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Code enforcement reports abandoned‑boat removals, parking scans and new administrative fines for short‑term rentals
Summary
The town's director of public safety reported removal of 11 abandoned boats, new pay‑for‑parking scans of more than 21,000 vehicles in the season, and administrative fines for repeated short‑term rental violations; staff said they will expand data collection and seek more staffing and technological support.
Bob Bremage, director of public safety for the Town of Hilton Head, presented an annual overview of community code enforcement activity, highlighting enforcement trends and recent initiatives.
Bremage said the town funded abandoned‑boat removals this budget year and has taken 11 boats out of inventory to date, noting those removals cost roughly $30,000 in coordination with state and county partners. The program used town funds to tow and dispose of derelict vessels, with some operational support provided by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Beaufort County Public Works.
On parking and short‑term rental enforcement, Bremage said the town scanned more than 21,000 vehicles between March and Labor Day as part of the pay‑for‑parking effort; staff processed more than 350 parking appeals, many attributable to entry errors. The director said an attorney‑general opinion constrained third‑party vendors’ ability to enforce parking, prompting the town to use its own scanners and officers. He also described administrative citations for repeat short‑term rental violations — $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second, $1,000 for the third — and said seven administrative fines have been issued so far and are producing compliance.
Bremage described other work including proactive patrols, marine patrols, land‑management and sea‑turtle light compliance efforts, and the use of 16 Flock automatic license‑plate readers (ALPRs) in partnership with the sheriff's office, which Bremage said has led to recoveries of stolen property and assistance in felony investigations. Bremage told the committee the enforcement team currently has six code enforcement officers and one supervisor and said staff and technology increases will be needed to meet demand.
Next steps: Bremage said staff will provide heat‑map collision data in the next presentation, continue coordination with the sheriff's office and refine short‑term rental enforcement and appeals processes.
