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Horry County, SC Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Adopted
Ord. No. 31-2026, effective May 5, 2026
Sidewalks
Riding banned countywide, no exceptions
Fast roads
Banned above 20 mph posted limit
County property
Parks, lots off-limits unless posted
Top speed
20 mph maximum everywhere
Penalty
Up to $200 fine or 30 days jail

Summary

Horry County's personal electric device ordinance covers e-scooters whether privately owned or ridden from a shared rental fleet. Riders may not use any public sidewalk, any roadway posted above 20 mph except to cross it, or county-owned parks and parking lots unless signage says otherwise, and top speed is capped at 20 mph everywhere.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Horry County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It shall be unlawful for any person using a PED to:(1)Go upon any roadway designed for vehicular travel with a posted speed limit of more than twenty (20) miles per hour, except while crossing at an intersection;(2)Go upon any public sidewalk;(3)Unless designated otherwise, operate the device on any county owned or operated property, including but not limited to parking lots, parks, or other recreational or green space;...(5)Operate the PED at a speed faster than twenty (20) miles per hour;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 88).

Full Breakdown

Section 13-13, adopted by Ordinance No. 31-2026 on May 5, 2026, defines a "personal electric device" (PED) as an electric-powered seated wheeled device, covering e-scooters whether privately owned or picked up from a shared rental fleet; it excludes electric personal assistive mobility devices and e-bikes, which are covered elsewhere in state law. Subsection (b) makes it unlawful to ride a PED on any roadway posted above 20 mph except while crossing at an intersection, on any public sidewalk, or on county-owned or -operated property, including parking lots, parks or other recreational or green space, unless the county has designated that property otherwise.

Riders may also not carry more passengers than the device is built for, exceed 20 mph, operate recklessly on a roadway, bike lane, or multi-use path, or ride while holding, texting on, or watching video on a mobile electronic device. Between sunset and sunrise a PED must carry a front lamp visible 500 feet and a rear red reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet. Riders must exercise due care, yield to pedestrians, and sound an audible signal before passing one. None of this limits a law enforcement officer's separate authority to enforce state traffic law.

Violations & Fines

Violating section 13-13 is a misdemeanor enforced by ordinance summons, punishable by a fine of up to two hundred dollars ($200.00), imprisonment of up to thirty (30) days, or both, under subsection (f).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ride a rental e-scooter on the sidewalk in Carolina Forest?
No. Section 13-13(b)(2) bans PEDs, which includes shared and privately owned e-scooters, from any public sidewalk in the unincorporated county. Riders belong on the roadway or in a bike lane where the posted speed limit allows it.
Can I ride an e-scooter in a county park?
Not unless the county has posted the property as an exception. Section 13-13(b)(3) bans PEDs on any county-owned or -operated property, including parking lots, parks, and other recreational or green space, unless the county designates it otherwise.
How fast can a PED legally go?
No faster than 20 mph, per section 13-13(b)(5), and it may not be ridden at all on a roadway posted above 20 mph except while crossing at an intersection. Both limits apply regardless of whether the device is privately owned or rented from a shared fleet.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Horry County

All Horry County rules

Compare Horry County to another location·View the South Carolina mobility & curb rules overview

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