§ 9-16. Decals and exemptions.

(a)

Parking decals. In this paragraph (a), the word vehicle includes golf carts.

(1)

Full time resident vehicles including golf carts. All persons residing within the corporate limits of the town shall be entitled to one (1) free decal per vehicle, to be issued by the town, upon verification that current vehicle registration is registered in the corporate limits of the town. Such decal will be placed on the vehicle pursuant to instructions given by town hall staff when obtaining the decal. The decal shall be valid for the calendar year in which issued. Said decal will show (1) decal number issued and (2) year for which decal is valid. Such decal shall allow the vehicle to park free of charge at metered and pay station areas when space is available. Such decal shall also allow golf carts to park free of charge in golf cart only designated parking areas when space is available.

(2)

Non-resident residential property owner vehicles including golf carts. All non-resident residential property owners within the corporate limits of the town shall be entitled to two (2) free decals for two (2) vehicles per property, to be issued by the town, only upon verification of proof of property ownership. A name on the vehicle registration must be the same as a name on the property tax record to show proof of property ownership. Additional decals may be purchased for the sum of forty dollars ($40.00) for each additional vehicle upon verification of proof of property ownership. Such decal will be placed on the vehicle pursuant to instructions given by town hall staff when obtaining the decal. The decal shall be valid for the calendar year in which issued. Said decal will show (1) decal number issued and (2) year for which decal is valid. Such decal shall allow the vehicle to park free of charge at metered and pay station areas when space is available. Such decal shall also allow golf carts to park free of charge in golf cart only designated parking areas when space is available.

(3)

Merchant and patron validation program. Merchants, including vacation rentals by owners (VRBO), may be issued validation codes and passes upon request from the town's parking management company. Merchants should contact Town Hall (843-913-6111) to obtain the correct contact information. A three-day notice is required for programming and code issuance. Rates for Merchant and Patron Validations shall be the same as those stipulated in section 9-9, Charges.

(4)

Beach access parking. All Golf carts may park free of charge at beach accesses when space is available, except at meters or pay station parking lots [Exceptions: parking decals for full time residents, see subsection 9-16(a)(1); parking decals for nonresident property owners, see subsection 9-16(a)(2), and for seasonal nonresident parking passes subsection 9-16(a)(5)], or when prohibited by signs.

(5)

Nonresident parking passes. Up to one hundred (100) nonresident parking decals may be sold during each parking season at a cost of two hundred dollars ($200.00) each. Town council reserves the right to review, repeal and/or amend this section.

i.

Nonresidents shall be issued a parking decal with a yellow center.

ii.

Vehicles with a nonresident decal shall be prohibited from parking in the pier parking lot, but may park at any other legal parking place without paying the meter.

iii.

Those purchasing a nonresident parking decal shall sign a copy of this section to acknowledge that the decal does not allow free parking in the pier parking lot.

(6)

Annual Guy Daniels Surfoff Event. Parking permits for free parking at metered spaces and/or in parking lots shall be issued to participants in the event. All other parking rules shall remain in effect and are subject to enforcement.

(7)

Permit parking. Parking spaces on the west side of Ocean Boulevard beginning at 15th Avenue North and ending at Melody Lane shall be reserved for vehicles displaying a current town issued parking decal.

(8)

Prohibited parking. Parking shall be prohibited on the east side of Ocean Boulevard, except between 16th and 17th Avenues North.

(9)

Bike events trailer parking. Free motorcycle trailer parking shall be allowed in the 13th Avenue South parking lot and the 16th Avenue North parking lot during the spring and fall bike week events. Owners shall be solely responsible for any damage or loss that might occur.

(b)

Golf carts without town issued parking decals. Golf carts without a town issued parking decal must pay applicable fees while parking at meters and in pay station areas.

(c)

Disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients are exempt from parking fees. When a vehicle displays a disabled veterans or Purple Heart license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles or appropriate authority.

(d)

Handicapped persons are exempt from parking fees. When a vehicle displays a handicapped license plate issued by a proper authority, or a handicapped windshield hanger, either the driver of or a passenger in a vehicle displaying a handicapped license plate or windshield hanger must be a "handicapped" person.

(e)

Employees. Every town employee shall be entitled to one (1) decal, which will allow the employee to park free of charge in metered areas subject to conditions set forth hereinabove in paragraph (a) and other applicable ordinances. Employee shall present his or her employee identification card along with the vehicle registration for the vehicle on which the decal will be applied.

(f)

30-day employee decals. The town shall issue 30-day decals for employees of the pier business district or other applicable districts that shall entitle the vehicle to park in permit only parking on Yaupon Drive and Surfside Drive. The charge for said 30-day decal shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) per month, and shall expire on the last day of the month issued, regardless of the issuing date.

(Ord. No. 13-0744, 4-17-13; Ord. No. 13-0745, 5-14-13; Ord. No. 14-0772, 3-25-14; Ord. No. 14-0787, 11-10-14; Ord. No. 15-0798, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 15-0807, 8-10-15; Ord. No. 15-0815, 11-10-15; Ord. No. 16-0821, 2-23-16; Ord. No. 17-0837, 2-28-17)

State law reference

Similar provisions, S.C. Code 1976, § 56-5-2585.