On Tues. May 10, 2022, the town's Ad Hoc Committee on Short-Term Rentals, made up of councilmembers Jeri Finke and Pat Fox, released a report of its findings and recommendations regarding short-term rental activity on Seabrook Island. 

In response to a resident petition calling for caps on the number of short-term rental permits issued by the town, Mayor John Gregg re-established the ad hoc committee in the fall of 2021. The committee, which developed the town's existing short-term rental ordinance in 2020, was re-established for the purpose of assembling and evaluating additional data on the trends and developments in rental activity within the Town.

To meet the Mayor’s charge, the Committee held a series of meetings with a variety of stakeholders, including the organizers of the petition, residents in favor of the petition, residents opposed to the petition, rental property owners and managers, legal advisors, industry and trade group professionals, real estate professionals, representatives of SIPOA and the Seabrook Island Club, and members of town staff. 

The committee's final report was presented to Town Council during a Council Workshop on May 10th. Following an extensive analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, the committee recommended that Town Council undertake the following:

1. Impose a 20% cap on short-term rental permits available to single-family residential zoned districts (R-SF1, R-SF2, R-SF3). This cap would be equivalent to that imposed by the Town of Kiawah Island.
2. Require non-resident property owners to use a local rental management company if they do not live within 50 miles of their property.
3. Limit the number of vehicles which may be parked at a short-term rental unit during the overnight hours (11:00 pm to 7:00 am).
4. Implement a maximum occupancy requirement for periods other than overnight hours. (Overnight occupancy is currently limited pursuant to Ord. 2020-14.)
5. Require that renters must comply with evacuation orders during emergency situations.
6. Continue to engage with SIPOA to establish a more coordinated system of responding to any complaint if and when a problem does surface at a rental property.
7. Establish a complaint portal on the town’s website to report violations of the short-term rental ordinance.
8. Increase the annual short-term rental permit application fee.
9. Hire a short-term rental compliance manager. 

To view a copy of the report, or to view the committee's presentation to Town Council, please click the links below.
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• View the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Short-Term Rentals
• View the Committee's Presentation from the May 10th Council Workshop

• The deadline to renew business licenses and short-term rental permits has been extended from April 30th to May 16th
• Applications must be dropped off at town hall or postmarked by May 16th to avoid late fees
• Business Licenses submitted after May 16th will be considered late and subject to penalties of 5% per month
• Short-Term Rental Permits which are not renewed by May 16th will become invalid; the owner or manager must remove all ads and cease rental activity
• To avoid late fees, businesses must renew directly with the town; the statewide portal will begin assessing late fees on May 1st
• This extension is a result of processing delays at Charleston County

For Renewal  information please use the links below: 

• Business License Renewals
• ​Short-Term Rental Permit Renewals

As of April 1, 2022, the town’s “peak” season rules pertaining to pets on the beach are now in effect.  Pursuant to Section 32-44 of the Town Code, also known “Beach Rules for Pets Ordinance,” the beaches of Seabrook Island are divided into three zones. The requirements for each zone during the “off-peak” season are provided below:
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Restricted Area (Red)

• The restricted area begins at a line extending from Boardwalk #1 (Community Center Boardwalk) to the Atlantic Ocean and continues in a northeasterly direction to Captain Sams Inlet.
• No pets shall be allowed within the restricted area at any time, whether on or off a leash.​

 
Limited Restriction Area (Yellow)

• The limited restriction area begins approximately 300 yards northwest of a line extending from Boardwalk #9 (Pelican Watch Boardwalk) to the Edisto River and continues in a northwesterly direction to Privateer Creek.
• Pets within the limited restriction area must be on a leash at all times.

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General Beach Area (Green)

• During the “peak” season (April 1 – September 30), Pets must be on a leash between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. At all other times, pets may be off a leash, provided they remain effectively controlled while on the beach; 

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​As a reminder, when an animal is allowed to be off-leash, it must be effectively controlled by a competent person from: (a) entering any area on or adjacent to the beach in which a pet is prohibited; (b) destroying or damaging any property; (c) attacking or threatening  to attack any person or any other animal or pet in any manner; or (d) being a nuisance to other beach goers.
 
When a pet is required to be on a leash, it must be restrained using a physical restraint made of cord, rope, strap, chain or other material effective for restraining the type and size of animal to which it is attached. In addition, the physical restraint must be no more than sixteen (16) feet in length, secured to the animal’s collar or harness, and continuously held by a competent person physically capable of restraining the animal. Animals under voice control, or under control of remotely operated devices (such as electronic collars), are considered to be “off leash.”​
 
The beaches of Seabrook Island are actively patrolled by code enforcement officers employed by the town, as well as by designated personnel from the Seabrook Island Beach Patrol. Individuals who are found guilty of violating any ordinance of the town may be subject to fines up to $1,087.50 per offense (including court fees) upon conviction.

To report a violation, please contact the town's Beach Patrol by phone at (843) 718-6083.
 
