Beach and Resident Parking

For Questions about Residential and Special Parking Permits, Please Call the Police Department's Non-Emergency Number at (843)886-6522

2024 Update:

 

The City of Isle of Palms has partnered 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. Beginning March 1, 2024, this partnership with PCI will allow 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.

There are no changes in parking fees, stickers, passes, and permits for residents or visitors at this time. For questions about this change, please call (843) 929-5043. To purchase new Municipal Lot permits, visit https://parkiop.org/beach-parking-permits. Please go to https://isleofpalms.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal to request all other permits.

For parking locations, visit: parkiop.org/parking-locations

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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For safety and enjoyment, parking along the public rights-of-way is regulated between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. In the on-street Beach Parking Zones, parking is free of charge. Adjacent residential areas are "Residential Parking District" where parking is limited to vehicles properly displaying a Resident Parking Permit or Special Permit. 

Paid parking is available in the Municipal Parking Lots on Pavilion Drive, Charleston County Park lots and Ocean Boulevard between 10th and 14th Avenues.

The 2024 Isle Of Palms Residential Parking Decals, Short-Term Rental Hang Tags and Residential Visitor Booklets are now available.  

If you already have an account, you will need to confirm the information is still current.  If you are starting a new account or have changes, you will need to upload the applicable documents for verification.

Once your information has been verified and your request has been approved, you will receive an email letting you know you can purchase or obtain your permits.  Due to COVID19, we ask that you only make permit requests online rather than in person.  Once approved, permits will be mailed or delivered locally.

If you have any questions, contact the Isle of Palms Police Department at (843) 886-6522.



APPLY ONLINE FOR 2024 RESIDENT PARKING PERMITS

Resident Parking District

Residential zoning district where parking along the public right-of-way is limited from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to vehicles properly displaying a Resident Parking Permit or Special Permit.

Resident Owners and Resident Renters

Resident owners (owners of residential units located within the City that are assessed for property tax purposes at the 4% rate) and resident renters ( tenants or residents of a residential unit located within the City, other than the owner, who occupy the residential unit for more than 3 months) within a Resident Parking District may register their vehicles/golf carts with the Police Department by presenting the vehicle registration and proof of residency. Each registered vehicle will receive a resident parking permit to be renewed annually. Isle of Palms resident owners and resident renters may register any car registered to the residence.

Resident parking permits must be placed in the lower left corner (driver's side) of the rear windshield.

Getting your residential parking decals is free and easy. You can complete the application online.

Apply for a 2024 Resident Parking Permit Online

Part-Time Resident Owners

Part-time resident owners, who own a property assessed for property tax purposes at the 6% rate located within the Resident Parking District, may also register their vehicles by presenting the vehicle registration and proof of ownership and will receive a maximum of four (4) residential parking permits.

Resident parking permits must be placed in the lower left corner (driver's side) of the rear windshield.

Getting your residential parking decals is free and easy. You can complete the application online.

Apply for a 2024 Non-Resident Owner Parking Permit Online

 Special Permits

Visitor Parking Permit

Each Isle of Palms residence, within a Residential Parking District, may apply to the Police Department for two (2) free booklets of thirty (30) visitor parking permits per calendar year. The cost of each additional booklet is $15.00. These permits can only be used when additional parking is required for guests at the resident's home within the Resident Parking District from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each visitor parking permit must identify the property address for which it was issued.

Short-Term Rental Parking Permit

Owners of short-term rentals may apply to the Police Department for the purchase of up to 4 portable parking permits per calendar year. The cost of each portable parking permit is $15.00 to be used by short-term tenants to park in the public rights-of-way within the Resident Parking District from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. when no adequate off-street parking is available on the property.

 

Contractor Permit

On application by a licensed contractor, the Building Department may issue temporary permits for contractor vehicle parking for construction projects requiring a building permit on residential properties located within the Resident Parking District.

Handicap Parking

No parking permit is required for vehicles parking in designated handicap parking spaces within the residential parking district. Disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart are exempt from the resident parking permit requirements as long as the vehicle has the appropriate license plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

 

Beach Parking

Click on this link to view a map of the Beach Parking District and Residential Parking District

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.

 
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, 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.

 

 Parking Direction 1Parking Direction 2Parking Direction 3

 

 

 

 

On the land side of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th vehicles must single park in marked spaces only. Please park your vehicle as close to the front parking stop as possible with 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.

 Parking 4

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Golf Cart Parking

Isle of Palms residents may apply for a Residential Parking Permit for their golf carts which will allow them to park in the public rights-of-way in the Residential Parking District from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To apply for the permit, residents must provide proof of residency and the golf cart registration.

Designated Golf Cart parking is available on 9th Ocean Boulevard, 25th, 28th and 31st Avenues on Palm Boulevard.