Myrtle Beach Leader

Myrtle Beach’s updated special events ordinance took effect January 1, 2023. After much discussion during the past two years, City Council approved Ordinance 2022-051 on December 13, 2022. It amended the city’s process for approving special events, parades, facility uses, public performances and the like. Among the changes, special event applications and facility use permits now are handled by the Special Event Committee, with appeals heard by the City Manager. Special events include festivals, the Myrtle Beach Marathon, car shows and other large activities. You’ll find the updated ordinance in its entirety online at https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/specialeventsordinance.pdf. The revised ordinance:

• Clarifies membership and make-up of the Special Event Committee.

• Designates the Special Event Committee as the decision-making body responsible for approving parade applications, special event permits, public performance permits, picketing requests and specific types of facility use permits. The issuance of any permit shall not be considered as an endorsement by the City of Myrtle Beach. The city seal is copyright protected and cannot be used or reproduced without explicit approval by the City of Myrtle Beach.

• Outlines the submission process of an application with related fees or deposits, with the Special Event Committee voting to approve, not approve or continue the application for further discussion.

• Notes that facility use permits will no longer be used for park rentals, being replaced with the “Minor Special Event Permit;” and, notes that the facility use permits will remain in use for facility and shelter rentals with no application fees.

• Reserves the City Manager’s right to limit event applications for events taking place between May 1 and Labor Day each year.

• Explains the city’s intent to recover costs for the provision of all city services. The city does not provide services free of charge when resources are deployed to provide public safety for an event. If the committee determines that additional city resources are needed, an event organizer will be responsible for prepaying or reimbursing costs within 30 days of receiving an invoice from the City of Myrtle Beach for services rendered. Cost recovery for noncommercial, nonprofit events or commercial events may be waived by the City Manager if an event provides a public service to the community. The waiver of fees does not imply city co-sponsorship, nor does it allow the use of the city seal.

• Appoints the City Manager as the administrator responsible for hearing appeals. The appeals process begins when an applicant files an appeal within 15 calendar days of the committee's decision, and grants the City Manager a period of 15 calendar days to render a decision.

• Requires insurance for all facility use permits for events with alcohol.

• Gives the City Manager, in consultation with the Insurance and Risk Services Director, discretion to require more or less insurance coverage; or, in some circumstances, gives the City Manager the ability to waive the insurance requirement.

Original source can be found here.