The town’s “peak” season rules will remain in effect until September 30, 2022. ​

The Community Promotion Grant program was established by Seabrook Island Town Council in 2021 and is now in its second year of operation.

Community Promotion Grants are intended to provide financial support to eligible non-profit entities for programs and activities designed to benefit the Town of Seabrook Island by promoting and enhancing community wellness, cultural and historical awareness, environmental and wildlife conservation efforts and economic development; or which improve citizen participation, satisfaction and sense of place.

FY 2022 Community Promotion Grant Program Summary

• Total Funds Available in 2022: $7,500.00
• ​Minimum Grant Amount: $250.00
• Maximum Grant Amount: $1,500.00
• To Apply: Grant applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2022. The first review of applications will take place on March 17, 2022. The deadline to be considered during the first review of applications is March 11, 2022 at 12:00 PM. Applications will continue to be accepted until the earlier of October 1, 2022, or upon the commitment of all available grant funding for 2022.

For more information about the Community Promotion Grant program, or to download a grant application form, please click here. 

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.

Here’s what you need to know about your order:

• Limit of one order per residential address
• One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
• Orders will ship free starting in late January

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​To order your at-home COVID test, please use the following link: special.usps.com/testkits

2022 Tide Tables are now available at Seabrook Island Town Hall (2001 Seabrook Island Road) and the SIPOA Office (1202 Landfall Way). Residents may stop by either location during regular business hours to pick up a free copy.

The 2022 Tide Tables may also be viewed or downloaded on the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Website.

The 2022 Tide Tables are provided free of charge to residents of the Town of Seabrook Island by SCDHEC’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM).

For more information, please contact Town Hall by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at info@townofseabrookisland.org. 

​Please join us at Seabrook Island Town Hall on Thurs. December 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for our second annual drive-thru Holiday Party! We'll have sweet holiday treats, a drive-thru light display and festive holiday music. Visitors are asked to remain in their vehicles while attending the event. Face coverings are recommended, but not required. 

Once again, the town will be collecting new, unwrapped toys in support of Toys for Tots. Toy donations may be dropped off at Seabrook Island Town Hall beginning on Mon. November 29th, and will be collected through the conclusion of the drive-thru Holiday Party. 

For more information, please contact Seabrook Island Town Hall by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at info@townofseabrookisland.org. 

Are you interested in serving on a town board, commission or committee? The Mayor and Council are currently soliciting applications from citizen volunteers for appointment to the following bodies:
 
Board of Zoning Appeals

• ​Two (2) seats to be filled
• Each appointment is for a term of five (5) years
• The board meets on an as-needed basis at the call of the Chair
• Each member must be a registered voter of the town
• Board members must complete a six (6) hour planning orientation course during their first year and three (3) hours of continuing education in each subsequent year
• Learn more about the Board of Zoning Appeals

 
Community Promotions & Engagement Committee

• ​Four (4) seats to be filled
• Each appointment is for a term of two (2) years
• The committee meets a minimum of once per quarter
• Learn more about the Community Promotions & Engagement Committee

 
Environment & Wildlife Committee

• ​Four (4) seats to be filled
• Each appointment is for a term of two (2) years
• The committee meets a minimum of once per quarter
• Learn more about the Environment & Wildlife Committee

 Public Safety Committee

• ​Four (4) seats to be filled
• Each appointment is for a term of two (2) years
• The committee meets a minimum of once per quarter
• Learn more about the Public Safety Committee

 
Public Works Committee

• ​Four (4) seats to be filled
• Each appointment is for a term of two (2) years
• The committee meets a minimum of once per quarter
• Learn more about the Public Works Committee

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If you are interested in being considered for appointment, please submit a Volunteer Application Form by clicking the link below:​

​Applications will be kept on file with the Town Clerk for a period of two years. ​​​If you have any questions about volunteering with the town, please contact us by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at kwatkins@townofseabrookisland.org.

The Town of Seabrook Island values equity and inclusion and seeks to appoint board, commission and committee members that reflect the diversity of our community. The Town of Seabrook Island does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, age, race, color, national origin, religion, military/veteran status, or disability

A portion of the eastbound (outbound) lane of Seabrook Island Road will be temporarily closed from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Fri. November 12th, due to the presence of water pumping equipment. During these times, Seabrook Island Road will be reduced to a single lane with alternating traffic. 

Beginning Sunday, November 14th, a portion of the eastbound (outbound) lane of Seabrook Island Road will be closed due to construction of a new turn lane into the future Seafields senior living community. This phase of construction is expected to be completed by Thursday, November 18th (weather permitting).

Construction activities between November 14th-18th will take place during the evening and overnight hours (8:00 PM to 6:00 AM). During these times, Seabrook Island Road will be reduced to a single lane with alternating traffic.

Motorists are encouraged to allow additional time if traveling to and from Seabrook Island while workers are present. Drivers should also be prepared to stop when instructed by flaggers. 

To report an issue while workers are present, please contact Town Hall at by phone at (843) 768-5321 or by email at jcronin@townofseabrookisland.org. ​