The Myrtle Beach thong law, set out in Section 14-83 of the city’s municipal code, prohibits thong-style swimwear anywhere in public within city limits, including the sand and the surf. G-strings, T-backs, “dental floss” cuts, and thongs are all named in the city’s beach rules. A first contact with an officer usually brings a verbal warning to cover up or leave; ignoring that warning can turn into a misdemeanor carrying up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.
What Counts as a Banned Swimsuit
Section 14-83 makes it unlawful to intentionally appear in any public place in a state of dress that exposes the buttocks, genitals, pubic area, or anus. Standard bikini bottoms that cover the full rear are fine. The problem is any garment that leaves the buttocks exposed or relies on a narrow strap between the cheeks instead of full fabric coverage.
Fabric matters as much as cut. The ordinance requires swimwear to be made of opaque material. Sheer fabric that reveals anatomy underneath fails the test even if the garment’s shape would otherwise cover enough, and a suit that turns effectively transparent when wet creates the same problem.
Rules for Women’s Tops
The regulations define “specified anatomical areas” to include any portion of the female breast at or below the areola. Going topless on the beach is illegal for women, and any top has to cover at least from the areola down. Pasties or minimal coverings that leave the lower breast exposed do not meet the standard. Men face no equivalent chest-coverage rule.
Officers Must Warn You First
This is the part most visitors miss. Under Section 14-83, when an officer determines someone is violating the dress code, the officer must first tell that person to cover up or leave the public area. Only if you refuse or ignore the warning can you be formally charged. Most people who comply immediately walk away with no legal consequence.
The warning is not discretionary. The ordinance requires it. If you were cited without first receiving a verbal warning and a chance to comply, that could be a viable defense in municipal court.
Where the Ban Reaches
The prohibition covers every public space inside Myrtle Beach city limits: the sand, the ocean water along the city’s shoreline, the boardwalk, city parks, and all streets and sidewalks. Walking from your hotel to the beach in a thong violates the ordinance just as much as wearing one on the sand.
The code’s definition of “public place” is broad. It reaches streets, parks, sidewalks, public buildings, any business open to the public, and any location that can be seen or heard from a public vantage point. If you’re on a private balcony but fully visible from the street or boardwalk below, that exposure can still fall within the ordinance.
One explicit carveout exists for licensed adult entertainment establishments operating within the city’s zoning rules. The ordinance states that those venues are not considered “public places” for purposes of Section 14-83.
Penalties and the Criminal Record Problem
A thong citation is a misdemeanor under South Carolina law. The maximum a municipal court can impose for any ordinance violation is a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both. That ceiling comes from state law governing municipal court authority, not the Myrtle Beach code itself.
A first offense from someone who ignored the warning is far more likely to end in a fine than jail time. The bigger consequence for many visitors is the misdemeanor classification itself. A conviction goes on your criminal record and can surface on background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing.
Clearing the Charge From Your Record
If the charge is dismissed, dropped, or you’re found not guilty, South Carolina law allows the record to be expunged through the municipal court at no cost. The prosecuting agency has 30 days after disposition to object. If no objection is filed, the judge should sign the expungement order between 31 and 40 days after the case concludes.
A conviction is different. South Carolina’s expungement rules for summary court offenses under Section 17-22-950 apply only when the outcome is not guilty, dismissed, or not prosecuted. If you plead guilty or are found guilty, the misdemeanor stays on your record unless you qualify for a separate expungement pathway, which typically involves waiting periods and additional eligibility requirements.
Nearby Beaches Are Not a Loophole
Driving up or down the coast does not put you under different rules. North Myrtle Beach and Horry County both have ordinances prohibiting exposure of the buttocks on their beaches, and Horry County’s beach rules explicitly list thong bathing suits as prohibited nudity. Surfside Beach applies similar standards.
The difference is enforcement, not the law. Records obtained through public information requests show that North Myrtle Beach and Horry County did not enforce their thong ordinances during a recent one-year period, while Myrtle Beach actively patrols for violations. The rules on the books are the same across the Grand Strand; the odds of being stopped are not.