North Myrtle Beach Rules Every Visitor Should Know Before They Go

Nothing ruins a beach day faster than a code enforcement officer telling you to take down your tent — or worse, handing you a fine. North Myrtle Beach beach rules are strictly enforced, and several of them catch first-time visitors off guard.

I’ve watched it happen from our stretch of beach at Crescent Beach more times than I can count: a family spends 20 minutes setting up a beautiful canopy, only to have it confiscated 10 minutes later. Don’t be that family.

Here’s everything you need to know before you hit the sand.

Umbrella & Shade Rules: The Big One

This is the rule that trips up the most visitors, so pay close attention.

During peak season (May 15 – Labor Day): ONLY round beach umbrellas are allowed. Your umbrella can be a maximum of 9 feet in diameter, with a center pole no taller than 7 feet 6 inches with a center pole no taller than 7.5 feet. That’s it. No tents, no Sport-Brellas, no cabanas, no pavilions, no tarps, no Shibumi shades, no canopy structures of any kind.

The one exception: baby tents no larger than 36” x 36” x 36” for children 18 months or younger are allowed year-round.

During off-season (after Labor Day – May 14): Tents and canopies up to 12’ x 12’ are permitted, but they must be set up at least 10 feet behind the established umbrella line.

All shading devices must be in line with or behind the umbrella line set by the lifeguards. Nothing can be left on the beach overnight (between 7:00 PM and 8:00 AM) or left unattended. Violations are misdemeanors with fines up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail — they don’t mess around.

Bottom line: Bring a standard round beach umbrella during summer. Leave the canopy at home.

Alcohol, Glass & Fires

This one surprises a lot of visitors:

• No alcohol on the beach — period. This applies to North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and all Horry County beaches. No exceptions, no gray area. Save the cold ones for the condo balcony at sunset — condensation dripping down the can, the sound of waves carrying up from the shore — or grab a drink at one of the Ocean Drive beach clubs. Just not on the sand.
• No glass containers or bottles on the beach at any time.
• No fires of any kind — no grills, no bonfires, no barbecues.
• No fireworks — illegal within city limits.

Dog Rules

Good news for dog owners — your pup is welcome on North Myrtle Beach, with some seasonal restrictions:

• May 1 – Labor Day: Dogs allowed on the beach ONLY before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM.
• After Labor Day – April 30: Dogs allowed at any time.
• Year-round: Dogs must be on a leash 7 feet or shorter. Owners must pick up and properly dispose of pet waste.

Early morning beach walks with your dog are one of the best parts of the off-peak hours. Before 10 AM, the sand is still cool and firm from the overnight tide, the light turns everything gold and pink, and the only competition for space is the sanderlings sprinting along the waterline. Your dog will lose its mind chasing the foam.

Swimming & Water Safety Rules

• No swimming beyond 50 yards from the beach or over shoulder depth, unless a lifeguard states otherwise.
• No swimming within 75 yards of a pier.
• No jumping or diving from piers.
• Only canvas rafts with safety ropes may be used in the ocean — no hard-sided inflatables in the surf.
• Thong bathing suits are prohibited on all Grand Strand beaches (yes, really).

The Beach Flag Warning System

Lifeguard stands fly colored flags that tell you the current ocean conditions. Learn them before your first day on the sand:

Lifeguards are on duty 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM during peak season (approximately May through September). North Myrtle Beach hires roughly 120 lifeguards each summer, and Beach Patrol Officers are Red Cross certified and patrol year-round. You’ll see the flags snapping in the sea breeze from a distance — make it a habit to glance up at them every time you walk onto the sand.

Pro tip: Beach-going wheelchairs are available FREE of charge from the city. Contact the NMB Parks & Recreation department to arrange one.

Surfing & Skimboarding Zones

Surfing is permitted in designated zones only:

• 300 feet north of Cherry Grove Pier, extending 600 feet north
• 13th Avenue South, extending 600 feet north
• 38th Avenue South, extending 600 feet north
• 150 feet south of 6th Avenue North, extending 900 feet north

Cherry Grove bonus: No restricted surfing hours in Cherry Grove — a big plus for surfers who want to catch waves whenever the conditions are right.

Vehicles & E-Bikes

• No vehicles of any kind on the beach — no golf carts, e-bikes, electric scooters, or ATVs.
• Golf carts on the beach: Only permitted November 1 – February 28 with a valid state permit and licensed driver.
• Bicycles and e-bikes: A separate ordinance applies — check the city website for current rules.

Beach Hours & Metal Detecting

• The public beach is accessible from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The early-morning hours — sand still rippled from the overnight tide, the air cool and briny before the heat sets in — are some of the best.
• Items left after hours may be removed by city officials.
• Metal detecting is allowed on the public beach but NOT in dunes, street ends, or other public property. You’ll spot the regulars out at first light, headphones on, sweeping the waterline where yesterday’s crowds dropped their coins and jewelry.

The Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet

Print this out or screenshot it for your trip:

• Umbrellas only during summer (no tents/canopies May 15 – Labor Day)
• No alcohol on the beach
• No glass on the beach
• Dogs before 10 AM / after 5 PM in summer (leashed, clean up after them)
• Check the flags before swimming
• Nothing left on beach after 9 PM
• Surfing in designated zones only

Know the rules, follow them, and your beach days will be stress-free. The rules exist to keep the beach beautiful and safe for everyone — and honestly, NMB does it better than most.

Know the Rules, Skip the Fines, Own the Beach Day

Now you know: round umbrella only in summer, no alcohol on the sand, check the flags before swimming, and fill in those sand holes before you leave. That’s the difference between the family that gets fined and the family that gets the perfect beach day. Our 3BR/2BA condo at 601 Hillside Dr N in Ocean Keyes is a 0.65-mile walk to the Crescent Beach sand — close enough to run back for anything you forgot, far enough to feel like a real beach walk.

Pack the round umbrella. Leave the canopy at home. You’ve got this.

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