Folly Beach is a popular destination for visitors from outside our community. To accommodate parking for these visitors (and other utilities and public access needs), all publicly-owned roads in the City have a right-of-way on either side of the roadway that is considered public property and may not be obstructed. In fact, it is state law that rights-of-way be kept open and it is a requirement for state and federal beach funding that the City be publicly accessible and have parking available for visitors. However, many unofficial No Parking signs have been placed in the City rights-of-way over time.
While it has always been against the rules to restrict parking in the right-of-way (other than in an approved driveway) the City suspended enforcement of the regulations against No Parking signs in 2014 in order to develop a new procedure for legally applying for No Parking signs. These new rules were passed on October 19 and will take effect on January 1, 2017.
As of January 1, 2017 all private No Parking signs that are currently located in the right of way or appear to restrict parking in the right of way (other than signs marking driveways) will be in violation and considered abandoned property. All abandoned signs in the right-of-way or appearing to restrict the right-of-way after January 1, 2017 will be removed by City staff. Property owners who have a compelling or unique need (as defined in the ordinance below) to reserve parking in front of their property may apply to the City for an official sign. If owners or residents have questions about No Parking signs, please contact Eric Lutz at permits@follybeach.gov . Applications are available at City Hall or by looking below:
Do Not Block Driveway Sign Application
Residential Reserved Parking Sign Application
- 72.02 PRIVATE “NO PARKING” SIGNS.
(A) Parking in the public right-of-way of any street shall be restricted or prohibited only by official signs installed by the city, county, or state. Signs which give the appearance of restricting parking in the right of way in areas other than approved driveways shall be prohibited in all districts.
(B) Property owners who want to have signs prohibiting parking in their private driveways shall use signs obtained from and installed by the city.
(C) Property owners in the residential districts of the City who have a compelling need to restrict or prohibit parking in the right-of-way adjacent to their property, other than in an approved driveway, may ask the City to install official signs restricting parking to home owners, tenants, and their guests, permanently or temporarily. In no case shall the area restricted exceed the area for one parallel parking space per dwelling unit for multifamily uses or two parallel parking spaces for single family uses.
(1) Applications for the installation of official private parking signs in a residential district can be made to the Building Official who shall approve or deny applications based on consideration the following criteria:.
a) There are no parking spaces available on the property or the parking spaces and driveway of the property are insufficient to meet parking requirements of 1 space per unit for multifamily uses or two spaces per single family
- b) There is no area on the property to make additional parking spaces or a Parking is not allowed on drainfields.
- c) The applicant is physically disabled and possesses a valid disabled parking permit or displays valid disabled plates and the applicant’s disability prevents walking from the designated off street parking provided on the property.
(E) The application fee for a private no parking sign is $50.
(F) The Building Official shall provide to Public Safety a list of all properties that have been granted approval for private no parking signs along with a site plan showing the location of approved private no parking signs.
(G) All unapproved private no parking signs shall be removed no later than January 1, 2017. City employees shall be authorized to remove or cause the removal, without notice, of any unofficial sign attempting or appearing to attempt to restrict or prohibit parking on a street or in a right-of-way and any unofficial sign prohibiting parking in a private driveway.
