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Atlantic Beach council adopts tougher special-events permit rules after resident complaint
Summary
After a public complaint about late-night event noise, Atlantic Beach approved the second reading of Ordinance 14-2025 requiring town approval before applying for state alcohol permits and setting alcohol fees ($2,000 alcohol; $1,000 beer/wine) and stricter event-structure rules.
Atlantic Beach’s council voted unanimously Oct. 6 to approve the second reading of Ordinance 14-2025, tightening the town’s special-events permitting process and adding fees for alcohol permits after a resident complained about loud late-night music.
At the start of public time, resident Cherry Hurry told the council that music at recent weekend events continued past 4:00 a.m., leaving her unable to sleep for work the next morning. “There has to be a middle ground,” Hurry said, asking the town to enforce its noise rules.
Councilwoman Carla Taylor agreed that enforcement has been a challenge. Town Manager Adrian Jones apologized to Hurry and the meeting’s attendees and said the administration is “rectifying that wrong” so a repeat would not occur. “Had I had my way, that event would not have taken place on this weekend,” Jones said.
Council members then considered Ordinance 14-2025, which adds language requiring organizers to obtain town approval and pay a local fee before applying to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for an event alcohol permit. The ordinance sets the fee at $2,000 for alcohol-permitted events and $1,000 for beer-and-wine events, requires building-official approval for temporary event structures, and requires structures be dismantled within 72 hours after an event.
Councilwoman Taylor moved to pass the ordinance on second reading and Councilman Edward Campbell seconded. The roll-call vote was unanimous: Campbell voted “Yay,” Taylor “Yay,” and Mayor Pro Tem John David “Yes.”
The ordinance’s sponsors said the changes are aimed at improving permitting oversight and public-safety coordination. Jones also noted that existing local noise and special-permit ordinances remain on the books; the new language centralizes approval and fee collection with the town.
The council did not set a specific enforcement schedule during the meeting, but the manager pledged to work on enforcement procedures and said his office would follow up with affected residents and event organizers.
