Myrtle Beach Juvenile Curfew: Hours, Exemptions & Parent Penalties

The Myrtle Beach juvenile curfew applies to anyone 17 or younger and runs on two schedules: 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the Downtown District and on any city-owned property, and midnight to 6:00 a.m. everywhere else inside the city.¹ There is no general curfew for adults. The ordinance is year-round, not seasonal, though enforcement is more visible in summer.

Hours and Zones

The Downtown District runs from 6th Avenue South to 21st Avenue North, between Kings Highway and the Atlantic Ocean, with a small extension west of Kings Highway to Broadway Street between 7th and 9th Avenues North. Inside that box, and on any city-owned property anywhere in Myrtle Beach, unaccompanied minors have to be off the streets by 9:00 p.m.¹

Outside the downtown zone, and off city property, the curfew doesn’t kick in until midnight. Either way, it lifts at 6:00 a.m.

Places the Curfew Covers

The rule reaches beyond streets and sidewalks. Within the Downtown District, restricted places include Ocean Boulevard, the beach and beach access points, city parks and city-owned property, the common areas of hotels, motels, and apartment buildings (lobbies, pools, hallways), and shopping centers and business common areas.¹

The hotel piece is what surprises visiting families. A 16-year-old sitting by the hotel pool or walking through the lobby after 9:00 p.m. without a parent, inside the Downtown District, is technically in violation. And because the 9:00 p.m. curfew covers all city-owned property regardless of the downtown boundary, that includes any city park or beach access point across Myrtle Beach.²

When the Curfew Doesn’t Apply

The ordinance lists limited exemptions:¹

Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A teen walking the Boardwalk at 10:00 p.m. with a parent is fine.
Traveling directly to or from work. The commute is covered, not lingering afterward.
Responding to a genuine emergency.
Other lawful travel or activities allowed by the ordinance, which may include interstate travel, supervised school or religious events, and activities protected by the First Amendment.

Officers use discretion in applying these. If a teenager works a late shift at a restaurant on Ocean Boulevard, carrying some proof of employment is a practical safeguard.

What Happens if a Minor Is Stopped

Under South Carolina’s Juvenile Justice Code, taking a child into custody for a curfew violation is explicitly not an arrest.³ In practice:

The officer contacts the minor’s parent or guardian as soon as possible.
The child can be released to a parent or other responsible adult who signs a written promise to bring the child to court if required.
If no parent can be reached, an authorized representative of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice must respond within one hour to review whether detention is necessary.

The police department has said its goal with curfew enforcement is “education, safety, and compliance, not punishment,” and a first encounter often ends with a warning and an escort back to a parent.² Repeat violations draw stricter responses.

Penalties Fall on the Parent

The criminal penalty attaches to the adult, not the child. A parent or guardian who allows a minor in their care to violate the curfew can face a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both.¹ The city frames this parental accountability as a way to encourage involvement and prevent repeat violations rather than as a first resort.² The authority for fines and jail time is on the books, and the stakes climb with each incident.

Other Nighttime Rules Visitors Should Know

A few related restrictions catch families out even when curfew isn’t the issue.

Cruising

Driving back and forth on Ocean Boulevard between 3rd Avenue South and 21st Avenue North is restricted from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., March 1 through October 1. On major holiday weekends like Memorial Day, police may add no-cruising zones and traffic controls along Ocean Boulevard.

Noise

Myrtle Beach prohibits excessive or unusually loud noise that disturbs the peace at any hour. The city doesn’t publish a single set of quiet hours, but complaints after dark are taken seriously and can result in citations. On a hotel balcony or at a beach rental, keeping the volume down after 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. is the safe course.

Beach Gear

Tents, chairs, and umbrellas must be off the beach by 7:00 p.m. and cannot go up before 8:00 a.m. It isn’t a curfew, but it means the beach after dark is for walking, not camping out with equipment.

1
Myrtle Beach Police Department. Myrtle Beach Police Department – Juvenile Curfew
2
Myrtle Beach Police Department. Juvenile Curfew In The City Of Myrtle Beach FAQ
3
South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 63 – Chapter 19 – Section 63-19-810