Learn more about the rules, laws, regulations and history of Cherry Grove Beach in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This Cherry Grove beach information is meant to inform you of any laws and while every effort is made to keep it as up-to-date as possible, always follow posted signs and rules that you see on the beach.
Contents
Beach Tents
In early 2014, the town of North Myrtle Beach voted to ban items that are not tents in the entire town of North Myrtle Beach (which includes Cherry Grove Beach). Throughout 2013, there were several beach accidents and crowded beach issues with large tents that visitors and locals were using to relax on the beach.
As of right now (mid 2020), the beach tents remain banned from use in the town of North Myrtle Beach & Cherry Grove Beach. If you’re wanting to stay in the shade while on the beach, you can still use large umbrellas to sit under for the time being. Of course, be respectful of those around you as well as beach safety professionals who need to be able to navigate around the sand without any issues.
Quick facts:
- Umbrellas: allowed, under 7 feet
- Tents: not allowed other than small ones for toddlers/babies
- Cabanas: not allowed
- Affixed beach shading: not allowed
Leash Laws & Pet Information
If you’re bringing your pet to Cherry Grove, first check out our vacation rentals to make sure that your rental is indeed pet friendly. Many condos and homes in Cherry Grove are pet friendly, but you’ll want to make sure that your rental home allows pets to stay there. Often, there are small fees for bringing your pet into a vacation home or condo as it takes the cleaning team longer to remove all the pet hair from the rental property for the next guest to enjoy the beach too.
When Pets Are Allowed
Pets are allowed on the beach in Cherry Grove and the town of North Myrtle Beach. However, there are rules and laws that prohibit the pets on the beach during the peak hours during the busy season. Currently, you can only have your pet on the beach before 9AM or after 5PM from May 15th until September 15th. Before or after those dates (late winter and fall), you may bring your pet on the beach any time as there is far less beach visitors during those timeframes. But, from our experience, the weather is still fantastic from later September to early November!
If You Do Bring Your Dog To The Beach
While bringing your pet on the beach, make sure to keep a leash on your dog at all times. The city of North Myrtle Beach indicates that the leash must be less than 7 feet in length so that you can easily control your dog. There are no areas in North Myrtle Beach or Myrtle Beach that allow a dog to be leash-free on the beach.
Other Tips & Dog Park Information
If you’d like to let your dog run around without a leash, we recommend visiting the North Myrtle Beach park located just off the Main Street Parkway in Little River, SC. Here, there are two parks for both smaller breeds (under 25 pounds) and large breed dogs (25+ pounds) where you can let your dog loose in the fenced-in dog park. The North Myrtle Beach park is located a 10 minute drive from the main Cherry Grove entrance on Highway 9.
Fireworks On Beach
No fireworks are allowed on the beach in either Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach. During high-traffic weeks like July 4th, accidents have occurred with fireworks falling over and striking and injuring nearby beach visitors. During summer months, there are typically about a dozen police officers patrolling the beach and public parking spots looking for beach visitors using fireworks and will issues tickets if they see use firework use.
Tips For Safe Fireworks Use
It’s best to use your fireworks in open spaces far from the beach where the police and others will not be disturbed by the fireworks. Typically, smaller fireworks like sparklers are allowed on the beach as long as you are not being overtly dangerous with their use.
Alcohol/Beer Bottles
The City of North Myrtle Beach does not allow alcohol or glass bottles onto the beach. While regulators have tried in the past to change this rule, North Myrtle Beach is first a family-friendly beach atmosphere that encourages small children to feel safe traveling up and down the coast. Therefore, currently it is not allowed to have any alcohol on the beach. Many beach visitors take to hiding their alcohol beverages in water bottles or other non-obvious containers to consume on the beach. While we have never seen any police care too much about this behavior, it is technically against the law and you could be issued a ticket for it. As always, drawing attention to yourself or your beach group will cause you to perhaps attract more cops to your beach relaxation spot. Follow the laws and rules set up by the City of North Myrtle Beach and you will not have any problems.
Golf Carts
Cherry Grove is golf-cart friendly! Visitors and residents alike often use golf carts to go shopping, visit the beach and go to the store. It’s a good idea to make sure that you have all of your paperwork and permits in place. Currently, golf carts are allowed under the following criteria:
- Carts have to display a permit sticker. You can purchase one from the South Carolina DMV here.
- A licensed driver must drive the cart — sorry, no kids driving the golf carts around!
- Only driven on secondary roadways – smaller beach roads, Ocean Drive are allowed. Do not drive your golf cart on Highway 17 or Highway 9.
- You may cross or pass through the following roads/highways: Highway 9, Highway 17 & Sea Mountain Highway.
- All local, city, state laws apply to operating a golf cart
- Golf carts can only travel during the daytime (headlights on the cart does not exempt you from this law)
