Golf Cart Laws

Background

Recognizing Daufuskie’s unique circumstances, Beaufort County adopted a Daufuskie-specific golf-cart ordinance in 2017. It is now codified as Beaufort County Code §70-100 and provides:

“The county council authorizes operation of golf carts on all public streets and roads on Daufuskie Island provided that such golf carts are equipped with working headlights and rear lights.”

The ordinance has allowed golf carts to legally operate throughout Daufuskie, including at night with the required lighting

State Law Changed in 2025

In May 2025, South Carolina enacted Act 64 of 2025, repealing the former golf-cart statute and replacing it with S.C. Code §56-2-90.

The new law does not appear to invalidate the Daufuskie ordinance. In fact, it expressly authorizes counties to regulate the hours, methods and locations of golf-cart operation and specifically permits counties to authorize nighttime operation with working headlights and taillights.

The new law therefore appears to provide continued statutory authority for Daufuskie’s existing local ordinance.

What the New Law Means for Daufuskie

Several provisions are particularly relevant:

• 35-mph road limitation. Golf carts may operate only on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less. We have identified no Daufuskie public roads with speed limits exceeding 35 mph, so this should have little practical effect on existing island travel

• Four-mile rule. The new statute places the traditional four-mile restriction among rules that apply “in the absence of an ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (C).” Because Beaufort County already has an ordinance authorizing golf-cart operation throughout Daufuskie’s public roads, the statutory language appears to mean that the four-mile default does not apply to operation authorized by the Daufuskie ordinance. The County should confirm this interpretation. In any event, the four-mile restriction has not historically been a significant practical issue on an island only about five miles long.

• Registration. insurance and drivers. State requirements continue to apply. Golf carts operated on public roads must be properly permitted/registered and insured. Operators must be at least 16 and possess a valid driver’s license and the required documentation.

• Passengers under 12. The 2025 law provides that a golf-cart passenger under age 12 must wear a fastened safety belt when the cart is operated on a public road. The statute does not provide a general exemption for rental carts, visitors, older carts or carts manufactured without safety belts.

Going Forward

Beaufort County’s Daufuskie ordinance was adopted under a state statute that has now been repealed and replaced. It therefore may be appropriate for the Daufuskie Island Council to proposed that the County reviews §70-100 and determines whether the ordinance or related enforcement guidance should be updated.

In particular, clarification may be useful concerning:the continued scope of Daufuskie’s island-wide and nighttime authorization;

• The relationship between the local ordinance and the four-mile provision.

• The application of the new under-12 safety-belt requirement; and

• The consistent guidance for residents, visitors and golf-cart rental operators.

Bottom Line

The 2025 state law appears to preserve Beaufort County’s authority to maintain Daufuskie-specific golf-cart rules, including nighttime operation.

Most existing requirements remain substantially unchanged. The most notable new provision for Daufuskie is the state requirement that passengers under age 12 wear a fastened safety belt on public roads.

The chart below identifies the specific requirements of the new state law and their relationship to the existing Daufuskie ordinance.

Also, please note several links to relevant information.

PLEASE NOTE: This document is provided for general information and discussion only. It is based on publicly available laws, ordinances, and County materials believed to be accurate as of August 12, 2026. It is not legal advice and should not be treated as an official interpretation of County or State law.

Laws, ordinances, and official interpretations can change over time, and this document may contain unintended errors or omissions. If you have questions about how any law applies, how it is interpreted, or how it is enforced, please contact the Beaufort County Attorney, the appropriate County department, and/or the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, as appropriate. and/or the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, as appropriate.

Chart

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND GOLF CARTS
What Changed Under the 2025 South Carolina Law?

For discussion with the Daufuskie Island Council and Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

South Carolina enacted Act 64 of 2025, replacing the former statewide golf-cart statute with S.C. Code §56-2-90. Beaufort County Code §70-100 already authorizes golf carts on all public streets and roads on Daufuskie Island. with working headlights and rear lights required for nighttime operation.

Old Law	New Law	Effect on Daufuskie
4-mile limit	Generally restricted to within 4 miles of the registered address	Appears not to apply on Daufuskie. The new law places the 4-mile restriction under rules applying in the absence of a local ordinance Beaufort County already has a Daufuskie ordinance authorizing island-wide operation
Night operation	Daufuskie had special County authorization	Still permitted. State law now expressly allows counties to authorize nighttime golf-can operation.
Lights	County ordinance requires headlights and rear lights.	Still required at night. State law requires working headlights and taillights
Roads	County ordinance authorizes all public streets and roads	State law limits carts to roads posted under 35 mph or less. We have identified no Daufuskie public roads exceeding 35 mph.
Driver	State licensing rules applied	Operator must be at least 15 and have a valid driver's license
Registration/insurance	State permit and insurance required	Still required. SCDMV permit/registration and liability insurance apply on public roads
Children	No comparable Daufuskie-specific rule	Important new requirement: passangers under 12 must wear a fastened safety belt on public streets/highways
Rental carts	Widely used for island transportation	The same state requirements apply. There is no general exemption for rentals or visitors.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR DAUFUSKIE

The 4-mile restriction appears to be gone.

The new statute authorizes counties to determine the hours, methods, and locations of golf-cart operations. The prevision containing the four-mile limitations begins: In the absence of an ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (C)..." Because Beaufort County already has a Daufuskie ordinance authorizing operation on all public streets and roads, the best reading is that a properly registered and insured cart may travel throughout Daufuskie rather than being limited to four miles from its registered address.

Recommended: Beaufort County Attorney and Sheriff's Office should formally confirm this interpretation so residents, visitors, rental companies, and law-enforcement officers receive consistent guidance.

WHAT RESIDENTS & VISITORS NEED TO KNOW

• Island-wide travel: The 4-mile limitation no longer appears applicable under Daufuskie's local ordinance.
• Night driving: Permitted with working headlights and lights.
• Roads: Golf carts may use roads posted at 35 mph or less; we have identified no Daufuskie public roads exceeding 35 mph.
• Driver: Must be 16 or older with a valid driver's licnse.
• Cart: Must be properly registered/permitted and insured.
• Children under 12: Must wear a fastened safety belt on public roads.
• Rentals: These requirements also apply to rental golf carts.

RECOMMENDED COUNTY ACTION

Beaufort County should consider updating

Law

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

ORDINANCE 2017 / 11

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS AT NIGHT ON DAUFUSKIE ISLAND WHEREAS, Act 246 of 2016 authorizes a County which meets certain criteria as set forth therein to enact an ordinance allowing for the operation of golf carts at night on designated portions of the County; and

WHEREAS, Beaufort County satisfies the criteria set forth in Act 246 of 2016; and

WHEREAS, after conducting this examination and after hearing from local residents, golf cart vendors familiar with golf cart safety equipment and the Beaufort County Sheriff, this Council has deliberated and has concluded that nighttime golf cart use on Daufuskie Island is reasonable, appropriate and in the best interest of the residents and visitors to Daufuskie Island; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, hereby amends Chapter 70 of its Code of Ordinances by adding Section 70-100 which authorizes the operation of golf carts at night on all public streets and roads on Daufuskie Island provided that such golf carts are equipped with working headlights and rear lights. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after being approved by County Council.

DONE this 8th day of May, 2017.

COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY

BY:

D. Paul Sommerville, Chairman

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Thomas J. Keaveny, II, County Attorney

ATTEST:

Ashley M. Bennett, Clerk to Council

Source: Beaufort County Ordinance 2017/11, adopted May 8, 2017. This page reproduces the enacted ordinance language for reference

Links

Beaufort County Ordinance
State Law