SPEED VEHICLES (LSV)

In accordance with South Carolina code of law 56-2-100, a Low Speed Vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) and not more than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph). A LSV may be operated only on a highway for which the posted speed limit is 35 miles an hour or less. Like a golf cart, an LSV may cross a primary highway or at an intersection where the highway has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour but cannot travel along these highways or streets. Like a golf cart, an LSV can only be operated by a person with a valid driver's license, a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles and proof of insurance. The state will not title or register homemade Low Speed Vehicles. A LSV can only be operated on roads having speed limits of thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) or less. A LSV is factory equipped with windshield wipers, rear-view and side-view mirrors, speedometer, turn signals, horn, DOT headlights, taillights, and seatbelts. A LSV may be operated after dark.