Town of Hilton Head Island announces changes to beach parking fees effective June 24

At the Hilton Head Island Town Council’s meeting on June 17, the members amended the Town’s beach parking program fees, effective as of June 24, to the following:

• Weekend Parking Fees (Saturday & Sunday): The $20 flat daily parking rate was eliminated. Instead, parking charges are now $5 per hour.
• Weekday Parking Fees (Monday – Friday): The $15 daily parking fee cap was removed. Parking will continue to be charged at $3 per hour.
• Hours of Enforcement: Parking fees apply daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parks are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Coligny Beach Parking: Remains free and is not impacted by these changes.

The Town of Hilton Island has received a variety of feedback on the revised beach parking fees that began March 1, 2025, as well as the most recent revision to the parking fee structure. This feedback presents an opportunity to clarify the decision-making regarding this overall policy and share information about the Town’s beach park system.

Why did the Town Council decide to revise the parking fees for visitors to the Island’s beach parks? Why do Island residents get to park for free?

• After conducting extensive research and due diligence related to beach parks and beach parking throughout the Southeast region, the Hilton Head Island Town Council approved an ordinance outlining new parking fees for Town-managed beach parks in October 2024.
• This change was enacted to enhance parking management, cover the increased costs associated with providing beach parking, and improve the quality of life on the Island.
• The research determined that previous parking fees were not aligned with the use of beach parks, as well as the subsequent need for increased funding to preserve, maintain, and improve beach parks.
• Hilton Head Island residents pay to preserve, maintain, and improve the Island’s beaches through various taxes and fees that are collected by the Town. Given this, the Town Council determined that residents should not have to pay for an annual resident beach parking pass.

What is the parking fee schedule for Chaplin Park / Burkes Beach? Why is it different than the other parks?

• Chaplin Community Park / Burkes Beach is free annually from early September until mid-May, after the youth sports season ends. Specific dates depend on the year.
• Chaplin Park, which hosts several youth recreational sports programs, and Burkes Beach share a public parking lot. The Town Council did not want to charge families for parking when participating in youth sports programs. Given the difficulty of determining who would be parking for youth sports or beach access, they opted not to charge for parking in that lot until the youth sports season concludes each year.

Why was Coligny Beach Park exempt from the revised parking fee program?

• Town Council determined the need for a different approach to the Coligny Beach Park, given its popularity and proximity to a high concentration of local businesses.
• In addition to a small group that will interface with local businesses on parking issues in that area, Town staff are conducting usage studies throughout the busy summer season to understand the impact of the revised beach parking program. The intent is to understand how the Coligny residential area and business community have been impacted, explore opportunities for improvement, and determine if that lot will remain a free parking lot.

I pay Beaufort County taxes and Hilton Head Island is inside Beaufort County. Why doesn’t that qualify me for a free parking pass?

• No property or personal property tax dollars collected by Beaufort County support the maintenance, enhancement, renourishment, or preservation of Hilton Head Island beaches.