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.
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