Beach and Resident Parking
2024 Update:
On March 1, 2024, the City of Isle of Palms announced a partnership with PCI Municipal Services to manage the city’s parking plan. Traditionally, the management of the city’s parking plan was handled by the police department. This partnership allows the police department’s employees and officers to focus more attention on priority calls for service and higher visibility on the beaches and reduce response time for calls for service.
Starting April 1, 2024, all parking permits can be applied for online at parkiop.org.
Please note: In order for your application to be approved, you must upload current and correct documentation, as described in the application.
Residents: Please pick up decals at PCI Municipal Services office, which is located at 30 J C Long Blvd, Isle of Palms (Public Safety Building).
PCI Municipal Service's Office Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
For questions about this change, please contact PCI Municipal Service's office at ( 843) 885-6505 or by email at info@parkiop.org.
Throughout the year, the city will transition to a license plate system. The system is expected to be fully implemented by 2025.
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Visitors who come to the Isle of Palms have many options for beach access and parking. The City offers more than 50 beach access paths. Driving on the beach or on beach access paths is strictly prohibited.
The City encourages visitors to plan their trip to the beach and avoid peak traffic hours. A traffic camera at the intersection of the IOP Connector and Palm Boulevard and at the intersection of the IOP Connector and Rifle Range Road are live on the SCDOT 511 system.
To access IOP traffic cameras within the SCDOT 511 system, Click on the "Cameras" option on the main menu and then click on "Charleston Beaches." The SCDOT 511 system is also available as a mobile device app.
South Carolina Public Beach Access Guide
Places to Park:
Municipal Parking Lots on Pavilion Drive
The City lots are operational between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Paid parking is enforced between March 1st and October 31st.
The City maintains two parking lots close to Front Beach on Pavilion Drive. One lot offers handicapped parking and season-long parking for those with a decal. Seasonal parking passes are $60 and are available for purchase at the Public Safety Building, located on 30 J C Long Boulevard.
The Municipal Parking Lots are managed by automated parking kiosks. Parking tickets are available for purchase at the automated parking kiosks inside the parking lot. The daily rate is $10 Monday through Friday and $15 Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. After 4:00 p.m., visitors may pay an hourly rate of $2.00.
Residents with properly credentialed vehicles can park in the Municipal Lots anytime free of charge. A properly credentialed vehicle is one that has a City issued Resident Parking Permit or a Wild Dunes Resident decal.
The ticket must be prominently displayed on the dash before leaving the parking lot. Failure to do so will result in a $50.00 parking violation. Parking in violation of any regulation related to paid parking spaces, parking pay stations or kiosks along the public streets or in the public parking lots will result in a $50.00 fine.
Front Beach On-Street Parking
The on-street paid stations are operational between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Paid parking is enforced between March 1st and October 31st.
Visitors will find metered parking on Ocean Boulevard near Front Beach between 10th and 14th Avenues. Park in any open space, and locate the pay station (kiosk) closest to you. Choose and purchase the appropriate amount of time, and then place the receipt on the dashboard of the vehicle so that it is readable through the windshield. The hourly rate is $2.50.
Isle of Palms County Park on 14th Avenue
Click here to view Park hours and fees.
Public Road Right-of-Ways
The City regulates parking along the public rights-of-way between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Learn more about Beach Parking.
Visitors can park their vehicles on any road right-of-way within the Beach Parking District unless it has been designated with a sign as "no parking". Be mindful that all four wheels must be off the road and that no beach access paths can be blocked. Vehicles parked on the ocean side of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue must be at least 4 feet off the pavement and must park at an angle in the marked spaces on the landside. Please do not block driveways or mailboxes, and be respectful of landscaping.
No permit or parking fee exists to park along the public rights-of-way in the following beach parking areas:
- 3rd Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and Charleston Boulevard
- East side of 4th Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and Charleston Boulevard
- 5th Avenue, between Ocean Boulevard and Carolina Boulevard
- 6th Avenue, between Ocean Boulevard and Carolina Boulevard
- 7th Avenue between Ocean Boulevard and Carolina Boulevard
- East side of 8th Avenue, between Ocean Boulevard and Carolina Boulevard
- East side of 9th Avenue, between Ocean Boulevard and Carolina Boulevard
- Palm Boulevard between 21st Avenue and 40th Avenue
- Palm Boulevard between 42nd Avenue and 57th Avenue
All vehicles parked in the designated beach parking areas must obey state and local parking regulations posted in those areas.
Handicapped Parking:
Those who require parking designated as handicapped will find it available in the County Park (no fee charged), the small Municipal Parking Lot on Pavilion Drive, 9th Avenue, Front Beach Restrooms, 21st Avenue and 42nd Avenue.
Beach Access Path 34A is an ADA-accessible access path and is designated handicapped parking.
Handicap parking is available in the small Municipal Parking Lot behind the Public Safety Building at no charge for vehicles displaying the appropriate license plate or placard. Disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart are also exempt from the pay parking requirements when their vehicles bear a disabled veteran's or Purple Heart license plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Parking Guide:
Residents and visitors must be mindful of the signs that regulate parking on the Isle of Palms.
Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue
No permit is required to park along the public rights-of-way of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th Avenue. However, on the ocean side of Palm Boulevard, vehicles must parallel park at least four feet (4') away from the pavement on the ocean side of palm, this also applies to all parking along Palm Boulevard between 41st and 57th Avenue. Also, double parking on the passenger side of any vehicle that is paralleled parked is prohibited.
Drivers are required to park in the same direction as moving traffic when parked on the public right-of-way.
On the land side of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th vehicles must angle park in marked spaces only. Please park your vehicle as close to the front parking stop as possible to ensure the shoulder remains clear for access in an emergency. A diagram of a typical parking space on the land side of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th is provided below.
Trailer Parking
The City prohibits any truck or trailer with an overall length of twenty feet (20') or greater to be parked along the public rights-of-way for more than one (1) hour or as long as it is reasonably necessary to load or unload passengers or materials. There is an exception along the public right-of-way of 41st Avenue between Waterway Boulevard and the terminus of 41st Avenue for vehicles with attached boat trailers displaying a valid Resident Parking Permit.