Tent / Umbrella Laws - City of MB

TENTS & UMBRELLAS

To learn more about our Beach Laws and Conditions, visit  Myrtle Beach Condition & Laws webpage.

OVERVIEW

Tents certainly are convenient, but they were so plentiful at peak times and locations that they blocked access and visibility to the water’s edge, affecting public safety and everyone’s enjoyment of our gorgeous beach.  The city’s umbrella policy first went into effect at the beginning of the summer 2014 season.  Beach regulations restrict the use of tents and other shading devices, excluding umbrellas and small toddler tents, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Tents and canopies are allowed after Labor Day and until Memorial Day.

Umbrellas up to seven-and-a-half feet in diameter are allowed in line with, or behind, the established umbrella line.  Again, no other shading devices are permitted during the summer months, with the exception of small, infant tents no larger than four feet wide by three feet deep and three feet high.  Tents up to 12-by-12 feet square and less than nine feet tall may be used from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day, behind the umbrella line and 10 feet apart.  

Providing residents and visitors with a public beach access and a safe, lifeguard-monitored environment is our highest priority!

RELEVANT CITY CODE

Sec. 5-4. - Lifeguard stands access, egress and line of sight protected.

(a) Through the use of "Beach Franchise Agreements", the city has established the time and placement of lifeguard stands to establish and preserve public safety.

(b) Lifeguard stands access, egress and line of sight are to remain unobstructed. Umbrellas, shading devices, or other obstructions shall not impede upon the franchise's line of sight of access or egress for purposes of public safety.

(c) Umbrellas and shading devices must be placed must be placed above the high-tide line.

(d) Established umbrella lines. Any shading devices, or other obstructions that impede upon the franchisee's established umbrella line may be moved landward of the established umbrella line. Any umbrellas, shading devices, or other obstructions cannot obstruct the view of the lifeguard's area of responsibility and may be removed. No shading devices, or other obstructions may be placed within ten feet of any established umbrella line. Shading devices must be placed outside of the established umbrella line and shall remain in-line or landward of the established umbrella line. In the absence of an established umbrella line, umbrellas and shading devices must be placed above the high-tide line.

(e) Shading devices. Shading devices shall not exceed the maximum size of 12 feet by 12 feet or 144 square feet and the maximum height of any shading device shall not exceed nine feet installed. Shading devices, other than circular umbrellas with a diameter of seven and one-half feet or less, shall not be placed within ten feet of any other shading device. All shading devices are prohibited from being tied, bound, joined, or connected in any manner. Excluding umbrellas, all shading devices shall be secured in such fashion to restrict uncontrolled movement of the device and secured with fasteners, stakes, weights, or the like that will not endanger beach patrons. Anchoring lines, tethers, or the like shall not extend beyond the perimeter of the shading device. Shading devices, other than circular umbrellas with a diameter of seven and one-half feet or less, and “children’s tents” with maximum dimensions, of four (4’) feet wide, three (3’) feet deep, and three (3’) feet high shall not be allowed on the beach between Memorial Day through Labor Day. The “children’s tents” may be small pop-up or blow up cabanas and may be used only to protect infants and small children from the sun. 

(f)   It shall be unlawful for any person to place any shading device or umbrella so as to impede lifeguard line of sight, access or egress from the lifeguard stand.

(g) It shall be unlawful for any ocean front business license holder to supplant, or interfere with the water safety franchisee's primary contractual right for exclusive compensatory vendor services in exchange for the provision of water safety by engaging in competitive beach vendor services in the rental or provision of beach chairs or beach umbrellas. Violation of this prohibition subjects the license to suspension or revocation civil administrative process, in addition to any criminal prosecution.

(Ordinance 2012-35, June 12, 2012; Ordinance 2014-19, March 25, 2014; Ordinance 2016-37, May 24, 2016; Ordinance 2021-21, May 11, 2021)